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
| Percentile | Annual 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
| 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
Nurse Practitioner
| # | State | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $166,610 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $149,620 |
| 3 | Alaska | $145,450 |
| 4 | New York | $145,390 |
| 5 | Oregon | $144,600 |
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, 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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