Lawyer vs Air Traffic Controller Salary (2026)
Side-by-side salary comparison based on BLS OES data. Updated 2026.
Higher paying occupation
Lawyer
$134,712/yr median(+$77,765 · 136.6% more)
Higher pay
Lawyer
Median$134,712
Mean$160,797
10th %ile$74,576
25th %ile$97,600
75th %ile$191,969
90th %ile$286,051
Employed755K+
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
Lawyer
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $74,576 |
| 25th percentile | $97,600 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $134,712 |
| 75th percentile | $191,969 |
| 90th percentile | $286,051 |
Air Traffic Controller
| Percentile | Annual 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
Lawyer
| # | State | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $207,860 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $195,190 |
| 3 | California | $195,080 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $176,680 |
| 5 | Delaware | $173,510 |
Air Traffic Controller
| # | State | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kentucky | $123,290 |
| 2 | Washington | $84,050 |
| 3 | Alabama | $78,590 |
| 4 | Arizona | $77,570 |
| 5 | Colorado | $77,500 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which pays more, Lawyer or Air Traffic Controller?
- Lawyer pays more with a median salary of $134,712/year, which is 136.6% more than Air Traffic Controller at $56,947/year.
- What is the salary difference between Lawyer and Air Traffic Controller?
- The median salary difference is $77,765/year (136.6%).