SalaryData

Electrical Engineer vs Air Traffic Controller Salary (2026)

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

Higher paying occupation

Electrical Engineer

$114,434/yr median(+$57,487 · 100.9% more)

Higher pay

Electrical Engineer

Median$114,434
Mean$119,150
10th %ile$76,368
25th %ile$91,148
75th %ile$140,958
90th %ile$167,503
Employed192K+

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

Electrical Engineer

Electrical Engineer salary percentiles
PercentileAnnual Salary
10th percentile$76,368
25th percentile$91,148
Median (50th percentile)$114,434
75th percentile$140,958
90th percentile$167,503

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

Electrical Engineer

#StateMedian
1New Mexico$158,520
2California$144,040
3District of Columbia$143,000
4New Hampshire$135,710
5Washington$132,710

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, Electrical Engineer or Air Traffic Controller?
Electrical Engineer pays more with a median salary of $114,434/year, which is 100.9% more than Air Traffic Controller at $56,947/year.
What is the salary difference between Electrical Engineer and Air Traffic Controller?
The median salary difference is $57,487/year (100.9%).

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