U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense) / Department of Transportation / Air Traffic Control

Job-title file

Air Traffic Control

Carry out the duties of this position in support of the agency's public mission.

17,900 employees hold this title in Department of Transportation. Median total compensation for the role is $161,255, above the department median of $137,624.

Employees: 17,900
Total payroll: $2.7B
Role median: $161,255
Agency median: $137,624
Comparison: Above

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

$35,947$228,021+

Hover a bar for its range; click to filter the list below.

How total compensation varies among the 17,900 people in this role. Even for one job title, pay differs with seniority, step, overtime, and tenure. Each bar is a pay range; the far-right bar collects the highest earners.

Compared with the local labor market

Air Traffic Control pay vs. the United States

Across all employers in the United States, the median wage for Air Traffic Controllers — about 22,510 people — is $148,080. Department of Transportation pays a median base salary of $160,587 for this role, 8% above that figure — about the 57th percentile of local pay for the occupation.

Where Department of Transportation sits in the local pay range

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$78,420

$104,520

$148,080

$190,570

$215,610

Department of Transportation median · $160,587

The bar is the range of annual wages for Air Traffic Controllers across every employer in the United States, from the 10th to the 90th percentile, with the middle 50% highlighted. The marker shows Department of Transportation’s median base salary for this role. Both figures are base pay only.

Computed over the 17,550 of 17,900 people in this role paid at least $25,000 in base salary. The rest are part-year or part-time records, whose actual pay isn’t comparable to a full-time annual wage.

Median total compensation for this role at Department of Transportation is $161,255, which includes overtime and employer-paid benefits. The benchmark above excludes both, so total compensation is deliberately not compared against it.

Benchmark: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025). BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) covers all employers in the area — private, non-profit, and government alike — so this is a comparison against the whole local labor market for the occupation, not against private-sector pay. OEWS wages are straight-time pay and exclude overtime, shift differentials, and employer-paid benefits, so the government figure shown here is base pay on the same basis. Total compensation is not comparable to it. Job titles are matched to the closest standard occupation, so the comparison is between similar work rather than an identical job classification.

Record list

Employees with this title

Page 22

Brandon Waldon

Air Traffic Control/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$94,037

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $94,037
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $94,037
Pay grade: Eh
Work city: Philadelphia
Work county: Philadelphia
Work state: Pennsylvania

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $94,037
Basic Pay (before locality): $73,152
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 426540101
Length of Service (Years): 13
Occupation Code (OPM): 2152
Pay Plan (OPM): AT

At Department of Transportation, Brandon Waldon serves as a Air Traffic Control based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Their 2024 pay totaled $94,037. They are classified at grade Eh.

Jeremy Polhamus

Air Traffic Control/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$93,995

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $93,995
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $93,995
Pay grade: Eh
Work city: Johnson City
Work county: Broome
Work state: New York

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $93,995
Basic Pay (before locality): $80,461
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 362970007
Length of Service (Years): 18
Occupation Code (OPM): 2152
Pay Plan (OPM): AT

Jeremy Polhamus holds the role of Air Traffic Control at Department of Transportation based in Johnson City, New York. In 2024, their total compensation was $93,995. Their pay grade is Eh.

Michael Francom

Air Traffic Control/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$93,995

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $93,995
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $93,995
Pay grade: Eh
Work city: Twin Falls
Work county: Twin Falls
Work state: Idaho

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $93,995
Basic Pay (before locality): $80,461
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 161830083
Length of Service (Years): 15
Occupation Code (OPM): 2152
Pay Plan (OPM): AT

Michael Francom is a Air Traffic Control at Department of Transportation based in Twin Falls, Idaho. 2024 total compensation came to $93,995. They are classified at grade Eh.

Keith Arehart

Air Traffic Control/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$93,995

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $93,995
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $93,995
Pay grade: Eh
Work city: Waterloo
Work county: Black Hawk
Work state: Iowa

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $93,995
Basic Pay (before locality): $80,461
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 198790013
Length of Service (Years): 12
Occupation Code (OPM): 2152
Pay Plan (OPM): AT

Keith Arehart holds the role of Air Traffic Control at Department of Transportation based in Waterloo, Iowa. In 2024, their total compensation was $93,995. Their pay grade is Eh.

Ty Hayman

Air Traffic Control/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$93,995

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $93,995
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $93,995
Pay grade: Eh
Work city: Traverse City
Work county: Grand Traverse
Work state: Michigan

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $93,995
Basic Pay (before locality): $80,461
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 264880055
Length of Service (Years): 16
Occupation Code (OPM): 2152
Pay Plan (OPM): AT

Ty Hayman is a Air Traffic Control at Department of Transportation based in Traverse City, Michigan. 2024 total compensation came to $93,995. They are classified at grade Eh.

