Air Traffic Controllers Employment & Job Outlook in California (2024)

California employs 2,490 Air Traffic Controllers professionals, above the national average concentration.

Data: BLS OEWS 2024 • California employment outlook • Updated 2026-04-06

Total Employed
2,490
professionals
Jobs per 1,000
2.49
workers
Location Quotient
5.18
vs national avg
Average Salary
$150K
annual

High Demand in California

The location quotient (LQ) of 5.18 indicates that California has a higher-than-average concentration of Air Traffic Controllers professionals. This means the job is in high demand relative to other states, suggesting strong local job market opportunities.

Note: Location Quotient (LQ) is the ratio of the percentage of workers in an occupation in a given area to the percentage in that occupation nationwide. An LQ > 1.0 means above-average concentration; < 1.0 means below-average.

California vs National Average

Total Employed
2,490
National: 21,630
11.5% of national
Jobs per 1,000
2.49
National: 0.48
+418.8%
Average Salary
$150K
National: $122K
+22.3%

Top States by Air Traffic Controllers Employment

#1
2,490
2,490
employed
#2
2,060
2,060
employed
#3
2,030
2,030
employed
#4
1,250
1,250
employed
#5
1,110
1,110
employed
#6
970
970
employed
#7
950
950
employed
#8
700
700
employed
#9
690
690
employed
#10
630
630
employed

What Does a Air Traffic Controllers Earn in California?

The average annual salary for a Air Traffic Controllers in California is $150,060. For a detailed breakdown by percentile, entry-level, median, and senior salaries, see the comprehensive salary guide below.

View full salary breakdown →

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many Air Traffic Controllers jobs are there in California?

California employs approximately 2,490 Air Traffic Controllers professionals (2024 BLS data). This ranks California among the top states nationwide.

Is Air Traffic Controllers in demand in California?

Yes — California has above-average concentration of Air Traffic Controllers jobs (LQ: 5.18). A Location Quotient above 1.0 indicates higher-than-average demand.

What is the average salary for Air Traffic Controllers in California?

The average (mean) salary for Air Traffic Controllers in California is $150060/year. See our detailed salary page for percentile breakdowns.

What is a Location Quotient (LQ)?

Location Quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is in a state compared to the national average. LQ > 1.0 means the state has more of that job proportionally. LQ > 1.2 indicates strong demand.

Which states employ the most Air Traffic Controllers professionals?

The top state for Air Traffic Controllers employment is California with 2,490 jobs.

Related Pages

Data Source

Employment and location quotient data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024. This data reflects total employment, jobs per 1,000 workers, location quotient, and average salary for Air Traffic Controllers (SOC 532021) in California.

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