SOC 53-2021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Air Traffic Controllers — Rhode Island
Rhode Island · 1 metro areas compared
The median wage for Air Traffic Controllers in Rhode Island is $126,300 per year, 14.7% below the national median of $148,080.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Air Traffic Controllers in Rhode Island is $126,300 per year, 14.7% below the national median of $148,080. Pay ranges from under $61,710 at the tenth percentile to more than $150,180 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $100,440 to $150,180.
Employment stands at 50, or 0.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 43 states with published data for this occupation, Rhode Island ranks 25th by median wage. Providence leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $126,300. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 51st of 545 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $61,710 | −58.3% |
| 25th | $100,440 | −32.2% |
| Median (50th) | $126,300 | −14.7% |
| 75th | $150,180 | +1.4% |
| 90th | $150,180 | +1.4% |
| Mean | $120,870 | −18.4% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Rhode Island
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Providence | $126,300 | 50 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Rhode Island run 2.3% above the national average, so the median of $126,300 buys what $123,460 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 16.6% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$126,300as reported by BLSLocal price level
102.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$123,460US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $126,300 a year, 14.7% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $61,710 to $150,180 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 50 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 25th of 43 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Providence, at $126,300.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Air Traffic Controllers in Rhode Island?
The median annual wage is $126,300, or $60.72 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 Rhode Island is 14.7% 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 Rhode Island earns more than $150,180 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $61,710 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.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Providence, at $126,300 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 50 jobs in this occupation in Rhode Island. 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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