Best cities for a controller

The best cities for controllers are Henderson, NV, Las Vegas, NV, and New York, NY, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for controllers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for controllers in the U.S.

Whether you're starting your career as a controller or considering a move, this list of the best cities for controllers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for controllers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a controller. While the absolute best city for controllers is Henderson, NV, there are plenty of other great places to consider.

Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for controllers in 2024.

If you're looking for a controller job, here are five companies hiring now:

10 best cities for controllers in 2025

1. Henderson, NV

Total controller jobs:	14
Average annual salary:	$98,256
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$67,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$143,000
Location quotient:	2.91

Controller jobs in Henderson

2. Las Vegas, NV

Total controller jobs:	71
Average annual salary:	$99,021
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$67,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$145,000
Location quotient:	1.74

Controller jobs in Las Vegas

3. New York, NY

Total controller jobs:	185
Average annual salary:	$121,157
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$83,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$175,000
Location quotient:	1.23

Controller jobs in New York

4. Oakland, CA

Total controller jobs:	25
Average annual salary:	$120,123
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$82,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$174,000
Location quotient:	1.51

Controller jobs in Oakland

5. Greensboro, NC

Total controller jobs:	20
Average annual salary:	$93,156
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$65,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$132,000
Location quotient:	1.51

Controller jobs in Greensboro

6. Glendale, AZ

Total controller jobs:	10
Average annual salary:	$95,065
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$65,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$137,000
Location quotient:	2.09

Controller jobs in Glendale

7. Gilbert, AZ

Total controller jobs:	9
Average annual salary:	$94,728
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$65,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$136,000
Location quotient:	2.15

Controller jobs in Gilbert

8. North Las Vegas, NV

Total controller jobs:	2
Average annual salary:	$98,806
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$67,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$144,000
Location quotient:	1.05

9. Reno, NV

Total controller jobs:	12
Average annual salary:	$102,778
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$70,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$148,000
Location quotient:	0.92

Controller jobs in Reno

10. Fresno, CA

Total controller jobs:	13
Average annual salary:	$116,676
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$79,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$170,000
Location quotient:	1.34

Controller jobs in Fresno

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Best cities for controllers

Henderson, NV
Las Vegas, NV
New York, NY
Oakland, CA
Greensboro, NC
Glendale, AZ
Gilbert, AZ
North Las Vegas, NV
Reno, NV
Fresno, CA

Detailed list of the best cities for a controller

Rank	City	Average salary	Lowest 10% Earn	Population	Job count
1	Henderson, NV	$98,256	$67,000	292,969	14
2	Las Vegas, NV	$99,021	$67,000	632,912	71
3	New York, NY	$121,157	$83,000	8,537,673	185
4	Oakland, CA	$120,123	$82,000	420,005	25
5	Greensboro, NC	$93,156	$65,000	287,027	20
6	Glendale, AZ	$95,065	$65,000	245,895	10
7	Gilbert, AZ	$94,728	$65,000	237,133	9
8	North Las Vegas, NV	$98,806	$67,000	238,702	2
9	Reno, NV	$102,778	$70,000	245,255	12
10	Fresno, CA	$116,676	$79,000	522,053	13
11	Milwaukee, WI	$94,241	$65,000	595,047	29
12	Laredo, TX	$91,594	$63,000	257,156	6
13	Cleveland, OH	$90,642	$62,000	385,809	26
14	Philadelphia, PA	$103,476	$71,000	1,567,872	59
15	Detroit, MI	$93,938	$64,000	672,795	31
16	Virginia Beach, VA	$102,413	$71,000	452,602	21
17	Tucson, AZ	$93,885	$65,000	530,706	23
18	Sacramento, CA	$118,235	$81,000	495,234	33
19	Fremont, CA	$119,778	$82,000	233,136	29
20	Boston, MA	$112,814	$78,000	673,184	91
21	Houston, TX	$92,068	$63,000	2,303,482	235
22	Buffalo, NY	$119,015	$81,000	256,902	11
23	Lexington, KY	$89,271	$62,000	318,449	9
24	Louisville, KY	$88,173	$61,000	597,337	25
25	San Antonio, TX	$92,304	$63,000	1,492,510	50
26	Anaheim, CA	$105,507	$72,000	351,043	17
27	Saint Paul, MN	$93,776	$65,000	302,398	35
28	Chesapeake, VA	$102,079	$71,000	237,940	5
29	Memphis, TN	$83,455	$58,000	652,717	38
30	Pittsburgh, PA	$100,036	$68,000	303,625	29
31	Los Angeles, CA	$106,891	$73,000	3,976,322	209
32	Dallas, TX	$88,104	$61,000	1,317,929	118
33	Raleigh, NC	$93,723	$65,000	458,880	27
34	Fort Wayne, IN	$88,306	$60,000	264,488	8
35	San Francisco, CA	$120,399	$82,000	870,887	99
36	Newark, NJ	$113,894	$78,000	281,764	11
37	Long Beach, CA	$105,698	$72,000	470,130	13
38	Minneapolis, MN	$93,663	$65,000	413,651	58
39	Scottsdale, AZ	$94,969	$65,000	246,645	12
40	Phoenix, AZ	$95,033	$65,000	1,615,017	71
41	Charlotte, NC	$91,403	$64,000	842,051	76
42	Hialeah, FL	$79,145	$55,000	236,387	14
43	Baltimore, MD	$104,004	$71,000	614,664	57
44	Islip, NY	$121,744	$83,000	335,543	-
45	Oyster Bay, NY	$121,594	$83,000	293,214	-
46	Garland, TX	$87,674	$61,000	234,943	3
47	Brookhaven, NY	$122,030	$84,000	486,040	-
48	Hempstead, NY	$121,368	$83,000	759,757	-
49	Durham, NC	$93,757	$65,000	263,016	13
50	Norfolk, VA	$102,275	$71,000	245,115	10

Highest paying cities for controllers

Rank	City	Avg. controller salary
1	Portland, ME	$121,606
2	New York, NY	$121,157
3	San Francisco, CA	$120,399
4	Jersey City, NJ	$113,947
5	Boston, MA	$112,814
6	Baltimore, MD	$104,004
7	Seattle, WA	$103,734
8	Philadelphia, PA	$103,476
9	Washington, DC	$101,435
10	Las Vegas, NV	$99,021
11	Portland, OR	$96,765
12	Phoenix, AZ	$95,033
13	Detroit, MI	$93,938
14	Raleigh, NC	$93,723
15	Minneapolis, MN	$93,663
16	San Antonio, TX	$92,304
17	Chicago, IL	$92,188
18	Cleveland, OH	$90,642
19	Knoxville, TN	$87,400
20	Saint Louis, MO	$86,517