Salary data is based on the Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ metropolitan area and applied to Tempe using local cost-of-living adjustments.

Air Traffic Controllers Salaries in Tempe, AZ

Average Base Pay

$159,648/yr

2% above national average

Monthly

$13,304

Hourly

$77

Cost Index

100

Air Traffic Controllers in Tempe, AZ earn an average of $159,648 per year, with most salaries falling between $127,718 and $191,578 depending on experience, employer, and specialization. At 2% above the national average, Tempe ranks among the higher-paying markets for this role, in part reflecting a local cost of living index of 100. For professionals evaluating a move or negotiating an offer, the headline salary is only part of the picture—what matters most is how far that income actually goes once taxes, rent, and daily expenses are factored in. The sections below break that down in full for Tempe.

Salary Range

The chart below shows the full compensation spectrum for this role, from entry-level to senior positions. The highlighted center bars represent the 25th–75th percentile band where most professionals are paid.

$120K
Low

$160K
Median

$200K
High

25th percentile: $136K75th percentile: $184K

About Air Traffic Controllers

Operations Analysts improve organizational performance by analyzing business processes, identifying inefficiencies, and developing data-driven recommendations for operational improvement. They work in consulting, corporate operations departments, financial services, healthcare, and technology companies. The role bridges data analysis and operational management—operations analysts gather and analyze process data, conduct time and efficiency studies, model process flows, and build cases for operational changes. They work with operations managers to understand current-state processes, diagnose the root causes of performance problems, and design future-state solutions. Reporting and dashboard development are significant responsibilities: building and maintaining operational metrics that give managers visibility into process health. Operations analysts may also support the implementation of process improvements, developing training materials, standard operating procedures, and change management plans. In financial services, operations analysts may focus on post-trade processing, settlement, and risk monitoring functions. In supply chain, they analyze demand, inventory, and logistics data to improve supply chain performance. The role is often a stepping stone toward operations management.

What Air Traffic Controllers Do

Analyze operational processes to identify inefficiencies and improvement opportunities
Collect, clean, and interpret operational data from multiple sources
Build and maintain operational dashboards and performance reports
Develop business cases and quantify the impact of proposed improvements
Support implementation of process improvement initiatives
Develop standard operating procedures and process documentation
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to gather requirements and design solutions
Present findings and recommendations to operations management

Key Skills & Qualifications

Advanced Excel for data analysis and operational modeling
SQL for data extraction from operational systems
Process mapping and analysis (SIPOC, swim lane diagrams)
BI and data visualization tools (Tableau, Power BI)
Business case development and ROI quantification
Lean and Six Sigma process improvement fundamentals
Communication and presentation skills
Project coordination for improvement initiatives

Career Path

Business Analyst / Data Analyst
Operations Analyst
Senior Operations Analyst
Operations Manager
Director of Operations

Air Traffic Controllers Market in Tempe, AZ

Salary Competitiveness

Tempe salaries for Air Traffic Controllers track closely with the national median, diverging by less than 4%. This alignment suggests a competitive but balanced local market—employers are broadly in step with national pay scales, which can make benchmark comparisons more reliable when negotiating.

Cost of Living Impact

Tempe sits close to the national cost average. Monthly essential expenses represent about 28% of take-home pay for this role—a midrange ratio that allows for modest savings and discretionary spending, provided housing costs remain stable.

Effective Purchasing Power

After adjusting for local taxes and cost of living, a Air Traffic Controllers earning $159,648 in Tempe reaches a strong purchasing-power position. The effective standard of living this income supports is materially higher than the gross number alone implies—a useful data point for professionals comparing offers across metro areas.

vs. National Avg

+2%

Cost Pressure

28%

Purchasing Power

Strong

Take-Home Pay Calculator

Enter any gross salary to see how federal and state taxes affect your actual take-home pay, broken down by year, month, and week. Results use an estimated effective tax rate of 27% based on this location and income level.

Annual Salary

Take-home (73%)Taxes (27%)

Annual Net

$116,543

Monthly

$9,712

Weekly

$2,241

Eff. Tax Rate

27%

A gross salary of $159,648 for a Air Traffic Controllers in Tempe translates to roughly $9,712 in monthly take-home pay after estimated federal and state taxes. Set against monthly living costs of $2,685—covering housing, food, transportation, utilities, and healthcare—that leaves approximately $7,027 per month in disposable income. That margin, not the gross number, is what determines whether you can comfortably cover rent, build savings, and afford discretionary spending in Tempe's current market.

How far does this salary go in Tempe?

Cost of Living in Tempe

Estimated monthly expenses for a single person in Tempe, benchmarked against US regional price indices for housing, food, transportation, utilities, and healthcare.

Cost Index

100

Below Avg — US average is 100. Based on a single person (1-bed apartment).

🏠Housing / Rent$1,550/mo

🍔Food & Groceries$490/mo

🚗Transportation$135/mo

💡Utilities$200/mo

🏥Healthcare$310/mo

Monthly$2,685

Annual$32,220

Disposable Income$7,027

Financial Reality Check

This section compares estimated monthly take-home pay against typical living costs in Tempe to show your real disposable income—the amount remaining after essential bills are paid each month.

Monthly Take-Home

$9,712

Living Costs

$2,685

Disposable

$7,027

Cost Index

100

Lifestyle

Comfortable

With a monthly take-home of $9,712, your estimated living costs in Tempe are $2,685 ($32,220/yr). This leaves $7,027 per month in disposable income, indicating a comfortable standard of living. Tempe's cost of living is at the national average.

Overall, a Air Traffic Controllers earning $159,648 in Tempe falls into a comfortable lifestyle tier and has meaningful room to save, invest, and absorb unexpected expenses without financial stress. With a cost index of 100, Tempe's cost of living sits right at the national average. Regardless of tier, prioritizing retirement contributions, an emergency fund of three to six months' expenses, and incremental debt reduction will yield the greatest long-term financial stability—especially as living costs in Tempe continue to evolve.