Air Traffic Controllers pay range in Atlanta
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $111,160 a year or less, while the top 10% make $217,590 or more. The middle half of air traffic controllers in Atlanta earn between $166,380 and $209,370.
- $111K10th
- $166K25th
- $187KMedian
- $209K75th
- $218K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $176,190 | $14,682 | $84.71 |
| Median | $186,640 | $15,553 | $89.73 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $166,380 | $13,865 | $79.99 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $209,370 | $17,448 | $100.66 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Air Traffic Controllers salary after taxes in Atlanta
On the average salary of $176,190, a single filer in Atlanta takes home about $123,648 a year, or $10,304 a month and $4,756 every two weeks. Taxes take 30% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Atlanta a good place for air traffic controllers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Atlanta area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 100.1), so the average $176,190 buys what about $176,088 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 3.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Atlanta ($51,170). A typical home costs $382,938, or 2.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Air Traffic Controllers salary in nearby metro areas
- Nashville, TN$145,560
- Jacksonville, FL$156,710
- Jackson, MS$94,300
- Gulfport, MS$97,250
- Deltona, FL$122,190
- Cincinnati, OH$126,560
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 Atlanta: questions
How much do air traffic controllers make an hour in Atlanta?
$84.71 an hour on average, and $89.73 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level air traffic controllers salary in Atlanta?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $111,160 a year and the 25th percentile is $166,380, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the air traffic controllers take-home pay in Atlanta?
About $123,648 a year ($10,304 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $176,190.
Do air traffic controllers earn more in Atlanta than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% more than the U.S. metro average for this job ($156,724).
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 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA (12060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.1%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.95, this job is 1.9 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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