Air Traffic Controllers pay range in Tampa
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $89,300 a year or less, while the top 10% make $186,180 or more. The middle half of air traffic controllers in Tampa earn between $110,930 and $178,420.
- $89K10th
- $111K25th
- $151KMedian
- $178K75th
- $186K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $146,150 | $12,179 | $70.26 |
| Median | $150,700 | $12,558 | $72.45 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $110,930 | $9,244 | $53.33 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $178,420 | $14,868 | $85.78 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Air Traffic Controllers pay in Tampa vs. Florida and the U.S.
Air traffic controllers in Tampa earn about the same as the Florida average ($144,140) and about the same as the U.S. average ($146,490). At the median the gap is +2% against the U.S. median of $148,080.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa | $146,150 | $150,700 | $89,300 | $186,180 | 110 |
| Florida | $144,140 | $147,530 | $86,660 | $195,960 | 1,950 |
| 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 Tampa
On the average salary of $146,150, a single filer in Tampa takes home about $111,160 a year, or $9,263 a month and $4,275 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Tampa a good place for air traffic controllers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Tampa area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 100.9), so the average $146,150 buys what about $144,861 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 3.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Tampa ($48,940). A typical home costs $360,738, or 2.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Air Traffic Controllers salary in other Florida cities
Tampa ranks 3rd of 5 Florida metro areas for this job; Jacksonville pays the most ($156,710).
- Jacksonville$156,710
- Miami$154,760
- Tampa$146,150
- Orlando$145,830
- Deltona$122,190
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 Tampa: questions
How much do air traffic controllers make an hour in Tampa?
$70.26 an hour on average, and $72.45 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level air traffic controllers salary in Tampa?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $89,300 a year and the 25th percentile is $110,930, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the air traffic controllers take-home pay in Tampa?
About $111,160 a year ($9,263 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $146,150. Florida has no state income tax.
Do air traffic controllers earn more in Tampa than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL (45300). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.4%.
- 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 0.50, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.50).
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