Air Traffic Controllers pay range in Los Angeles
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $63,520 a year or less, while the top 10% make $225,680 or more. The middle half of air traffic controllers in Los Angeles earn between $116,330 and $209,640.
- $64K10th
- $116K25th
- $173KMedian
- $210K75th
- $226K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $156,650 | $13,054 | $75.31 |
| Median | $173,020 | $14,418 | $83.18 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $116,330 | $9,694 | $55.93 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $209,640 | $17,470 | $100.79 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Air Traffic Controllers pay in Los Angeles vs. California and the U.S.
Air traffic controllers in Los Angeles earn about the same as the California average ($156,910) and 7% more than the U.S. average ($146,490). At the median the gap is +17% against the U.S. median of $148,080.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $156,650 | $173,020 | $63,520 | $225,680 | 690 |
| California | $156,910 | $160,080 | $80,960 | $225,680 | 2,290 |
| 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 Los Angeles
On the average salary of $156,650, a single filer in Los Angeles takes home about $107,860 a year, or $8,988 a month and $4,148 every two weeks. Taxes take 31% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Los Angeles a good place for air traffic controllers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Los Angeles area are 14% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 113.6), so the average $156,650 buys what about $137,937 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 3.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Los Angeles ($55,850). A typical home costs $968,608, or 6.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Air Traffic Controllers salary in other California cities
Los Angeles ranks 3rd of 4 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($179,320).
- San Francisco$179,320
- Sacramento$173,710
- Los Angeles$156,650
- Riverside$96,750
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Air Traffic Controllers salary in Los Angeles: questions
How much do air traffic controllers make an hour in Los Angeles?
$75.31 an hour on average, and $83.18 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level air traffic controllers salary in Los Angeles?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $63,520 a year and the 25th percentile is $116,330, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the air traffic controllers take-home pay in Los Angeles?
About $107,860 a year ($8,988 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $156,650. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do air traffic controllers earn more in Los Angeles than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% 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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA (31080). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.5%.
- 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 (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.76, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.76).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.