Median annual wage
$160,080
Official BLS data · Salary Explorer
Air Traffic Controllers Salary in California
See the latest Air Traffic Controllers salary data for California from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, including median and mean pay, wage percentiles, employment, U.S. comparison, and local-area estimates.
Mean annual wage
$156,910
Median hourly wage
$76.96
Employment
2,290
State vs. U.S.
California Salary Compared With the U.S.
The median annual wage for Air Traffic Controllers in California is 8.1% higher than the national median in the same OEWS release.
California median$160,080
U.S. median$148,080
This comparison describes the reported wage difference. It does not by itself establish why the difference exists.
Wage distribution
Air Traffic Controllers Salary Range in California
Percentiles show positions in the reported wage distribution. They are not direct measures of years of experience.
10th$80,960
25th$115,810
Median$160,080
75th$207,670
90th$225,680
Visual comparison
Wage Distribution at a Glance
This chart uses the same BLS annual wage percentiles shown above. Longer bars represent higher annual wage estimates.
Local comparison
Highest-Paying Areas for Air Traffic Controllers in California
These are the highest median annual wages among the 4 matching metropolitan or nonmetropolitan areas available to this page from the same BLS release.
| Area | Median annual | Mean annual | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $196,290 | $173,710 | 240 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $193,360 | $179,320 | 430 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $173,020 | $156,650 | 690 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $94,140 | $96,750 | 140 |
#1
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
Median annual$196,290
Mean annual$173,710
Employment240
#2
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
Median annual$193,360
Mean annual$179,320
Employment430
#3
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Median annual$173,020
Mean annual$156,650
Employment690
#4
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
Median annual$94,140
Mean annual$96,750
Employment140
Area estimates can include metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. Cross-state metropolitan areas may span more than one state.
How Much Do Air Traffic Controllers Make in California?
According to the OEWS figures used on this page, the median annual wage for Air Traffic Controllers in California is $160,080, while the mean annual wage is $156,910. The employment estimate is 2,290. These measures describe the occupation in the BLS dataset and should not be read as a guaranteed salary for an individual worker.
How California Compares With the U.S.
The national median in the same release is $148,080. That puts the California median about 8.1% above the U.S. median. This is a direct comparison of reported wage estimates; the data alone do not establish the reasons for the difference.
How to Read the Wage Percentiles
The annual wage distribution runs from $80,960 at the 10th percentile to $225,680 at the 90th percentile. Percentiles describe positions in the wage distribution. They should not automatically be treated as experience levels, so the 10th percentile is not necessarily an entry-level salary.
How to Use This Data
Use the state median, national comparison, wage percentiles, and local-area estimates together when researching pay. Actual compensation can vary by employer, schedule, specialty, experience, and other factors not directly measured on this page. The calculator provides a simple gross-pay conversion and is an estimate rather than a prediction of take-home pay.
Tool
Salary Calculator
Convert hourly and annual gross pay for a simple 40-hour-week benchmark. This does not estimate taxes, overtime, bonuses, benefits, or deductions.
Calculated annual equivalents may differ slightly from published BLS annual wages because hourly figures are rounded.
Quick answers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the median salary for Air Traffic Controllers in California?
The median annual wage in the May 2025 OEWS data shown on this page is $160,080.
What is the median hourly wage?
The median hourly wage shown for Air Traffic Controllers in California is $76.96.
Is the 10th percentile an entry-level salary?
No. The 10th percentile describes a point in the wage distribution; OEWS does not make it a direct measure of experience level.
How often is this page checked?
Curiworld Data checks the source on a scheduled basis and records the last successful update. New values are validated before they are approved for indexing.
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Related Salary Data
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Transparency
Methodology & Sources
Primary source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS).
Data period: May 2025
Last successful update: Aug 31, 2026
How it is produced: Curiworld Data retrieves official BLS datasets, validates required fields and unexpected changes, calculates comparisons, and presents the results in a readable format. Automated refreshes do not overwrite human-edited explanatory text.