Air Traffic Controller salary in Salt Lake City-Murray, UT
Air Traffic Controllers in the Salt Lake City-Murray, UT metro area earn a median of $161,640 a year ($77.71 an hour), based on BLS data for 330 workers.
Pay ranges from $76,560 for the lowest-paid 10% to $191,670 for the top 10%. That is 9% higher than the national median of $148,080. Pay here is 2% higher than the Utah statewide median of $158,310. There are 0.40 air traffic controllers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $151,280, close to the median.
Pay range for air traffic controllers in Salt Lake City-Murray, UT
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $76,560 | $36.81 |
| 25th percentile | $142,380 | $68.45 |
| Median | $161,640 | $77.71 |
| 75th percentile | $173,120 | $83.23 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $191,670 | $92.15 |
| Average (mean) | $151,280 | $72.73 |
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 | $13,470 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,735 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,216.92 |
| Weekly | $3,108.46 |
| Hourly | $77.71 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $161,640 salary, see how much house you can afford in Utah 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 Utah statewide figures.
Related jobs in Salt Lake City-Murray, UT
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $174,940 | — |
| Commercial Pilot | $99,720 | — |
| Airfield Operations Specialist | $63,100 | $30.34 |
| Flight Attendant | $82,730 | — |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $44,190 | $21.25 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $62,310 | $29.96 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $37,510 | $18.04 |
| Light Truck Driver | $46,990 | $22.59 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $66,140 | $31.80 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $49,470 | $23.79 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $36,830 | $17.71 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $35,800 | $17.21 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $36,870 | $17.73 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $52,250 | $25.12 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Salt Lake City-Murray, UT
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 Salt Lake City-Murray, UT?
The median salary for air traffic controllers in the Salt Lake City-Murray, UT metro area is $161,640 a year, or $77.71 an hour. Pay ranges from $76,560 for the lowest-paid 10% to $191,670 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid air traffic controllers make in Salt Lake City-Murray, UT?
The top 10% of air traffic controllers in the Salt Lake City-Murray, UT metro area earn at least $191,670 a year. The top 25% earn $173,120 or more.
What is the starting pay for air traffic controllers in Salt Lake City-Murray, UT?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $76,560 a year, and a quarter of air traffic controllers earn $142,380 or less.
How many air traffic controllers work in Salt Lake City-Murray, UT?
About 330 air traffic controllers are employed in the Salt Lake City-Murray, UT metro area, not counting the self-employed.