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Best states for an air traffic controller
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for air traffic controllers in the United States. Air traffic controller positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for air traffic controllers.As air traffic controllers are popular in the U.S., we wanted to bring you a list of the best states for air traffic controllers. In case you are trying to decide where to start your career as an air traffic controller, or if you are considering moving to a different city or state, we got you covered.
In order to get you the best states for air traffic controllers, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.If you are currently seeking employment as an air traffic controller, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for air traffic controllers in 2026
1. Delaware
Total air traffic controller jobs: 38 Average annual salary: $62,801 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $117,000 Location Quotient: 1.45
2. Connecticut
Total air traffic controller jobs: 81 Average annual salary: $62,945 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $118,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
3. Michigan
Total air traffic controller jobs: 175 Average annual salary: $60,494 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location Quotient: 1.08
4. New Hampshire
Total air traffic controller jobs: 45 Average annual salary: $58,171 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $108,000 Location Quotient: 1.23
5. Pennsylvania
Total air traffic controller jobs: 227 Average annual salary: $62,873 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $117,000 Location Quotient: 0.93
6. Massachusetts
Total air traffic controller jobs: 197 Average annual salary: $60,200 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $113,000 Location Quotient: 1.03
7. District of Columbia
Total air traffic controller jobs: 47 Average annual salary: $60,516 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $112,000 Location Quotient: 1.34
8. Maryland
Total air traffic controller jobs: 131 Average annual salary: $61,258 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $114,000 Location Quotient: 0.99
9. Ohio
Total air traffic controller jobs: 233 Average annual salary: $52,958 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location Quotient: 1.09
10. Rhode Island
Total air traffic controller jobs: 18 Average annual salary: $61,701 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $116,000 Location Quotient: 0.71
Air traffic controller jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be an air traffic controller
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for an air traffic controller
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | $62,801 | $33,000 | 961,939 | 38 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $62,945 | $33,000 | 3,588,184 | 81 |
| 3 | Michigan | $60,494 | $34,000 | 9,962,311 | 175 |
| 4 | New Hampshire | $58,171 | $31,000 | 1,342,795 | 45 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $62,873 | $33,000 | 12,805,537 | 227 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $60,200 | $32,000 | 6,859,819 | 197 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $60,516 | $32,000 | 693,972 | 47 |
| 8 | Maryland | $61,258 | $32,000 | 6,052,177 | 131 |
| 9 | Ohio | $52,958 | $29,000 | 11,658,609 | 233 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $61,701 | $32,000 | 1,059,639 | 18 |
| 11 | Nevada | $52,607 | $27,000 | 2,998,039 | 68 |
| 12 | Wisconsin | $53,489 | $31,000 | 5,795,483 | 122 |
| 13 | Alaska | $59,098 | $31,000 | 739,795 | 16 |
| 14 | Virginia | $57,873 | $31,000 | 8,470,020 | 190 |
| 15 | Indiana | $52,083 | $29,000 | 6,666,818 | 140 |
| 16 | New Mexico | $53,091 | $29,000 | 2,088,070 | 40 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $49,105 | $30,000 | 5,576,606 | 170 |
