SOC 53-2021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Air Traffic Controllers — Kentucky
Kentucky
In Kentucky the median wage is $127,800.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Kentucky the median wage is $127,800. That is 13.7% lower than the national median of $148,080. Pay ranges from under $66,150 at the tenth percentile to more than $168,650 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $97,840 to $151,240.
Employment stands at 230, or 0.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Kentucky ranks number 24th out of 43 states by median pay for this occupation. Of the 699 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 34th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $66,150 | −55.3% |
| 25th | $97,840 | −33.9% |
| Median (50th) | $127,800 | −13.7% |
| 75th | $151,240 | +2.1% |
| 90th | $168,650 | +13.9% |
| Mean | $121,910 | −17.7% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Kentucky run 9.8% below the national average, so the median of $127,800 goes as far as $141,685 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 4.3% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$127,800as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$141,685US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $127,800 a year, 13.7% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $66,150 to $168,650 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 230 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 24th of 43 states for this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Air Traffic Controllers in Kentucky?
The median annual wage is $127,800, or $61.44 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $148,080, so pay in Kentucky is 13.7% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Kentucky earns more than $168,650 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $66,150 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 230 jobs in this occupation in Kentucky. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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