Air Traffic Controller.
Atlanta.
$132,000
median salary, 3% above the national average
$95,000 to $177,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
The median Air Traffic Controller salary in Atlanta is $132,000, 3% above the national average. Entry level starts near $95,000. Experienced professionals push past $177,000. Atlanta is a logistics and corporate powerhouse, home to Coca Cola, Delta, Home Depot, and UPS. That spread is your negotiation window. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page.
Salary range.
Where do you fall?
Orbyt estimate for Air Traffic Controller in Atlanta, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. The published government benchmark for this occupation is below.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $186,640 for Air Traffic Controllers (SOC 53-2021) in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metropolitan area, based on 810 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$111,160
25th percentile
$166,380
Median
$186,640
75th percentile
$209,370
90th percentile
$217,590
Workers surveyed
810
Why this differs from the estimate above. The Orbyt estimate of $132,000 is 29% lower than this published figure. That is usually not an error in either number: BLS reports by occupation code, and Air Traffic Controllers covers a different population than the Air Traffic Controller title as it is typically advertised. Both are shown, unreconciled, so you can judge which one describes the job you mean.
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Air Traffic Controllers (SOC 53-2021) rather than Air Traffic Controller specifically. The Atlanta range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 53-2021Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $119,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$86,000
to $106,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$112,000
to $139,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$145,000
to $172,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$165,000
to $205,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $28,000 to the total package.
Base
$132,000
Equity
$15,000
Bonus
$10,000
Signing
$3,000
Estimated total: $160,000
How Atlanta compares.
Atlanta, GA
$132,000
Cost of living: 2% above average
National Average
$128,000
Atlanta is $4,000 above
Air Traffic Controller salary by city.
Salary by role in Atlanta.
What you should know.
Before you negotiate an Air Traffic Controller offer in Atlanta, understand the terrain. Atlanta is a logistics and corporate powerhouse, home to Coca Cola, Delta, Home Depot, and UPS. The city's tech scene has expanded rapidly with major investments from Google, Microsoft, and a thriving fintech community. Atlanta offers strong salaries relative to its moderate cost of living, making it one of the best value metros for professionals. Facility level is the dominant factor, with controllers at high-traffic terminals and en-route centers earning significantly more than those at smaller towers. Geographic locality pay adjustments and overtime availability also create meaningful variance across positions.
Trainees at the FAA Academy earn $40,000 to $55,000. Certified professional controllers at lower-level facilities make $92,000 to $110,000. Moving to a high-level facility pushes pay to $140,000 to $172,000, with supervisory roles reaching $180,000 or more. In Atlanta, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.
Base salary is not the full picture. Federal controllers receive FERS retirement, Thrift Savings Plan matching up to 5%, and locality-adjusted pay. Premium pay for night shifts, holidays, and overtime can add 10 to 25% above base salary. And on the tax side: georgia has a graduated income tax with a top rate of 5.49%. Atlanta does not impose a separate city income tax, keeping the combined burden below most northeastern cities. When someone quotes you $132,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Mention Atlanta's role as a regional tech capital. Employers are investing heavily to retain talent against poaching from coastal firms offering remote positions. The range for Air Traffic Controllers in Atlanta runs from $95,000 to $177,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL). COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- A Data Engineer in Atlanta earns $133,000 (1% more)
- The highest-paying role in Atlanta is CTO at $312,000
Common questions.
Air Traffic Controller salary in other cities.
Other salaries in Atlanta.
Related salary pages
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Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
"Air Traffic Controller Salary in Atlanta, GA." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/air-traffic-controller/atlanta
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