Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Air Traffic Controllers actually take home in Colorado?
4.4% flat rate — 29.8% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Air Traffic Controllers earning $177,380 in Colorado (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $177,380 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$32,109 | 18.1% |
| Colorado State Income Tax | -$7,804 | 4.4% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$10,453 | 5.9% |
| Medicare | -$2,572 | 1.5% |
| Total Taxes | -$52,939 | 29.8% |
| Take-Home Pay | $124,440 | 70.2% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Air Traffic Controllers in Colorado.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $76,310 | -$17,824 | $58,485 | 23.4% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $108,990 | -$28,952 | $80,037 | 26.6% |
| Median (P50) | $177,380 | -$52,939 | $124,440 | 29.8% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $204,150 | -$60,967 | $143,182 | 29.9% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $213,950 | -$64,573 | $149,376 | 30.2% |
After federal income tax ($32,109), state tax ($7,804), and FICA ($13,025), a Air Traffic Controllers in Colorado takes home $124,440 per year — or $10,370 per month. The effective tax rate of 29.8% is moderate compared to the national range.
A Air Traffic Controllers in Colorado loses 29.8% of gross pay to taxes — higher than the ~25% national midpoint. Of the $177,380 gross, $124,440 lands in the paycheck after federal ($32,110), state ($7,805), and FICA ($13,025) withholding.
Colorado applies a flat state income tax — every dollar of wage income is taxed at the same rate. For this Air Traffic Controllers salary that contributes $7,805 to the 4.4% effective state-tax burden.
Federal income tax ($32,110) accounts for 61% of the total tax bill — the single largest deduction. FICA adds $13,025 (25%), and state tax the remaining $7,805 (15%).
The state-tax gap is substantial: a Air Traffic Controllers earning this gross in a no-income-tax state would net about $132,245 — an extra $7,805 (6.3%) annually compared with Colorado.
For Air Traffic Controllers after-tax pay, Colorado ranks #4 of 43 states — top quartile. High gross wages or low state-tax burden (or both) drive the strong ranking.
Translated into paycheck cadences, $124,440 net/year works out to $10,370/month or $4,786/bi-weekly for this Air Traffic Controllers in Colorado — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
Where does a Air Traffic Controllers keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
Colorado ranks #4 out of 43 states for Air Traffic Controllers after-tax take-home pay.
A Air Traffic Controllers in Colorado earning a median salary of $177,380 will take home approximately $124,440 per year after federal income tax ($32,109), state income tax ($7,804), and FICA ($13,025). That is $10,370 per month or $4,786 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Air Traffic Controllers in Colorado is 29.8%, broken down as: federal income tax 18.1%, Colorado state tax 4.4%, and FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.3%. This assumes a single filer with the standard deduction for 2024.
Colorado has a 4.4% flat rate. On a Air Traffic Controllers's median salary of $177,380, the state income tax amounts to $7,804 per year, which is an effective state rate of 4.4%.
After all taxes, a Air Traffic Controllers in Colorado takes home approximately $10,370 per month, or about $59.83 per hour (based on a standard 2,080-hour work year). These figures assume a single filer, standard deduction, and no additional pre-tax deductions.
We start with the 2025 BLS median salary of $177,380 for Air Traffic Controllers in Colorado, then subtract: federal income tax using 2024 IRS brackets ($14,600 standard deduction), Colorado state income tax (4.4% flat rate), Social Security (6.2% up to $168,600), and Medicare (1.45%). The result — $124,440/yr — does not include local taxes, pre-tax deductions (401k, HSA), or tax credits.
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This estimate assumes a single filer using the 2024 standard deduction ($14,600), with W-2 employment income only. It does not account for: itemized deductions, tax credits (e.g. earned income credit, child tax credit), local/city taxes, pre-tax contributions (401k, HSA, FSA), self-employment tax, or additional income sources. Actual take-home pay may differ. Consult a tax professional for personalized advice.
Our Methodology · Data Sources · Salary: BLS OEWS · Tax: IRS + State DOR