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 23

Austin Liddy

Air Traffic Control/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$141,947

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $141,947
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $141,947
Pay grade: Jh
Work city: Daytona Beach
Work county: Volusia
Work state: Florida

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $141,947
Basic Pay (before locality): $121,509
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 120780127
Length of Service (Years): 6
Occupation Code (OPM): 2152
Pay Plan (OPM): AT

Austin Liddy works as a Air Traffic Control for Department of Transportation based in Daytona Beach, Florida. Austin earned $141,947 in 2024. Their pay grade is Jh.

Matthew Rowley

Air Traffic Control/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$141,947

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $141,947
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $141,947
Pay grade: Jh
Work city: Salt Lake City
Work county: Salt Lake
Work state: Utah

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $141,947
Basic Pay (before locality): $121,509
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 491700035
Length of Service (Years): 6
Occupation Code (OPM): 2152
Pay Plan (OPM): AT

At Department of Transportation, Matthew Rowley serves as a Air Traffic Control based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Their 2024 pay totaled $141,947. They are classified at grade Jh.

Griffin Swenson

Air Traffic Control/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$141,947

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $141,947
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $141,947
Pay grade: Jh
Work city: Salt Lake City
Work county: Salt Lake
Work state: Utah

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $141,947
Basic Pay (before locality): $121,509
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 491700035
Length of Service (Years): 6
Occupation Code (OPM): 2152
Pay Plan (OPM): AT

At Department of Transportation, Griffin Swenson serves as a Air Traffic Control based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Their 2024 pay totaled $141,947. They are classified at grade Jh.

Megan Doxey

Air Traffic Control/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$141,947

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $141,947
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $141,947
Pay grade: Jh
Work city: Salt Lake City
Work county: Salt Lake
Work state: Utah

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $141,947
Basic Pay (before locality): $121,509
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 491700035
Length of Service (Years): 7
Occupation Code (OPM): 2152
Pay Plan (OPM): AT

Megan Doxey holds the role of Air Traffic Control at Department of Transportation based in Salt Lake City, Utah. In 2024, their total compensation was $141,947. Their pay grade is Jh.

Chantilly Rawls

Air Traffic Control/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$141,927

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $139,741
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $2,186
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $141,927
Pay grade: Ij
Work city: San Antonio
Work county: Bexar
Work state: Texas

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $139,741
Basic Pay (before locality): $117,935
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 486090029
Length of Service (Years): 13
Occupation Code (OPM): 2152
Pay Plan (OPM): AT

Chantilly Rawls holds the role of Air Traffic Control at Department of Transportation based in San Antonio, Texas. In 2024, their total compensation was $141,927. Their pay grade is Ij.

Joseph Curran

Air Traffic Control/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$141,887

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $141,887
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $141,887
Pay grade: Jh
Work city: Tampa
Work county: Hillsborough
Work state: Florida

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $141,887
Basic Pay (before locality): $121,458
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 122950057
Length of Service (Years): 9
Occupation Code (OPM): 2152
Pay Plan (OPM): AT

At Department of Transportation, Joseph Curran serves as a Air Traffic Control based in Tampa, Florida. Their 2024 pay totaled $141,887. They are classified at grade Jh.

Aaron Graham

Air Traffic Control/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$141,862

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $141,862
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $141,862
Pay grade: Lh
Work city: Los Angeles
Work county: Los Angeles
Work state: California

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $141,862
Basic Pay (before locality): $104,433
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 061980037
Length of Service (Years): 11
Occupation Code (OPM): 2152
Pay Plan (OPM): AT

Aaron Graham holds the role of Air Traffic Control at Department of Transportation based in Los Angeles, California. In 2024, their total compensation was $141,862. Their pay grade is Lh.

Joshua Jenkins

Air Traffic Control/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$141,842

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $138,613
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $3,229
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $141,842
Pay grade: Gj
Work city: Asheville
Work county: Buncombe
Work state: North Carolina

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $138,613
Basic Pay (before locality): $118,655
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 370170021
Length of Service (Years): 13
Occupation Code (OPM): 2152
Pay Plan (OPM): AT

Joshua Jenkins is a Air Traffic Control at Department of Transportation based in Asheville, North Carolina. 2024 total compensation came to $141,842. They are classified at grade Gj.

Heflin Anderson

Air Traffic Control/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$141,834

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $141,834
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $141,834
Pay grade: Lh
Work city: San Diego
Work county: San Diego
Work state: California

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $141,834
Basic Pay (before locality): $106,602
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 063260073
Length of Service (Years): 9
Occupation Code (OPM): 2152
Pay Plan (OPM): AT

Heflin Anderson holds the role of Air Traffic Control at Department of Transportation based in San Diego, California. In 2024, their total compensation was $141,834. Their pay grade is Lh.

Sara Braymiller

Air Traffic Control/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$141,814

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $141,814
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $141,814
Pay grade: Ih
Work city: San Antonio
Work county: Bexar
Work state: Texas

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $141,814
Basic Pay (before locality): $119,684
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 486090029
Length of Service (Years): 22
Occupation Code (OPM): 2152
Pay Plan (OPM): AT

At Department of Transportation, Sara Braymiller serves as a Air Traffic Control based in San Antonio, Texas. Their 2024 pay totaled $141,814. They are classified at grade Ih.

