Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Air Traffic Controllers actually take home in North Carolina?
4.5% flat rate — 28.1% 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 $129,230 in North Carolina (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $129,230 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$20,553 | 15.9% |
| North Carolina State Income Tax | -$5,815 | 4.5% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$8,012 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$1,873 | 1.5% |
| Total Taxes | -$36,255 | 28.1% |
| Take-Home Pay | $92,974 | 71.9% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Air Traffic Controllers in North Carolina.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $88,690 | -$22,128 | $66,561 | 25.0% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $104,640 | -$27,575 | $77,064 | 26.4% |
| Median (P50) | $129,230 | -$36,255 | $92,974 | 28.1% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $169,520 | -$50,762 | $118,757 | 29.9% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $191,530 | -$57,354 | $134,175 | 29.9% |
After federal income tax ($20,553), state tax ($5,815), and FICA ($9,886), a Air Traffic Controllers in North Carolina takes home $92,974 per year — or $7,747 per month. The effective tax rate of 28.1% is moderate compared to the national range.
A Air Traffic Controllers in North Carolina loses 28.1% of gross pay to taxes — higher than the ~25% national midpoint. Of the $129,230 gross, $92,975 lands in the paycheck after federal ($20,554), state ($5,815), and FICA ($9,886) withholding.
North Carolina 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 $5,815 to the 4.5% effective state-tax burden.
Federal income tax ($20,554) accounts for 57% of the total tax bill — the single largest deduction. FICA adds $9,886 (27%), and state tax the remaining $5,815 (16%).
Moving this same Air Traffic Controllers salary to a zero-state-tax state would yield around $98,790 net — a gain of $5,815 (6.3%) per year versus North Carolina.
North Carolina ranks #24 of 43 states for Air Traffic Controllers after-tax pay — lower half of the national distribution. Either gross wages trail the national median, state tax is elevated, or both.
Translated into paycheck cadences, $92,975 net/year works out to $7,748/month or $3,576/bi-weekly for this Air Traffic Controllers in North Carolina — 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.
North Carolina ranks #24 out of 43 states for Air Traffic Controllers after-tax take-home pay.
A Air Traffic Controllers in North Carolina earning a median salary of $129,230 will take home approximately $92,974 per year after federal income tax ($20,553), state income tax ($5,815), and FICA ($9,886). That is $7,747 per month or $3,575 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Air Traffic Controllers in North Carolina is 28.1%, broken down as: federal income tax 15.9%, North Carolina state tax 4.5%, and FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.7%. This assumes a single filer with the standard deduction for 2024.
North Carolina has a 4.5% flat rate. On a Air Traffic Controllers's median salary of $129,230, the state income tax amounts to $5,815 per year, which is an effective state rate of 4.5%.
After all taxes, a Air Traffic Controllers in North Carolina takes home approximately $7,747 per month, or about $44.70 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 $129,230 for Air Traffic Controllers in North Carolina, then subtract: federal income tax using 2024 IRS brackets ($14,600 standard deduction), North Carolina state income tax (4.5% flat rate), Social Security (6.2% up to $168,600), and Medicare (1.45%). The result — $92,974/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