Air Traffic Controllers pay range in Boston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $87,420 a year or less, while the top 10% make $210,870 or more. The middle half of air traffic controllers in Boston earn between $103,920 and $180,070.
- $87K10th
- $104K25th
- $136KMedian
- $180K75th
- $211K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $140,590 | $11,716 | $67.59 |
| Median | $135,720 | $11,310 | $65.25 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $103,920 | $8,660 | $49.96 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $180,070 | $15,006 | $86.57 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Air Traffic Controllers pay in Boston vs. Massachusetts and the U.S.
Air traffic controllers in Boston earn 6% more than the Massachusetts average ($132,750) and 4% less than the U.S. average ($146,490). At the median the gap is -8% against the U.S. median of $148,080.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $140,590 | $135,720 | $87,420 | $210,870 | 100 |
| Massachusetts | $132,750 | $125,060 | $82,150 | $202,070 | 120 |
| 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 Boston
On the average salary of $140,590, a single filer in Boston takes home about $100,650 a year, or $8,387 a month and $3,871 every two weeks. Taxes take 28% of gross pay.
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NH | $107,359 | $8,947 |
| Working in MA | $100,650 | $8,387 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Is Boston a good place for air traffic controllers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Boston area are 8% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.3), so the average $140,590 buys what about $129,856 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Boston ($66,620). A typical home costs $741,868, or 5.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Air Traffic Controllers salary in nearby metro areas
- Providence, RI$119,990
- Portland, ME$103,400
- Hartford, CT$139,290
- Burlington, VT$109,830
- Philadelphia, PA$177,260
- Washington, DC$144,670
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 Boston: questions
How much do air traffic controllers make an hour in Boston?
$67.59 an hour on average, and $65.25 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level air traffic controllers salary in Boston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $87,420 a year and the 25th percentile is $103,920, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the air traffic controllers take-home pay in Boston?
About $100,650 a year ($8,387 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $140,590. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Do air traffic controllers earn more in Boston than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% less 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 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (14460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.2%.
- 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). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.25, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.25).
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