Air Traffic Controllers vs Aircraft Service Attendants
Side-by-side salary and career comparison using Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Air Traffic Controllers
$144,580
median annual salary
Aircraft Service Attendants
$41,540
median annual salary
Air Traffic Controllers earns $103,040 more per year (248% higher)
Salary & Career Comparison
| Metric | Air Traffic Controllers | Aircraft Service Attendants |
|---|---|---|
| Median Salary | $144,580 | $41,540 |
| Median Hourly | $69.51/hr | $19.97/hr |
| Mean Salary | $142,740 | $43,630 |
| 10th Percentile | $76,090 | $34,320 |
| 90th Percentile | $210,410 | $55,950 |
| Total Employment | 22,400 | 27,310 |
| Job Growth (2023–2033) | +1.2% | +5.1% |
| Annual Openings | 2.2 | 4.3 |
| Education | Associate's degree | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Work Experience | None | None |
Salary by State
States where both occupations have reported wage data, sorted by salary difference.
| State | Air Traffic Controllers | Aircraft Service Attendants | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | $185,890 | $38,330 | +$147,560 |
| Minnesota | $176,030 | $39,920 | +$136,110 |
| Illinois | $175,090 | $40,860 | +$134,230 |
| Georgia | $174,600 | $41,600 | +$133,000 |
| Texas | $167,710 | $37,120 | +$130,590 |
| Colorado | $172,310 | $46,650 | +$125,660 |
| Kansas | $156,620 | $34,730 | +$121,890 |
| Indiana | $155,790 | $38,850 | +$116,940 |
| Washington | $164,070 | $48,480 | +$115,590 |
| Utah | $156,120 | $45,640 | +$110,480 |
| California | $152,010 | $45,290 | +$106,720 |
| Nevada | $147,700 | $42,020 | +$105,680 |
| Florida | $144,710 | $39,160 | +$105,550 |
| New Mexico | $145,290 | $44,680 | +$100,610 |
| New York | $142,190 | $41,820 | +$100,370 |
| Tennessee | $153,670 | $55,690 | +$97,980 |
| Hawaii | $142,040 | $49,970 | +$92,070 |
| Arizona | $130,960 | $39,610 | +$91,350 |
| Pennsylvania | $129,310 | $39,210 | +$90,100 |
| Kentucky | $126,550 | $37,960 | +$88,590 |
Showing top 20 of 41 states.
Also Compare
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View Full Details
Common Questions
Which pays more, Air Traffic Controllers or Aircraft Service Attendants?
Air Traffic Controllers pays more, with a median annual salary of $144,580 compared to $41,540 — a difference of $103,040 per year.
Which has better job outlook?
Aircraft Service Attendants has faster projected growth at 5.1% from 2023 to 2033, compared to 1.2% for Air Traffic Controllers.
Where does this data come from?
All salary data comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2024 release. Job outlook data comes from the BLS Employment Projections program covering 2023-2033.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024.