SOC 53-2021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Air Traffic Controllers — North Carolina
North Carolina
In North Carolina the median wage is $129,230.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In North Carolina the median wage is $129,230. That is 12.7% lower than the national median of $148,080. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $104,640 and $169,520. The lowest tenth earn under $88,690, while the highest tenth earn more than $191,530.
Employment stands at 410, or 0.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 43 states with published data for this occupation, North Carolina ranks 23rd by median wage. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 47th of 745 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $88,690 | −40.1% |
| 25th | $104,640 | −29.3% |
| Median (50th) | $129,230 | −12.7% |
| 75th | $169,520 | +14.5% |
| 90th | $191,530 | +29.3% |
| Mean | $136,490 | −7.8% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in North Carolina run 5.7% below the national average, so the median of $129,230 goes as far as $137,041 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 7.5% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$129,230as reported by BLSLocal price level
94.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$137,041US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $129,230 a year, 12.7% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $88,690 to $191,530 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 410 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 23rd of 43 states for this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Air Traffic Controllers in North Carolina?
The median annual wage is $129,230, or $62.13 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 North Carolina is 12.7% 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 North Carolina earns more than $191,530 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $88,690 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 410 jobs in this occupation in North Carolina. 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.
Explore related data