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
$111,022/yr median(+$55,466 · 99.8% more)
Higher pay
Electrical Engineer
Median$111,022
Mean$116,655
10th %ile$74,398
25th %ile$88,376
75th %ile$137,439
90th %ile$164,085
Employed189K+
Air Traffic Controller
Median$55,556
Mean$58,768
10th %ile$36,812
25th %ile$44,273
75th %ile$70,911
90th %ile$85,185
Employed14K+
Salary Distribution Comparison
Electrical Engineer
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $74,398 |
| 25th percentile | $88,376 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $111,022 |
| 75th percentile | $137,439 |
| 90th percentile | $164,085 |
Air Traffic Controller
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $36,812 |
| 25th percentile | $44,273 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $55,556 |
| 75th percentile | $70,911 |
| 90th percentile | $85,185 |
Top Paying States
Electrical Engineer
| # | State | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Mexico | $143,850 |
| 2 | California | $140,360 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $138,860 |
| 4 | New Hampshire | $131,790 |
| 5 | Washington | $130,730 |
Air Traffic Controller
| # | State | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $82,540 |
| 2 | Arizona | $80,260 |
| 3 | Alabama | $78,270 |
| 4 | Texas | $77,460 |
| 5 | Oregon | $75,710 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which pays more, Electrical Engineer or Air Traffic Controller?
- Electrical Engineer pays more with a median salary of $111,022/year, which is 99.8% more than Air Traffic Controller at $55,556/year.
- What is the salary difference between Electrical Engineer and Air Traffic Controller?
- The median salary difference is $55,466/year (99.8%).
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