GOD IS NOT MOCKED: Cause and Effect, Sow and Reap
without prejudiceOPINION
AIN’T KARMA CAN BE SUCH A BITCH
The 40 affected high impact airports include:
ANC – Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport
ATL – Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
BOS – Boston Logan International Airport
BWI – Baltimore/Washington International Airport
CLT – Charlotte Douglas International Airport
CVG – Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport
DAL – Dallas Love Field
DCA – Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
DEN – Denver International Airport
DFW – Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
DTW – Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
EWR – Newark Liberty International Airport
FLL – Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport
HNL – Honolulu International Airport
HOU – William P. Hobby Airport
IAD – Washington Dulles International Airport
IAH – George Bush Houston Intercontinental Airport
IND – Indianapolis International Airport
JFK – New York John F. Kennedy International Airport
LAS – Las Vegas McCarran International Airport
LAX – Los Angeles International Airport
LGA – New York LaGuardia Airport
MCO – Orlando International Airport
MDW – Chicago Midway International Airport
MEM – Memphis International Airport
MIA – Miami International Airport
MSP – Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport
OAK – Oakland International Airport
ONT – Ontario International Airport
ORD – Chicago O’Hare International Airport
PDX – Portland International Airport
PHL – Philadelphia International Airport
PHX – Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
SAN – San Diego International Airport
SDF – Louisville International Airport
SEA – Seattle–Tacoma International Airport
SFO – San Francisco International Airport
SLC – Salt Lake City International Airport
TEB – Teterboro Airport
TPA – Tampa International Airport
THE MEDIAN ANNUAL SALARY for federal air traffic controllers in the US was $137,380 as of May 2023. Salaries vary widely based on experience, location, and specific role, with the highest 10% earning over $200,990 annually and the lowest 10% earning less than $76,190. For example, the average salary in Virginia was around $164,940, while the average in West Virginia was about $74,940.
By location (average) 2023
Virginia: $164,940 Population: 8.811 million (2024)
West Virginia: $74,940 Population: 1.77 million (2024)
New Hampshire: $163,030 Population: 1.409 million (2024)
Illinois: $160,010 Population: 12.71 million (2024)
Georgia: $158,890 Population: 11.18 million (2024)
California: $154,630 Population: 39.43 million (2024)
Texas: $153,050 Population: 31.29 million (2024)
Minnesota: $152,480 Population: 5.793 million (2024)
Colorado: $148,650 Population: 5.957 million (2024)
Washington: $141,980 Population: 7.958 million (2024)
2025 Individual airport-level medians are not publicly published by the FAA for privacy reasons, but estimates can be derived from the pay plan.
Below is a table with estimated medians for selected major US airports (tower/TRACON facilities), based on their FAA complexity levels and typical mid-career controllers (CPG 9–10, ~10 years’ service, including average locality pay).
These are approximations using 2025 pay plan data; actual pay includes overtime (often 10–20% extra) and premiums for shifts.
