Aerospace Engineer vs Air Traffic Controller Salary
Air traffic controllers earned a median of $148,080 a year in May 2025, $13,120 (10%) more than aerospace engineers at $134,960, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
How do the two jobs compare?
| Measure | Aerospace Engineer | Air Traffic Controller |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual | $134,960 | $148,080 |
| Median hourly | $64.89 | $71.19 |
| Mean annual | $142,060 | $146,490 |
| 10th percentile | $86,700 | $78,420 |
| 90th percentile | $205,890 | $215,610 |
| Jobs on record | 67,710 | 22,510 |
| Projected growth, 2025 to 2035 | +8.3% | +1.7% |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Associate's degree |
Source: BLS OEWS national file, May 2025; BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035. Wage and salary jobs only; the self-employed are not counted. Confirm any figure in the OEWS tables at bls.gov.
What is the pay range for aerospace engineers?
Pay for aerospace engineers runs from $86,700 at the 10th percentile to $205,890 at the 90th, around a median of $134,960.
What is the pay range for air traffic controllers?
Pay for air traffic controllers runs from $78,420 at the 10th percentile to $215,610 at the 90th, around a median of $148,080.
Source: BLS OEWS national file, May 2025.
Which job pays more in each state?
Aerospace engineers earn more than air traffic controllers in 13 of 37 states and territories where both have a published median. The widest gap is in District of Columbia, where aerospace engineers lead by $109,840. That gap rests on a figure out of line with the rest of the country: $47,760 for air traffic controllers there, against a $136,800 median across states. Leaving such states out, the widest gap is in Illinois, where air traffic controllers lead by $72,620.
| State | Aerospace Engineer | Air Traffic Controller | Aerospace Engineer minus Air Traffic Controller |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $127,540 | $114,960 | +$12,580 |
| Alaska | $101,710 | $123,950 | -$22,240 |
| Arizona | $123,170 | $136,800 | -$13,630 |
| Arkansas | $102,040 | $109,760 | -$7,720 |
| California | $157,620 | $160,080 | -$2,460 |
| Colorado | $156,190 | $177,380 | -$21,190 |
| Connecticut | $129,500 | $140,940 | -$11,440 |
| District of Columbia | $157,600 | $47,760 | +$109,840 |
| Florida | $129,280 | $147,530 | -$18,250 |
| Georgia | $140,460 | $178,420 | -$37,960 |
| Hawaii | $137,240 | $158,700 | -$21,460 |
| Illinois | $108,940 | $181,560 | -$72,620 |
| Indiana | $107,400 | $158,810 | -$51,410 |
| Kansas | $130,330 | $159,700 | -$29,370 |
| Kentucky | $126,130 | $127,800 | -$1,670 |
| Louisiana | $136,970 | $99,810 | +$37,160 |
| Maryland | $156,750 | $131,290 | +$25,460 |
| Massachusetts | $149,470 | $125,060 | +$24,410 |
| Michigan | $128,960 | $118,930 | +$10,030 |
| Minnesota | $159,060 | $176,840 | -$17,780 |
| Mississippi | $109,200 | $88,110 | +$21,090 |
| Missouri | $130,680 | $122,200 | +$8,480 |
| Nebraska | $135,670 | $111,710 | +$23,960 |
| Nevada | $96,730 | $140,920 | -$44,190 |
| New Jersey | $126,430 | $132,230 | -$5,800 |
| New Mexico | $132,850 | $148,550 | -$15,700 |
| New York | $130,330 | $144,960 | -$14,630 |
| North Carolina | $122,930 | $129,230 | -$6,300 |
| Oklahoma | $125,470 | $123,220 | +$2,250 |
| Pennsylvania | $133,940 | $132,350 | +$1,590 |
| South Carolina | $137,030 | $112,030 | +$25,000 |
| Tennessee | $128,510 | $157,330 | -$28,820 |
| Texas | $130,270 | $170,080 | -$39,810 |
| Utah | $135,840 | $158,310 | -$22,470 |
| Vermont | $144,400 | $109,140 | +$35,260 |
| Virginia | $143,210 | $191,820 | -$48,610 |
| Washington | $158,370 | $162,570 | -$4,200 |
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.