Air Traffic Controllers pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $89,690 a year or less, while the top 10% make $225,680 or more. The middle half of air traffic controllers in Chicago earn between $145,310 and $209,440.
- $90K10th
- $145K25th
- $190KMedian
- $209K75th
- $226K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $174,320 | $14,527 | $83.81 |
| Median | $189,780 | $15,815 | $91.24 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $145,310 | $12,109 | $69.86 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $209,440 | $17,453 | $100.69 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Air Traffic Controllers pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Air traffic controllers in Chicago earn 6% more than the Illinois average ($164,200) and 19% more than the U.S. average ($146,490). At the median the gap is +28% against the U.S. median of $148,080.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $174,320 | $189,780 | $89,690 | $225,680 | 850 |
| Illinois | $164,200 | $181,560 | $83,990 | $225,680 | 990 |
| 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 Chicago
On the average salary of $174,320, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $121,926 a year, or $10,160 a month and $4,689 every two weeks. Taxes take 30% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $125,214 | $10,435 |
| Working in IL | $121,926 | $10,160 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for air traffic controllers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $174,320 buys what about $168,271 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 3.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 2.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Air Traffic Controllers salary in nearby metro areas
- Indianapolis, IN$160,990
- Detroit, MI$163,150
- St. Louis, MO$129,420
- Cincinnati, OH$126,560
- Minneapolis, MN$169,370
- 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 Chicago: questions
How much do air traffic controllers make an hour in Chicago?
$83.81 an hour on average, and $91.24 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level air traffic controllers salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $89,690 a year and the 25th percentile is $145,310, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the air traffic controllers take-home pay in Chicago?
About $121,926 a year ($10,160 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $174,320.
Do air traffic controllers earn more in Chicago 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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.7%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.30, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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