SalaryData

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

$129,125/yr median(+$73,569 · 132.4% more)

Higher pay

Nurse Practitioner

Median$129,125
Mean$130,028
10th %ile$95,496
25th %ile$112,582
75th %ile$143,140
90th %ile$165,207
Employed305K+

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

Nurse Practitioner

Nurse Practitioner salary percentiles
PercentileAnnual Salary
10th percentile$95,496
25th percentile$112,582
Median (50th percentile)$129,125
75th percentile$143,140
90th percentile$165,207

Air Traffic Controller

Air Traffic Controller salary percentiles
PercentileAnnual 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

Nurse Practitioner

#StateMedian
1California$166,610
2New Jersey$149,620
3Alaska$145,450
4New York$145,390
5Oregon$144,600

Air Traffic Controller

#StateMedian
1Washington$82,540
2Arizona$80,260
3Alabama$78,270
4Texas$77,460
5Oregon$75,710

Frequently Asked Questions

Which pays more, Nurse Practitioner or Air Traffic Controller?
Nurse Practitioner pays more with a median salary of $129,125/year, which is 132.4% more than Air Traffic Controller at $55,556/year.
What is the salary difference between Nurse Practitioner and Air Traffic Controller?
The median salary difference is $73,569/year (132.4%).

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