| 18 | Vermont | $55,532 | $30,000 | 623,657 | 14 |
| 19 | Arizona | $54,135 | $29,000 | 7,016,270 | 113 |
| 20 | Maine | $55,999 | $30,000 | 1,335,907 | 18 |
| 21 | California | $51,763 | $27,000 | 39,536,653 | 728 |
| 22 | West Virginia | $52,732 | $29,000 | 1,815,857 | 7 |
| 23 | Mississippi | $48,301 | $27,000 | 2,984,100 | 41 |
| 24 | North Carolina | $49,582 | $27,000 | 10,273,419 | 178 |
| 25 | Tennessee | $47,982 | $27,000 | 6,715,984 | 89 |
| 26 | Colorado | $44,354 | $25,000 | 5,607,154 | 178 |
| 27 | North Dakota | $44,013 | $28,000 | 755,393 | 20 |
| 28 | Nebraska | $47,313 | $28,000 | 1,920,076 | 35 |
| 29 | Arkansas | $46,653 | $27,000 | 3,004,279 | 41 |
| 30 | Georgia | $47,011 | $27,000 | 10,429,379 | 191 |
| 31 | Missouri | $48,520 | $28,000 | 6,113,532 | 80 |
| 32 | Kentucky | $46,249 | $26,000 | 4,454,189 | 59 |
| 33 | Oregon | $42,403 | $22,000 | 4,142,776 | 110 |
| 34 | South Dakota | $44,125 | $26,000 | 869,666 | 21 |
| 35 | South Carolina | $43,447 | $24,000 | 5,024,369 | 99 |
| 36 | Wyoming | $39,796 | $23,000 | 579,315 | 16 |
| 37 | Florida | $44,496 | $25,000 | 20,984,400 | 307 |
| 38 | Texas | $43,461 | $24,000 | 28,304,596 | 424 |
| 39 | New York | $41,820 | $22,000 | 19,849,399 | 312 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $46,510 | $26,000 | 4,684,333 | 44 |
| 41 | New Jersey | $42,032 | $22,000 | 9,005,644 | 154 |
| 42 | Alabama | $43,974 | $25,000 | 4,874,747 | 64 |
| 43 | Utah | $38,265 | $21,000 | 3,101,833 | 75 |
| 44 | Hawaii | $36,094 | $24,000 | 1,427,538 | 19 |
| 45 | Illinois | $33,525 | $19,000 | 12,802,023 | 284 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $43,329 | $25,000 | 3,930,864 | 40 |
| 47 | Montana | $40,124 | $23,000 | 1,050,493 | 18 |
| 48 | Idaho | $40,471 | $22,000 | 1,716,943 | 23 |
| 49 | Washington | $35,636 | $19,000 | 7,405,743 | 119 |
| 50 | Kansas | $28,518 | $16,000 | 2,913,123 | 57 |
| 51 | Iowa | $30,858 | $18,000 | 3,145,711 | 53 |
Highest paying states for air traffic controllers
| Rank | State | Avg. Air Traffic Controller Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | $62,801 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $62,945 |
| 3 | Michigan | $60,494 |
| 4 | New Hampshire | $58,171 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $62,873 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $60,200 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $60,516 |
| 8 | Maryland | $61,258 |
| 9 | Ohio | $52,958 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $61,701 |
| 11 | Nevada | $52,607 |
| 12 | Wisconsin | $53,489 |
| 13 | Alaska | $59,098 |
| 14 | Virginia | $57,873 |
| 15 | Indiana | $52,083 |
| 16 | New Mexico | $53,091 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $49,105 |
| 18 | Vermont | $55,532 |
| 19 | Arizona | $54,135 |
| 20 | Maine | $55,999 |
| 21 | California | $51,763 |
| 22 | West Virginia | $52,732 |
| 23 | Mississippi | $48,301 |
| 24 | North Carolina | $49,582 |
| 25 | Tennessee | $47,982 |
| 26 | Colorado | $44,354 |
| 27 | North Dakota | $44,013 |
| 28 | Nebraska | $47,313 |
| 29 | Arkansas | $46,653 |
| 30 | Georgia | $47,011 |
| 31 | Missouri | $48,520 |
| 32 | Kentucky | $46,249 |
| 33 | Oregon | $42,403 |
| 34 | South Dakota | $44,125 |
| 35 | South Carolina | $43,447 |
| 36 | Wyoming | $39,796 |
| 37 | Florida | $44,496 |
| 38 | Texas | $43,461 |
| 39 | New York | $41,820 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $46,510 |
| 41 | New Jersey | $42,032 |
| 42 | Alabama | $43,974 |
| 43 | Utah | $38,265 |
| 44 | Hawaii | $36,094 |
| 45 | Illinois | $33,525 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $43,329 |
| 47 | Montana | $40,124 |
| 48 | Idaho | $40,471 |
| 49 | Washington | $35,636 |
| 50 | Kansas | $28,518 |
| 51 | Iowa | $30,858 |
Air traffic controller best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025