Tyler Klingaman

Air Traffic Control/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$93,995

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $93,995
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $93,995
Pay grade: Eh
Work city: Waterloo
Work county: Black Hawk
Work state: Iowa

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $93,995
Basic Pay (before locality): $80,461
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 198790013
Length of Service (Years): 15
Occupation Code (OPM): 2152
Pay Plan (OPM): AT

Tyler Klingaman holds the role of Air Traffic Control at Department of Transportation based in Waterloo, Iowa. In 2024, their total compensation was $93,995. Their pay grade is Eh.

Timothy Mailes

Air Traffic Control/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$93,995

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $93,995
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $93,995
Pay grade: Eh
Work city: Waterloo
Work county: Black Hawk
Work state: Iowa

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $93,995
Basic Pay (before locality): $80,461
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 198790013
Length of Service (Years): 24
Occupation Code (OPM): 2152
Pay Plan (OPM): AT

Timothy Mailes works as a Air Traffic Control for Department of Transportation based in Waterloo, Iowa. Timothy earned $93,995 in 2024. Their pay grade is Eh.

Jayson Yabut

Air Traffic Control/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$93,995

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $93,995
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $93,995
Pay grade: Eh
Work city: Johnson City
Work county: Broome
Work state: New York

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $93,995
Basic Pay (before locality): $80,461
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 362970007
Length of Service (Years): 15
Occupation Code (OPM): 2152
Pay Plan (OPM): AT

Jayson Yabut holds the role of Air Traffic Control at Department of Transportation based in Johnson City, New York. In 2024, their total compensation was $93,995. Their pay grade is Eh.

Danielle Polhamus

Air Traffic Control/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$93,995

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $93,995
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $93,995
Pay grade: Eh
Work city: Johnson City
Work county: Broome
Work state: New York

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $93,995
Basic Pay (before locality): $80,461
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 362970007
Length of Service (Years): 12
Occupation Code (OPM): 2152
Pay Plan (OPM): AT

Danielle Polhamus is a Air Traffic Control at Department of Transportation based in Johnson City, New York. 2024 total compensation came to $93,995. They are classified at grade Eh.

Dannie Hallin

Air Traffic Control/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$93,961

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $93,961
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $93,961
Pay grade: Eh
Work city: Kansas City
Work county: Clay
Work state: Missouri

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $93,961
Basic Pay (before locality): $79,192
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 294120047
Length of Service (Years): 11
Occupation Code (OPM): 2152
Pay Plan (OPM): AT

At Department of Transportation, Dannie Hallin serves as a Air Traffic Control based in Kansas City, Missouri. Their 2024 pay totaled $93,961. They are classified at grade Eh.

Ashley Barber

Air Traffic Control/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$93,958

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $93,958
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $93,958
Pay grade: Fh
Work city: Fayetteville
Work county: Cumberland
Work state: North Carolina

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $93,958
Basic Pay (before locality): $77,078
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 371670051
Length of Service (Years): 14
Occupation Code (OPM): 2152
Pay Plan (OPM): AT

At Department of Transportation, Ashley Barber serves as a Air Traffic Control based in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Their 2024 pay totaled $93,958. They are classified at grade Fh.

Matthew Schweizer

Air Traffic Control/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$93,897

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $93,897
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $93,897
Pay grade: Ah
Work city: Kenai
Work county: Kenai Peninsula
Work state: Alaska

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $93,897
Basic Pay (before locality): $71,156
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 021240122
Length of Service (Years): 5
Occupation Code (OPM): 2152
Pay Plan (OPM): AT

At Department of Transportation, Matthew Schweizer serves as a Air Traffic Control based in Kenai, Alaska. Their 2024 pay totaled $93,897. They are classified at grade Ah.

Kelly Wilson

Air Traffic Control/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$93,888

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $93,888
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $93,888
Pay grade: Dh
Work city: Freeland
Work county: Saginaw
Work state: Michigan

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $93,888
Basic Pay (before locality): $80,370
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 261815145
Length of Service (Years): 9
Occupation Code (OPM): 2152
Pay Plan (OPM): AT

Kelly Wilson works as a Air Traffic Control for Department of Transportation based in Freeland, Michigan. Kelly earned $93,888 in 2024. Their pay grade is Dh.

Krystal Dale

Air Traffic Control/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$93,888

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $93,888
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $93,888
Pay grade: Dh
Work city: Saint Thomas
Work state: No Data Reported

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $93,888
Basic Pay (before locality): $80,370
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: VQ0900000
Length of Service (Years): 9
Occupation Code (OPM): 2152
Pay Plan (OPM): AT

Krystal Dale works as a Air Traffic Control for Department of Transportation based in Saint Thomas, No Data Reported. Krystal earned $93,888 in 2024. Their pay grade is Dh.

