Nurse Practitioner vs Air Traffic Controller Salary (2026)
Side-by-side salary comparison based on BLS OES data. Updated 2026.
Higher paying occupation
Nurse Practitioner
$133,771/yr median(+$76,824 · 134.9% more)
Higher pay
Nurse Practitioner
Median$133,771
Mean$135,412
10th %ile$103,133
25th %ile$118,080
75th %ile$149,370
90th %ile$170,358
Employed323K+
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
Nurse Practitioner
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $103,133 |
| 25th percentile | $118,080 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $133,771 |
| 75th percentile | $149,370 |
| 90th percentile | $170,358 |
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
Nurse Practitioner
| # | State | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $168,520 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $159,310 |
| 3 | Washington | $156,100 |
| 4 | Oregon | $155,680 |
| 5 | Alaska | $155,170 |
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, Nurse Practitioner or Air Traffic Controller?
- Nurse Practitioner pays more with a median salary of $133,771/year, which is 134.9% more than Air Traffic Controller at $56,947/year.
- What is the salary difference between Nurse Practitioner and Air Traffic Controller?
- The median salary difference is $76,824/year (134.9%).
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