Air Traffic Controllers vs Family Medicine Physicians
Side-by-side salary and career comparison using Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Air Traffic Controllers
$144,580
median annual salary
Family Medicine Physicians
$238,380
median annual salary
Family Medicine Physicians earns $93,800 more per year (39% higher)
Salary & Career Comparison
| Metric | Air Traffic Controllers | Family Medicine Physicians |
|---|---|---|
| Median Salary | $144,580 | $238,380 |
| Median Hourly | $69.51/hr | $114.61/hr |
| Mean Salary | $142,740 | $256,830 |
| 10th Percentile | $76,090 | $81,330 |
| 90th Percentile | $210,410 | N/A |
| Total Employment | 22,400 | 107,950 |
| Job Growth (2023–2033) | +1.2% | +2.7% |
| Annual Openings | 2.2 | 3.3 |
| Education | Associate's degree | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Work Experience | None | None |
Salary by State
States where both occupations have reported wage data, sorted by salary difference.
| State | Air Traffic Controllers | Family Medicine Physicians | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | $99,490 | $62,360 | +$37,130 |
| Puerto Rico | $119,560 | $117,220 | +$2,340 |
| Virginia | $185,890 | $219,500 | $-33,610 |
| Illinois | $175,090 | $220,260 | $-45,170 |
| Texas | $167,710 | $228,560 | $-60,850 |
| New York | $142,190 | $214,790 | $-72,600 |
| Tennessee | $153,670 | $229,050 | $-75,380 |
| Florida | $144,710 | $220,500 | $-75,790 |
| Connecticut | $121,910 | $198,160 | $-76,250 |
| Kansas | $156,620 | $237,200 | $-80,580 |
| Hawaii | $142,040 | $222,790 | $-80,750 |
| Alabama | $112,740 | $198,930 | $-86,190 |
| Rhode Island | $123,610 | $216,220 | $-92,610 |
| Oklahoma | $121,580 | $219,220 | $-97,640 |
| Missouri | $115,440 | $216,990 | $-101,550 |
| Michigan | $113,650 | $219,990 | $-106,340 |
| North Carolina | $120,580 | $227,310 | $-106,730 |
| South Dakota | $98,530 | $217,460 | $-118,930 |
| South Carolina | $107,330 | $236,950 | $-129,620 |
| Mississippi | $91,480 | $231,580 | $-140,100 |
Showing top 20 of 21 states.
Also Compare
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Common Questions
Which pays more, Air Traffic Controllers or Family Medicine Physicians?
Family Medicine Physicians pays more, with a median annual salary of $238,380 compared to $144,580 — a difference of $93,800 per year.
Which has better job outlook?
Family Medicine Physicians has faster projected growth at 2.7% 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.