Air Traffic Controller salary in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
Air Traffic Controllers in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area earn a median of $186,510 a year ($89.67 an hour), based on BLS data for 800 workers.
Pay ranges from $97,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $223,700 for the top 10%. That is 26% higher than the national median of $148,080. Pay here is 10% higher than the Texas statewide median of $170,080. There are 0.20 air traffic controllers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $173,430, close to the median.
Pay range for air traffic controllers in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $97,040 | $46.66 |
| 25th percentile | $144,310 | $69.38 |
| Median | $186,510 | $89.67 |
| 75th percentile | $203,670 | $97.92 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $223,700 | $107.55 |
| Average (mean) | $173,430 | $83.38 |
Half of air traffic controllers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $15,542.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $7,771.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $7,173.46 |
| Weekly | $3,586.73 |
| Hourly | $89.67 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $186,510 salary, see how much house you can afford in Texas at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Highest-paying states for air traffic controllers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Virginia | $191,820 |
| Illinois | $181,560 |
| Georgia | $178,420 |
| Colorado | $177,380 |
| Minnesota | $176,840 |
| Texas | $170,080 |
| Washington | $162,570 |
| California | $160,080 |
| Kansas | $159,700 |
| Indiana | $158,810 |
See Air Traffic Controller pay in every state or the Texas statewide figures.
Related jobs in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Flight Attendant | $61,100 | — |
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $212,810 | — |
| Commercial Pilot | $160,160 | — |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $37,590 | $18.07 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $38,510 | $18.52 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $59,530 | $28.62 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $47,230 | $22.71 |
| Light Truck Driver | $44,050 | $21.18 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $33,090 | $15.91 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $60,260 | $28.97 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $31,350 | $15.07 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $44,440 | $21.36 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $47,030 | $22.61 |
| Parking Attendant | $31,770 | $15.28 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 53-2021. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a air traffic controller make in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX?
The median salary for air traffic controllers in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area is $186,510 a year, or $89.67 an hour. Pay ranges from $97,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $223,700 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid air traffic controllers make in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX?
The top 10% of air traffic controllers in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area earn at least $223,700 a year. The top 25% earn $203,670 or more.
What is the starting pay for air traffic controllers in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $97,040 a year, and a quarter of air traffic controllers earn $144,310 or less.
How many air traffic controllers work in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX?
About 800 air traffic controllers are employed in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area, not counting the self-employed.