What does a Air Traffic Controllers salary really buy you in Washington?
Washington is 9.8% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Washington's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 109.8, meaning prices are 9.8% higher the national average. A Air Traffic Controllers earning $164,070 in Washington has the equivalent purchasing power of $149,426 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Washington's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $84,120 | $76,612 | $-7,507 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $108,990 | $99,262 | $-9,727 |
| Median (P50) | $164,070 | $149,426 | $-14,643 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $187,800 | $171,038 | $-16,761 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $209,330 | $190,646 | $-18,683 |
While $164,070 sounds high, Washington's elevated cost of living erases 9% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $149,426. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does Air Traffic Controllers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Washington ranks #13 out of 44 states for Air Traffic Controllers after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Air Traffic Controllers in Washington earns a median salary of $164,070 per year. After adjusting for Washington's cost of living (RPP=109.8), the real purchasing power is $149,426 — a -8.9% difference.
Washington's cost of living is 9.8% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Washington is 109.8 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Air Traffic Controllers in Washington: $164,070 x (100 / 109.8) = $149,426. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Air Traffic Controllers's nominal salary of $164,070 in Washington has 8.9% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $149,426. However, Washington may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.