Salary comparison · 2026
Air Traffic Controller salary by country
The pay gap between the highest and lowest market for the same air traffic controller role is 2.6x. Employer location is the single biggest salary lever in this career.
A air traffic controller earns the most in Switzerland, with a 2026 median of $205,000 per year, and the least of these 12 markets in Spain at $79,000. Full comparison below, entry level to senior.
| Country | Entry | Median | Senior | Local median | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇨🇭 Switzerland | $110k | $205k | $295k | CHF 180k | Details → |
| 🇺🇸 United States | $75k | $135k | $200k | $135k | Details → |
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | $68k | $125k | $180k | £99k | Details → |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | $67k | $125k | $180k | €115k | Details → |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | $65k | $120k | $175k | €110k | Details → |
| 🇮🇪 Ireland | $66k | $120k | $175k | €110k | Details → |
| 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | $64k | $115k | $170k | AED 420k | Details → |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | $60k | $110k | $160k | A$165k | Details → |
| 🇸🇬 Singapore | $60k | $110k | $160k | S$145k | Details → |
| 🇫🇷 France | $57k | $105k | $155k | €97k | Details → |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | $56k | $105k | $150k | C$145k | Details → |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | $43k | $79k | $115k | €73k | Details → |
Career guide
How to become a air traffic controller
How much air traffic controllers really earn in the US, UK and EU, why no degree is required, and the honest odds of surviving the FAA's selection funnel.
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Gross annual estimates from the Paygrade research dataset, updated 7 July 2026. Method explained on the methodology page.