Software Developer vs Air Traffic Controller Salary (2026)
Side-by-side salary comparison based on BLS OES data. Updated 2026.
Higher paying occupation
Software Developer
$121,352/yr median(+$65,796 · 118.4% more)
Higher pay
Software Developer
Median$121,352
Mean$127,085
10th %ile$74,572
25th %ile$94,378
75th %ile$151,381
90th %ile$178,009
Employed1.7M+
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
Software Developer
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $74,572 |
| 25th percentile | $94,378 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $121,352 |
| 75th percentile | $151,381 |
| 90th percentile | $178,009 |
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
Software Developer
| # | State | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $170,910 |
| 2 | Washington | $166,910 |
| 3 | New York | $161,260 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $150,520 |
| 5 | Maryland | $137,890 |
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, Software Developer or Air Traffic Controller?
- Software Developer pays more with a median salary of $121,352/year, which is 118.4% more than Air Traffic Controller at $55,556/year.
- What is the salary difference between Software Developer and Air Traffic Controller?
- The median salary difference is $65,796/year (118.4%).
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