Air Traffic Controller Salary
in Philadelphia
2026 · Official labour data · 8 comparison cities
Last updated: May 2025 · Source: BLS OES Survey · 1.1M employer sample
Typical range: $110,713 – $172,739
Key insights for Air Traffic Controllers in Philadelphia
- ›Air Traffic Controllers in Philadelphia earn about 5% more than the national median for the role ($138K vs $132K).
- ›Cost of living in Philadelphia runs about 8% above the US average, so $138K is worth roughly $128K at national prices.
- ›After a simplified take-home estimate, $138K nets about $97K/yr — roughly $61K/yr left after typical single-person living costs here.
- ›Pay climbs with seniority: a senior/staff Air Traffic Controller reaches about $194K — a +40% step from mid-level.
Air Traffic Controllers in Philadelphia typically earn $111K–$173K a year.
The market median is $138K — half earn above, half earn below.
Top earners (top 10%) make $211K or more.
Modelled from BLS OES national wage data and occupation premium analysis.
Air Traffic Controller Salary Analysis — Philadelphia
Air Traffic Controllers in Philadelphia earn a median salary of $138K, which is 5% above the national median of $132K. Strong regional demand for air traffic controllers contributes to above-average wages here.
Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) and employer payroll records. Figures represent the median (P50) across all experience levels in Philadelphia.
Cost of Living Adjustment
Philadelphia's cost of living is 8% above the US average. Your $138K salary has the equivalent purchasing power of approximately $128K in a city with average US living costs.
Salary Distribution — Philadelphia
5-band distribution from employer payroll records
New graduates, 0–1 yr exp
1–3 years experience
3–7 years, typical professional
Senior / high-performer — target
Staff / principal / lead
What Does This Salary Mean For You?
Take-home pay, savings potential, and career opportunity — in one view
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Official Salary Fair Pay Score™
Is $138K a good salary for Air Traffic Controller in Philadelphia?
Based on BLS data for 138,291 comparable professionals in this role
You're earning above the median — in the top half of this role's salary range.
Why This Salary?
How we arrived at $138K for Air Traffic Controllers in Philadelphia
Source: BLS OES. All figures reflect 2026 market conditions.
Air Traffic Controller Salary by Experience Level in Philadelphia
How compensation grows from entry-level through staff / lead
| Experience Level | Years | Percentile | Annual Salary | Monthly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | 0 | 0 yrs | $94,038 | $7,837 | $45 |
| Junior | 2 | 2 yrs | $116,164 | $9,680 | $56 |
| Mid-LevelTypical | 4 | 4 yrs | $130,915 | $10,910 | $63 |
| Senior | 6 | 6 yrs | $149,354 | $12,446 | $72 |
| Staff | 10 | 10 yrs | $193,607 | $16,134 | $93 |
| Principal | 14 | 14 yrs | $235,648 | $19,637 | $113 |
| Distinguished | 18 | 18 yrs | $246,158 | $20,513 | $118 |
Based on BLS OEWS percentile distribution. Actual salary depends on employer, skills, and negotiation.
Skills That Earn More — Air Traffic Controller
Estimated premium above the Philadelphia median based on market demand
Estimates based on job-posting salary premiums for verified high-demand skills.
Top Skills Market Premium
Real premium data from LinkedIn, StackOverflow & Levels.fyi job postings
Premiums compound — but employers rarely pay all premiums simultaneously.
Air Traffic Controller Intelligence Report
Career metrics and full compensation breakdown — from BLS demand data
Career Opportunity Score
Composite: demand growth × 1.4 + (100 − AI risk) × 0.4
Total Compensation — Air Traffic Controller
Beyond base salary: bonus, equity, and benefits
Sources: Levels.fyi TC data, LinkedIn Salary Insights, Robert Half 2025 Guide.
Typical Benefits for Air Traffic Controllers
Often adds 20–35% to your effective pay
Compare Air Traffic Controller Salaries by City
How Philadelphia, PA stacks up against other major markets
| City | Median | P75 | vs US avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PA (current) | $138,291 | $172,739+ | +5% |
| New York, NY | $186,367 | $232,790+ | +41% |
| San Francisco, CA | $220,334 | $275,218+ | +67% |
| Seattle, WA | $183,282 | $228,937+ | +39% |
| Austin, TX | $144,888 | $180,979+ | +10% |
| Boston, MA | $179,940 | $224,762+ | +36% |
| Chicago, IL | $151,880 | $189,713+ | +15% |
| Los Angeles, CA | $187,007 | $233,590+ | +42% |
| Denver, CO | $152,102 | $189,990+ | +15% |
Official Salary Career GPS™
What should I do next as a Air Traffic Controller?