Danielle Seedhouse

Air Traffic Control/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$141,795

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $141,795
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $141,795
Pay grade: Hh
Work city: Cleveland
Work county: Cuyahoga
Work state: Ohio

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $141,795
Basic Pay (before locality): $116,216
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 391680035
Length of Service (Years): 22
Occupation Code (OPM): 2152
Pay Plan (OPM): AT

Danielle Seedhouse holds the role of Air Traffic Control at Department of Transportation based in Cleveland, Ohio. In 2024, their total compensation was $141,795. Their pay grade is Hh.

Justin WilliamsMay be multiple

Air Traffic Control/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$141,789

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Pay grade: Fh
Work city: Bakersfield
Work county: Kern
Work state: California

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $133,467
Basic Pay (before locality): $98,253
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 060240029
Length of Service (Years): 13
Occupation Code (OPM): 2152
Pay Plan (OPM): AT

This Air Traffic Control record at Department of Transportation for Justin Williams may represent several individuals, totaling $141,789 in 2024.

Brandi Walker

Air Traffic Control/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$141,769

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $141,769
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $141,769
Pay grade: Ih
Work city: Myrtle Beach
Work county: Horry
Work state: South Carolina

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $141,769
Basic Pay (before locality): $121,357
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 451730051
Length of Service (Years): 20
Occupation Code (OPM): 2152
Pay Plan (OPM): AT

At Department of Transportation, Brandi Walker serves as a Air Traffic Control based in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Their 2024 pay totaled $141,769. They are classified at grade Ih.

Edward Rodriguez-Valerio

Air Traffic Control/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$141,766

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $141,766
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $141,766
Pay grade: II
Work city: San Juan
Work state: No Data Reported

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $141,766
Basic Pay (before locality): $121,354
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: RQ0930000
Length of Service (Years): 21
Occupation Code (OPM): 2152
Pay Plan (OPM): AT

At Department of Transportation, Edward Rodriguez-Valerio serves as a Air Traffic Control based in San Juan, No Data Reported. Their 2024 pay totaled $141,766. They are classified at grade II.

Brian Elliotte

Air Traffic Control/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$141,647

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $141,647
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $141,647
Pay grade: Jh
Work city: Nashville
Work county: Davidson
Work state: Tennessee

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $141,647
Basic Pay (before locality): $121,252
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 471760037
Length of Service (Years): 16
Occupation Code (OPM): 2152
Pay Plan (OPM): AT

At Department of Transportation, Brian Elliotte serves as a Air Traffic Control based in Nashville, Tennessee. Their 2024 pay totaled $141,647. They are classified at grade Jh.

Andre Beasley

Air Traffic Control/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$141,618

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $141,618
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $141,618
Pay grade: Ih
Work city: San Antonio
Work county: Bexar
Work state: Texas

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $141,618
Basic Pay (before locality): $119,519
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 486090029
Length of Service (Years): 25
Occupation Code (OPM): 2152
Pay Plan (OPM): AT

At Department of Transportation, Andre Beasley serves as a Air Traffic Control based in San Antonio, Texas. Their 2024 pay totaled $141,618. They are classified at grade Ih.

Liberman Chavez

Air Traffic Control/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$141,616

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $141,616
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $141,616
Pay grade: Hh
Work city: Albuquerque
Work county: Bernalillo
Work state: New Mexico

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $141,616
Basic Pay (before locality): $119,963
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 350030001
Length of Service (Years): 15
Occupation Code (OPM): 2152
Pay Plan (OPM): AT

Liberman Chavez is a Air Traffic Control at Department of Transportation based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. 2024 total compensation came to $141,616. They are classified at grade Hh.

Antrone Rogers

Air Traffic Control/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$141,616

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $141,616
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $141,616
Pay grade: Hh
Work city: Albuquerque
Work county: Bernalillo
Work state: New Mexico

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $141,616
Basic Pay (before locality): $119,963
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 350030001
Length of Service (Years): 16
Occupation Code (OPM): 2152
Pay Plan (OPM): AT

Antrone Rogers is a Air Traffic Control at Department of Transportation based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. 2024 total compensation came to $141,616. They are classified at grade Hh.

Wendy Smith

Air Traffic Control/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$141,616

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $141,616
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $141,616
Pay grade: Hh
Work city: Albuquerque
Work county: Bernalillo
Work state: New Mexico

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $141,616
Basic Pay (before locality): $119,963
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 350030001
Length of Service (Years): 15
Occupation Code (OPM): 2152
Pay Plan (OPM): AT

Wendy Smith works as a Air Traffic Control for Department of Transportation based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Wendy earned $141,616 in 2024. Their pay grade is Hh.

Francis Froehlich

Air Traffic Control/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$141,606

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $141,606
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $141,606
Pay grade: Ih
Work city: Grand Forks
Work county: Grand Forks
Work state: North Dakota

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $141,606
Basic Pay (before locality): $121,217
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 381280035
Length of Service (Years): 25
Occupation Code (OPM): 2152
Pay Plan (OPM): AT

Francis Froehlich holds the role of Air Traffic Control at Department of Transportation based in Grand Forks, North Dakota. In 2024, their total compensation was $141,606. Their pay grade is Ih.

Nicholas Perovich

Air Traffic Control/Department of Transportation

2024 total comp

$141,595

Sub-department: Federal Aviation Administration
Base pay: $141,595
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $141,595
Pay grade: Lh
Work city: Westbury
Work county: Nassau
Work state: New York

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $141,595
Basic Pay (before locality): $103,173
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 366550059
Length of Service (Years): 6
Occupation Code (OPM): 2152
Pay Plan (OPM): AT

Nicholas Perovich holds the role of Air Traffic Control at Department of Transportation based in Westbury, New York. In 2024, their total compensation was $141,595. Their pay grade is Lh.