Air Traffic Controllers pay range in Dallas
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $97,040 a year or less, while the top 10% make $223,700 or more. The middle half of air traffic controllers in Dallas earn between $144,310 and $203,670.
- $97K10th
- $144K25th
- $187KMedian
- $204K75th
- $224K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $173,430 | $14,452 | $83.38 |
| Median | $186,510 | $15,542 | $89.67 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $144,310 | $12,026 | $69.38 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $203,670 | $16,972 | $97.92 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Air Traffic Controllers pay in Dallas vs. Texas and the U.S.
Air traffic controllers in Dallas earn 11% more than the Texas average ($156,370) and 18% more than the U.S. average ($146,490). At the median the gap is +26% against the U.S. median of $148,080.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas | $173,430 | $186,510 | $97,040 | $223,700 | 800 |
| Texas | $156,370 | $170,080 | $90,420 | $222,230 | 2,060 |
| 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 Dallas
On the average salary of $173,430, a single filer in Dallas takes home about $129,805 a year, or $10,817 a month and $4,993 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Dallas a good place for air traffic controllers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Dallas area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.1), so the average $173,430 buys what about $168,232 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 3.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Dallas ($51,440). A typical home costs $366,823, or 2.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Air Traffic Controllers salary in nearby metro areas
- Oklahoma City, OK$139,870
- Jackson, MS$94,300
- Kansas City, MO$153,000
- Gulfport, MS$97,250
- St. Louis, MO$129,420
- Nashville, TN$145,560
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 Dallas: questions
How much do air traffic controllers make an hour in Dallas?
$83.38 an hour on average, and $89.67 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level air traffic controllers salary in Dallas?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $97,040 a year and the 25th percentile is $144,310, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the air traffic controllers take-home pay in Dallas?
About $129,805 a year ($10,817 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $173,430. Texas has no state income tax.
Do air traffic controllers earn more in Dallas than elsewhere?
The average here is 18% 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 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX (19100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.0%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.36, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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