Air Traffic Controllers pay range in Phoenix
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $94,620 a year or less, while the top 10% make $204,980 or more. The middle half of air traffic controllers in Phoenix earn between $132,640 and $186,640.
- $95K10th
- $133K25th
- $161KMedian
- $187K75th
- $205K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $157,890 | $13,158 | $75.91 |
| Median | $161,220 | $13,435 | $77.51 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $132,640 | $11,053 | $63.77 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $186,640 | $15,553 | $89.73 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Air Traffic Controllers pay in Phoenix vs. Arizona and the U.S.
Air traffic controllers in Phoenix earn 13% more than the Arizona average ($140,340) and 8% more than the U.S. average ($146,490). At the median the gap is +9% against the U.S. median of $148,080.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | $157,890 | $161,220 | $94,620 | $204,980 | 220 |
| Arizona | $140,340 | $136,800 | $86,630 | $195,980 | 380 |
| United States | $146,490 | $148,080 | $78,420 | $215,610 | 22,510 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Air Traffic Controllers salary after taxes in Phoenix
On the average salary of $157,890, a single filer in Phoenix takes home about $115,630 a year, or $9,636 a month and $4,447 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Phoenix a good place for air traffic controllers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Phoenix area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.3), so the average $157,890 buys what about $152,822 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 3.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Phoenix ($51,380). A typical home costs $448,352, or 2.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Air Traffic Controllers salary in nearby metro areas
- Riverside, CA$96,750
- Las Vegas, NV$152,620
- Los Angeles, CA$156,650
- Salt Lake City, UT$151,280
- Sacramento, CA$173,710
- San Francisco, CA$179,320
Highest-paying cities for air traffic controllers
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($179,320).
- San Francisco, CA$179,320
- Philadelphia, PA$177,260
- Atlanta, GA$176,190
- Chicago, IL$174,320
- Sacramento, CA$173,710
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Air Traffic Controllers salary in Phoenix: questions
How much do air traffic controllers make an hour in Phoenix?
$75.91 an hour on average, and $77.51 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level air traffic controllers salary in Phoenix?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $94,620 a year and the 25th percentile is $132,640, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the air traffic controllers take-home pay in Phoenix?
About $115,630 a year ($9,636 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $157,890.
Do air traffic controllers earn more in Phoenix than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% more than the U.S. average for this job ($146,490).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 53-2021; area Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ (38060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.2%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.65, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.65).
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