Best cities for a traffic controller
The best cities for traffic controllers are Philadelphia, PA, Madison, WI, and Columbus, OH, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for traffic controllers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for traffic controllers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a traffic controller or considering a move, this list of the best cities for traffic controllers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for traffic controllers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a traffic controller. While the absolute best city for traffic controllers is Philadelphia, PA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for traffic controllers in 2024.
If you're looking for a traffic controller job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for traffic controllers in 2025
1. Philadelphia, PA
Total traffic controller jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $44,542 Lowest 10 percent warn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Location quotient: 1.39 2. Madison, WI
Total traffic controller jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $41,938 Lowest 10 percent warn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Location quotient: 3.70 3. Columbus, OH
Total traffic controller jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $38,118 Lowest 10 percent warn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Location quotient: 7.54 4. Cincinnati, OH
Total traffic controller jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $36,989 Lowest 10 percent warn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Detroit, MI
Total traffic controller jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $44,570 Lowest 10 percent warn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Anchorage, AK
Total traffic controller jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $48,107 Lowest 10 percent warn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Fort Wayne, IN
Total traffic controller jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $41,274 Lowest 10 percent warn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Milwaukee, WI
Total traffic controller jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $42,211 Lowest 10 percent warn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Tucson, AZ
Total traffic controller jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $39,672 Lowest 10 percent warn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Durham, NC
Total traffic controller jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $37,444 Lowest 10 percent warn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Location quotient: 10.32
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Best cities for traffic controllers
- Philadelphia, PA
- Madison, WI
- Columbus, OH
- Cincinnati, OH
- Detroit, MI
- Anchorage, AK
- Fort Wayne, IN
- Milwaukee, WI
- Tucson, AZ
- Durham, NC
- (2 traffic controller jobs)
- (2 traffic controller jobs)
- (10 traffic controller jobs)
- (0 traffic controller jobs)
- (0 traffic controller jobs)
- (0 traffic controller jobs)
- (0 traffic controller jobs)
- (0 traffic controller jobs)
- (0 traffic controller jobs)
- (5 traffic controller jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a traffic controller
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia, PA | $44,542 | $28,000 | 1,567,872 | 2 |
| 2 | Madison, WI | $41,938 | $29,000 | 252,551 | 2 |
| 3 | Columbus, OH | $38,118 | $26,000 | 860,090 | 10 |
| 4 | Cincinnati, OH | $36,989 | $25,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 5 | Detroit, MI | $44,570 | $30,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 6 | Anchorage, AK | $48,107 | $29,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 7 | Fort Wayne, IN | $41,274 | $28,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 8 | Milwaukee, WI | $42,211 | $29,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 9 | Tucson, AZ | $39,672 | $25,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 10 | Durham, NC | $37,444 | $25,000 | 263,016 | 5 |
| 11 | Pittsburgh, PA | $41,486 | $27,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 12 | Chandler, AZ | $39,386 | $25,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 13 | Cleveland, OH | $39,977 | $27,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 14 | Glendale, AZ | $39,361 | $25,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 15 | Gilbert, AZ | $39,356 | $25,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 16 | Toledo, OH | $39,416 | $27,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 17 | Omaha, NE | $41,715 | $29,000 | 446,970 | - |
| 18 | Lincoln, NE | $41,214 | $28,000 | 280,364 | - |
| 19 | Phoenix, AZ | $39,310 | $25,000 | 1,615,017 | - |
| 20 | Indianapolis, IN | $39,930 | $27,000 | 855,164 | - |
| 21 | Mesa, AZ | $39,294 | $25,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 22 | Raleigh, NC | $37,355 | $25,000 | 458,880 | 2 |
| 23 | Scottsdale, AZ | $39,164 | $25,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 24 | Nashville, TN | $38,119 | $26,000 | 660,388 | - |
| 25 | Las Vegas, NV | $38,064 | $23,000 | 632,912 | 4 |
| 26 | Memphis, TN | $37,020 | $26,000 | 652,717 | - |
| 27 | Lexington, KY | $36,139 | $25,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 28 | Saint Louis, MO | $40,406 | $28,000 | 311,404 | - |
| 29 | Albuquerque, NM | $38,067 | $25,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 30 | Henderson, NV | $38,264 | $24,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 31 | Louisville, KY | $36,016 | $25,000 | 597,337 | - |
| 32 | Saint Paul, MN | $41,282 | $30,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 33 | Kansas City, MO | $40,028 | $28,000 | 481,420 | - |
| 34 | Boston, MA | $43,835 | $28,000 | 673,184 | - |
| 35 | Minneapolis, MN | $41,276 | $30,000 | 413,651 | - |
| 36 | Greensboro, NC | $37,146 | $25,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 37 | Winston-Salem, NC | $36,986 | $25,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 38 | Atlanta, GA | $36,889 | $25,000 | 472,522 | 3 |
| 39 | Charlotte, NC | $35,971 | $24,000 | 842,051 | 3 |
| 40 | North Las Vegas, NV | $37,844 | $23,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 41 | Chesapeake, VA | $40,293 | $26,000 | 237,940 | 1 |
| 42 | Islip, NY | $40,428 | $25,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 43 | Brookhaven, NY | $40,404 | $25,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 44 | Oyster Bay, NY | $40,346 | $25,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 45 | Reno, NV | $36,079 | $22,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 46 | Hempstead, NY | $40,341 | $25,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 47 | New York, NY | $40,229 | $25,000 | 8,537,673 | - |
| 48 | Tulsa, OK | $34,489 | $24,000 | 403,090 | - |
| 49 | Oklahoma City, OK | $34,386 | $24,000 | 638,367 | - |
| 50 | New Orleans, LA | $34,835 | $24,000 | 391,495 | - |
Highest paying cities for traffic controllers
| Rank | City | Avg. traffic controller salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hartford, CT | $44,882 |
| 2 | Lansing, MI | $44,370 |
| 3 | Eau Claire, WI | $42,839 |
| 4 | Crofton, MD | $42,598 |
| 5 | Arlington, VA | $42,270 |
| 6 | Cleveland, OH | $39,977 |
| 7 | Grandview, MO | $39,792 |
| 8 | Greenwood, IN | $39,780 |
| 9 | Hobbs, NM | $39,680 |
| 10 | Morgantown, WV | $39,322 |
| 11 | Los Angeles, CA | $38,333 |
| 12 | Atlanta, GA | $36,889 |
| 13 | Charlotte, NC | $35,971 |
| 14 | Denver, CO | $35,919 |
| 15 | Fort Lauderdale, FL | $35,171 |
| 16 | Laredo, TX | $33,413 |
| 17 | Bellingham, WA | $32,078 |
| 18 | Atlantic City, NJ | $29,474 |
| 19 | Kansas City, KS | $24,144 |
Traffic controller best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025