Amanda Sutton

Air Traffic Control/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$93,888

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $93,888
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $93,888
Pay grade: Dh
Work city: Beaumont
Work county: Jefferson
Work state: Texas

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $93,888
Basic Pay (before locality): $80,370
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 480490245
Length of Service (Years): 16
Occupation Code (OPM): 2152
Pay Plan (OPM): AT

Amanda Sutton works as a Air Traffic Control for Department of Transportation based in Beaumont, Texas. Amanda earned $93,888 in 2024. Their pay grade is Dh.

Brittany Jelenc

Air Traffic Control/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$93,879

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $93,879
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $93,879
Pay grade: Eh
Work city: Champaign
Work county: Champaign
Work state: Illinois

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $93,879
Basic Pay (before locality): $80,362
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 171550019
Length of Service (Years): 7
Occupation Code (OPM): 2152
Pay Plan (OPM): AT

Brittany Jelenc works as a Air Traffic Control for Department of Transportation based in Champaign, Illinois. Brittany earned $93,879 in 2024. Their pay grade is Eh.

Patrick Hayden

Air Traffic Control/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$93,867

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $93,867
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $93,867
Pay grade: Fh
Work city: Richmond
Work county: Richmond
Work state: Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $93,867
Basic Pay (before locality): $76,997
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 512060760
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 2152
Pay Plan (OPM): AT

Patrick Hayden works as a Air Traffic Control for Department of Transportation based in Richmond, Virginia. Patrick earned $93,867 in 2024. Their pay grade is Fh.

Christopher Elmhami

Air Traffic Control/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$93,819

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $93,819
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $93,819
Pay grade: Hh
Work city: Corpus Christi
Work county: Nueces
Work state: Texas

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $93,819
Basic Pay (before locality): $79,914
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 481550355
Length of Service (Years): 2
Occupation Code (OPM): 2152
Pay Plan (OPM): AT

At Department of Transportation, Christopher Elmhami serves as a Air Traffic Control based in Corpus Christi, Texas. Their 2024 pay totaled $93,819. They are classified at grade Hh.

Christopher Waters

Air Traffic Control/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$93,758

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $93,758
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $93,758
Pay grade: Ah
Work city: Fairbanks
Work county: Fairbanks North Star
Work state: Alaska

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $93,758
Basic Pay (before locality): $71,050
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 020770090
Length of Service (Years): 11
Occupation Code (OPM): 2152
Pay Plan (OPM): AT

Christopher Waters works as a Air Traffic Control for Department of Transportation based in Fairbanks, Alaska. Christopher earned $93,758 in 2024. Their pay grade is Ah.

Jeremy Curd

Air Traffic Control/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$93,679

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $93,679
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $93,679
Pay grade: Eh
Work city: Vienna
Work county: Trumbull
Work state: Ohio

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $93,679
Basic Pay (before locality): $76,780
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 398440155
Length of Service (Years): 6
Occupation Code (OPM): 2152
Pay Plan (OPM): AT

Jeremy Curd works as a Air Traffic Control for Department of Transportation based in Vienna, Ohio. Jeremy earned $93,679 in 2024. Their pay grade is Eh.

Benjamin Minard

Air Traffic Control/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$93,642

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $93,642
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $93,642
Pay grade: Eh
Work city: Peoria
Work county: Peoria
Work state: Illinois

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $93,642
Basic Pay (before locality): $80,159
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 176850143
Length of Service (Years): 7
Occupation Code (OPM): 2152
Pay Plan (OPM): AT

Benjamin Minard is a Air Traffic Control at Department of Transportation based in Peoria, Illinois. 2024 total compensation came to $93,642. They are classified at grade Eh.

William Renftle

Air Traffic Control/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$93,620

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $93,620
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $93,620
Pay grade: Ih
Work city: Pensacola
Work county: Escambia
Work state: Florida

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $93,620
Basic Pay (before locality): $80,140
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 122490033
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 2152
Pay Plan (OPM): AT

William Renftle is a Air Traffic Control at Department of Transportation based in Pensacola, Florida. 2024 total compensation came to $93,620. They are classified at grade Ih.

Marshall Cook

Air Traffic Control/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$93,577

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $93,577
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $93,577
Pay grade: Eh
Work city: Manassas
Work county: Manassas
Work state: Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $93,577
Basic Pay (before locality): $70,221
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 511550683
Length of Service (Years): 4
Occupation Code (OPM): 2152
Pay Plan (OPM): AT

Marshall Cook holds the role of Air Traffic Control at Department of Transportation based in Manassas, Virginia. In 2024, their total compensation was $93,577. Their pay grade is Eh.