Air Traffic Controller Salaries
Air Traffic Controller salaries in Boston, MA, United States
Base pay
US$73K - US$132K/yr
US$98K/yrAverage base pay
Additional salary
US$25K/yrAverage
US$19K - US$35K/yrRange
About our data
Confident
The “Most Likely Range” reflects values within the 25th and 75th percentile of all pay data available for this role. Glassdoor salaries are powered by our proprietary machine learning model, which utilises salaries collected from our users and the latest government data to make pay predictions.
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Recent salaries shared by Air Traffic Controller
7 salaries
Job title | Years of Experience
Total Pay
Location
Date submitted
Job title | Years of Experience
Location
Date submitted
Total Pay
Base • Additional pay
Air Traffic Controller
7-9 Years
HK$960K/yr
HK$960K • HK$0
Hong Kong
submitted on 4 Nov 2024
HK$960K/yr
HK$960K • HK$0
Air Traffic Controller
7-9 Years
HK$886K - HK$1M/yr
Hong Kong
submitted on 13 Jul 2024
HK$886K - HK$1M/yr
Air Traffic Controller
10-14 Years
HK$1M/yr
HK$893K • HK$227K
Hong Kong
submitted on 11 Apr 2024
HK$1M/yr
HK$893K • HK$227K
Air Traffic Controller
4-6 Years
HK$634K/yr
HK$634K • HK$0
Hong Kong
submitted on 17 Feb 2024
HK$634K/yr
HK$634K • HK$0
Air Traffic Controller
4-6 Years
HK$555K/yr
HK$555K • HK$0
Hong Kong
submitted on 10 Sept 2023
HK$555K/yr
HK$555K • HK$0
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Air Traffic Controller
10-14 Years
HK$65K - HK$75K/yr
Hong Kong
submitted on 27 Jun 2022
HK$65K - HK$75K/yr
Air Traffic Controller
4-6 Years
HK$693K/yr
HK$693K • HK$0
Hong Kong
submitted on 1 Jun 2021
HK$693K/yr
HK$693K • HK$0
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Glassdoor Economist Pay Overview

What is the pay outlook for Transportation?
Transportation salaries are growing rapidly as the demand for transportation workers grows. The increasing importance of e-commerce and global supply chains are likely to keep the need for transportation workers strong. Also, turnover in the transportation industry is high and an aging workforce is pushing employers to attract new workers to the industry through better pay and benefits.Show more
How does the Air Traffic Controller salary in Boston, MA, United States compare to the national average salary in Hong Kong for the same job?
The average salary for a Air Traffic Controller in Hong Kong is HK$58,265 per year based on 719 salary contributions, which is 7.33% less than the salary for a Air Traffic Controller in Boston, MA, United States. The cost of living and the local demand for the work are among the factors affecting wages. The top 3 companies in Hong Kong where a Air Traffic Controller gets the highest compensation are Leidos Holdings, Inc., Science Applications International Corporation, Inc. and Serco Group plc. Bigger companies typically pay 24.83% more than smaller companies for a Air Traffic Controller.Show more
Frequently asked questions about Air Traffic Controller salaries
How much does an Air Traffic Controller in Boston, MA, United States make?
The average salary for an Air Traffic Controller is US$122,745 per year or US$59 per hour in Boston, MA, United States, which is 23% higher than the national average. Top earners have reported making up to US$218,323 (90th percentile). However, the typical pay range in Boston, MA, United States is between US$92,059 (25th percentile) and US$166,857 (75th percentile) annually. Salary estimates are based on 24 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by Air Traffic Controller employees in Boston, MA, United States as of June 2026.
What is the highest salary for an Air Traffic Controller in Boston, MA, United States?
The highest salary for an Air Traffic Controller in Boston, MA, United States is US$166,857 per year, US$13,905 per month or US$80 per hour.
What is the lowest salary for an Air Traffic Controller in Boston, MA, United States?
The lowest salary for an Air Traffic Controller in Boston, MA, United States is US$92,059 per year, US$7,672 per month or US$44 per hour.
What is the Salary Trend for Air Traffic Controllers?
Air traffic controllers earn pay similar to airline pilots. They are typically required to be a United States (US) Citizen, pass a medical evaluation and a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) pre-employment test, complete a training course through the FAA academy and take a biographic assessment regarding personality. Additionally, an associate’s degree or a bachelors’ degree is generally required. These requirements result in relatively high pay.
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How to Make More Money as an Air Traffic Controller
If you are already employed as an air traffic controller, you can take steps to improve your chances of earning more pay. As you gain more experience in the tower, you should move up within the air traffic controller career path, getting promoted from radar controller to arrival controller to supervisor. Education is also critical, and earning higher college degrees and certifications from the FAA Academy is advantageous. Your geographic location can make a big difference as the busiest airports in the country often pay the highest. Finally, overtime pay can be lucrative for air traffic controllers, with larger airports having the most extra hours available.
How to Negotiate a Higher Salary as an Air Traffic Controller
If you are starting your career as an air traffic controller, you may be able to demand a higher salary offer by understanding the job requirements and doing well in your job interview.
For those already in an air traffic controller role, perform an air traffic controller job search to review the job descriptions of your desired future position, and then be prepared to argue why you meet or exceed those requirements. Highlight any leadership tasks performed. Also, be prepared to talk about your performance metrics and safety record. If you are a top performer on the team, tell your employers exactly how much value you add.




