Air Traffic Controller salary in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Air Traffic Controllers in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median of $173,020 a year ($83.18 an hour), based on BLS data for 690 workers.
Pay ranges from $63,520 for the lowest-paid 10% to $225,680 for the top 10%. That is 17% higher than the national median of $148,080. Pay here is 8% higher than the California statewide median of $160,080. There are 0.11 air traffic controllers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.76). The average (mean) salary is $156,650, close to the median.
Pay range for air traffic controllers in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $63,520 | $30.54 |
| 25th percentile | $116,330 | $55.93 |
| Median | $173,020 | $83.18 |
| 75th percentile | $209,640 | $100.79 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $225,680 | $108.50 |
| Average (mean) | $156,650 | $75.31 |
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 | $14,418.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $7,209.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,654.62 |
| Weekly | $3,327.31 |
| Hourly | $83.18 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $173,020 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Air Traffic Controller salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $196,290 | 240 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $193,360 | 430 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $94,140 | 140 |
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 California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Flight Attendant | $79,390 | — |
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $364,730 | — |
| Airfield Operations Specialist | $57,330 | $27.56 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $42,390 | $20.38 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $38,650 | $18.58 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $60,340 | $29.01 |
| Light Truck Driver | $46,500 | $22.36 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $37,390 | $17.98 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $62,190 | $29.90 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $46,600 | $22.41 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $37,540 | $18.05 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $44,460 | $21.37 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $45,220 | $21.74 |
| Parking Attendant | $37,280 | $17.92 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
The median salary for air traffic controllers in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $173,020 a year, or $83.18 an hour. Pay ranges from $63,520 for the lowest-paid 10% to $225,680 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid air traffic controllers make in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
The top 10% of air traffic controllers in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn at least $225,680 a year. The top 25% earn $209,640 or more.
What is the starting pay for air traffic controllers in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $63,520 a year, and a quarter of air traffic controllers earn $116,330 or less.
How many air traffic controllers work in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
About 690 air traffic controllers are employed in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.