Air Traffic Controllers pay range in Sacramento
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $80,810 a year or less, while the top 10% make $225,680 or more. The middle half of air traffic controllers in Sacramento earn between $141,090 and $208,520.
- $81K10th
- $141K25th
- $196KMedian
- $209K75th
- $226K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $173,710 | $14,476 | $83.51 |
| Median | $196,290 | $16,358 | $94.37 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $141,090 | $11,758 | $67.83 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $208,520 | $17,377 | $100.25 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Air Traffic Controllers pay in Sacramento vs. California and the U.S.
Air traffic controllers in Sacramento earn 11% more than the California average ($156,910) and 19% more than the U.S. average ($146,490). At the median the gap is +33% against the U.S. median of $148,080.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento | $173,710 | $196,290 | $80,810 | $225,680 | 240 |
| 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 Sacramento
On the average salary of $173,710, a single filer in Sacramento takes home about $117,934 a year, or $9,828 a month and $4,536 every two weeks. Taxes take 32% 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 Sacramento a good place for air traffic controllers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Sacramento area are 7% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 106.7), so the average $173,710 buys what about $162,848 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 3.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Sacramento ($59,750). A typical home costs $582,707, or 3.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Air Traffic Controllers salary in other California cities
Sacramento ranks 2nd 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
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Air Traffic Controllers salary in Sacramento: questions
How much do air traffic controllers make an hour in Sacramento?
$83.52 an hour on average, and $94.37 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level air traffic controllers salary in Sacramento?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $80,810 a year and the 25th percentile is $141,090, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the air traffic controllers take-home pay in Sacramento?
About $117,934 a year ($9,828 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $173,710. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do air traffic controllers earn more in Sacramento than elsewhere?
The average here is 19% 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 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA (40900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.6%.
- 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 1.53, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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