Air Traffic Controllers and Airfield Operations Specialists
SOC 53-2020
The median annual wage for Air Traffic Controllers and Airfield Operations Specialists is $91,290, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $103,140, and an estimated 40,630 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose -8.4% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of -22.2% (pay did not keep up with inflation).
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Air Traffic Controllers and Airfield Operations Specialists has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $91,290 | $91,290 | 40,630 |
| 2022 | $94,700 | $98,598 | 36,010 |
| 2021 | $90,600 | $101,878 | 33,830 |
| 2020 | $99,640 | $117,308 | 32,780 |
Nominal change
-8.4%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
-22.2%
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$39,020
25th Pct
$51,620
Median
$91,290
75th Pct
$152,130
90th Pct
$187,890
Related Occupations in Transportation & Material Moving
Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.