Air Traffic Controllers pay range in Detroit
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $100,210 a year or less, while the top 10% make $214,340 or more. The middle half of air traffic controllers in Detroit earn between $119,240 and $196,810.
- $100K10th
- $119K25th
- $178KMedian
- $197K75th
- $214K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $163,150 | $13,596 | $78.44 |
| Median | $178,310 | $14,859 | $85.73 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $119,240 | $9,937 | $57.33 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $196,810 | $16,401 | $94.62 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Air Traffic Controllers pay in Detroit vs. Michigan and the U.S.
Air traffic controllers in Detroit earn 21% more than the Michigan average ($134,670) and 11% more than the U.S. average ($146,490). At the median the gap is +20% against the U.S. median of $148,080.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit | $163,150 | $178,310 | $100,210 | $214,340 | 180 |
| Michigan | $134,670 | $118,930 | $80,430 | $205,380 | 360 |
| 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 Detroit
On the average salary of $163,150, a single filer in Detroit takes home about $112,315 a year, or $9,360 a month and $4,320 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). Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
Is Detroit a good place for air traffic controllers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Detroit area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 100.3), so the average $163,150 buys what about $162,665 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 3.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Detroit ($52,080). A typical home costs $269,080, or 1.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Air Traffic Controllers salary in nearby metro areas
- Chicago, IL$174,320
- Indianapolis, IN$160,990
- Cincinnati, OH$126,560
- Washington, DC$144,670
- Philadelphia, PA$177,260
- St. Louis, MO$129,420
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 Detroit: questions
How much do air traffic controllers make an hour in Detroit?
$78.44 an hour on average, and $85.73 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level air traffic controllers salary in Detroit?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $100,210 a year and the 25th percentile is $119,240, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the air traffic controllers take-home pay in Detroit?
About $112,315 a year ($9,360 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $163,150. Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
Do air traffic controllers earn more in Detroit than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% 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 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI (19820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.2%.
- 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). Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.67, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.67).
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