SalaryData

Data Scientist vs Air Traffic Controller Salary (2026)

Side-by-side salary comparison based on BLS OES data. Updated 2026.

Higher paying occupation

Data Scientist

$107,281/yr median(+$50,334 · 88.4% more)

Higher pay

Data Scientist

Median$107,281
Mean$113,687
10th %ile$66,363
25th %ile$82,902
75th %ile$138,125
90th %ile$167,412
Employed262K+

Air Traffic Controller

Median$56,947
Mean$60,132
10th %ile$38,270
25th %ile$45,062
75th %ile$74,014
90th %ile$85,581
Employed13K+

Salary Distribution Comparison

Data Scientist

Data Scientist salary percentiles
PercentileAnnual Salary
10th percentile$66,363
25th percentile$82,902
Median (50th percentile)$107,281
75th percentile$138,125
90th percentile$167,412

Air Traffic Controller

Air Traffic Controller salary percentiles
PercentileAnnual Salary
10th percentile$38,270
25th percentile$45,062
Median (50th percentile)$56,947
75th percentile$74,014
90th percentile$85,581

Top Paying States

Data Scientist

#StateMedian
1Washington$163,350
2California$141,590
3Maryland$136,370
4New Jersey$135,280
5Massachusetts$131,750

Air Traffic Controller

#StateMedian
1Kentucky$123,290
2Washington$84,050
3Alabama$78,590
4Arizona$77,570
5Colorado$77,500

Frequently Asked Questions

Which pays more, Data Scientist or Air Traffic Controller?
Data Scientist pays more with a median salary of $107,281/year, which is 88.4% more than Air Traffic Controller at $56,947/year.
What is the salary difference between Data Scientist and Air Traffic Controller?
The median salary difference is $50,334/year (88.4%).

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