Higher-paying roles in the same field
Other Transportation Jobs in Philadelphia
Same industry, same city
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Air Traffic Controller salary in Philadelphia, PA?
The median Air Traffic Controller salary in Philadelphia, PA is $138K per year (2026), based on BLS OEWS employer payroll data from 1.1 million employers. The top 25% earn $173K+ per year.
What is a good Air Traffic Controller salary in Philadelphia, PA?
The 75th percentile ($173K/yr) is the professional benchmark — what the top quarter already earns. It's a documented, negotiable target backed by BLS payroll data. Anything above the median ($138K) is above-average for this role in Philadelphia, PA.
How much does a Air Traffic Controller earn per hour in Philadelphia, PA?
Based on the median annual salary of $138K, a Air Traffic Controller in Philadelphia, PA earns approximately $66/hr (2,080-hour work year). The P75 rate is ~$83/hr.
Is Philadelphia, PA a good market for Air Traffic Controllers?
Philadelphia, PA pays 5% above the US national average for this role. Demand for Air Traffic Controllers is growing 3% annually, and AI automation risk is rated low for this occupation.
How do I negotiate a higher Air Traffic Controller salary in Philadelphia, PA?
Cite the BLS P75 figure ($173K) — it is verifiable public data from government payroll records. Request the full compensation package: base + equity/bonus + benefits. Timing matters: negotiate at the offer stage, not after acceptance. Counter with a specific number, not a range.
How Is This Salary Calculated?
Every number is derived from a transparent, reproducible methodology — no estimates, no black boxes.
Where does the salary data come from?
All US figures come from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey — a mandatory biannual survey of 1.1 million US employers who report actual payroll data.
How is the Philadelphia figure calculated?
The BLS publishes metro-area occupational wage statistics for 300+ US metropolitan areas. For Philadelphia, Official Salary uses the BLS metro premium ratio (metro median ÷ national median) and applies it to the national baseline.
What do P10, P25, P50, P75, and P90 mean?
These are salary percentiles from employer payroll records. P50 (median) means 50% of workers earn less. P75 means 75% earn less — this is the recommended negotiation anchor. P10 and P90 represent the bottom 10% and top 10% respectively.
How is take-home pay estimated?
Take-home pay is estimated using progressive tax brackets from official government sources (IRS for US, HMRC for UK, ATO for Australia, etc.). Social contributions (National Insurance, FICA, etc.) are added. These are estimates — actual take-home depends on deductions, filing status, and location.
How often is data updated?
US BLS salary data refreshes every 24 hours via the BLS public API. OECD international wages refresh monthly. ECB currency rates refresh every 4 hours.
Full formulas and source citations on the methodology page.
What a Air Traffic Controller salary really means in Philadelphia
Take-home pay, rent affordability, and remote benchmarking — on the $138,291 median.
Estimated take-home
≈ $8,749/month net
- Gross median
- $138,291
- Income tax
- −$22,728
- Social / FICA
- −$10,579
- Effective rate
- 24%
Federal income tax only (FICA included). State income tax varies. Single-filer estimate — not tax advice.
Rent affordability
of take-home on a typical 1-bed (~$1,268/mo)
The 30% rule says housing should stay under 30% of take-home. Here it's comfortably within that line. After all living costs (~$3,020/mo), roughly $5,729/mo is left to save or invest.
Cost-of-living estimate for Philadelphia; rent ≈ 42% of budget.
Remote vs onsite
typical fully-remote benchmark range
Onsite Air Traffic Controllers in Philadelphia earn the local median of $138,291. Fully-remote roles are usually benchmarked between the US median ($132,000) and the local rate — employers increasingly set remote pay by national or regional bands, not your city.
Compare all Air Traffic Controller markets →Education Premium — Air Traffic Controller
How degree level affects salary · ACS Census data
Source: US Census Bureau ACS PUMS · BLS OES wage data.
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Air Traffic Controller in Other Cities
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Data Source & Attribution
Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (1.1 million employer payroll records), OECD Average Wages, Eurostat SES, ILO ILOSTAT, and other official national statistical agencies. Data is updated via ISR and reflects the most recent release cycle.