Air Traffic Controllers pay range in Philadelphia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $94,310 a year or less, while the top 10% make $225,680 or more. The middle half of air traffic controllers in Philadelphia earn between $133,350 and $219,160.
- $94K10th
- $133K25th
- $199KMedian
- $219K75th
- $226K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $177,260 | $14,772 | $85.22 |
| Median | $198,590 | $16,549 | $95.48 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $133,350 | $11,112 | $64.11 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $219,160 | $18,263 | $105.37 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Air Traffic Controllers pay in Philadelphia vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Air traffic controllers in Philadelphia earn 24% more than the Pennsylvania average ($143,180) and 21% more than the U.S. average ($146,490). At the median the gap is +34% against the U.S. median of $148,080.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | $177,260 | $198,590 | $94,310 | $225,680 | 220 |
| Pennsylvania | $143,180 | $132,350 | $81,490 | $225,680 | 460 |
| 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 Philadelphia
On the average salary of $177,260, a single filer in Philadelphia takes home about $126,981 a year, or $10,582 a month and $4,884 every two weeks. Taxes take 28% of gross pay.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in PA | $126,981 | $10,582 |
| Working in MD | $123,848 | $10,321 |
| Working in NJ | $123,322 | $10,277 |
| Working in DE | $121,955 | $10,163 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is Philadelphia a good place for air traffic controllers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Philadelphia area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 102.6), so the average $177,260 buys what about $172,846 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 3.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Philadelphia ($54,310). A typical home costs $390,463, or 2.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Air Traffic Controllers salary in nearby metro areas
- Washington, DC$144,670
- Hartford, CT$139,290
- Virginia Beach, VA$115,560
- Providence, RI$119,990
- Boston, MA$140,590
- Burlington, VT$109,830
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 Philadelphia: questions
How much do air traffic controllers make an hour in Philadelphia?
$85.22 an hour on average, and $95.48 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level air traffic controllers salary in Philadelphia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $94,310 a year and the 25th percentile is $133,350, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the air traffic controllers take-home pay in Philadelphia?
About $126,981 a year ($10,582 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $177,260. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do air traffic controllers earn more in Philadelphia than elsewhere?
The average here is 21% 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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD (37980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.7%.
- 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). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.51, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.51).
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