Air Traffic Controller Salary After Tax UK 2025-26
£75,000/year · £4,505/month take-home · £27.72/hour after tax
UK Air Traffic Controller salary overview
Qualified ATCOs in the UK earn £50,000–£100,000 depending on grade and airspace complexity. NATS controllers at busy airports (Heathrow, Gatwick) earn at the higher end.
Air Traffic Controller salary tax breakdown 2025-26
| Item | Annual | Monthly | Weekly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | £75,000 | £6,250 | £1,442 |
| Personal Allowance (tax-free) | £12,570 | £1,048 | £242 |
| Income Tax | −£17,432 | −£1,453 | −£335 |
| National Insurance | −£3,511 | −£293 | −£68 |
| Net take-home | £54,057 | £4,505 | £1,040 |
Air Traffic Controller take-home pay UK 2025-26
A Air Traffic Controller on the typical salary of £75,000 takes home £54,057 per year after Income Tax and National Insurance. That works out as £4,505 per month and £1,040 per week.
Qualified ATCOs in the UK earn £50,000–£100,000 depending on grade and airspace complexity. NATS controllers at busy airports (Heathrow, Gatwick) earn at the higher end.
Out of £75,000, you pay £17,432 in Income Tax and £3,511 in National Insurance. Your effective tax rate is 27.92%.
Frequently asked questions
What is the take-home pay for a Air Traffic Controller in the UK?
A Air Traffic Controller earning the typical salary of £75,000 takes home £54,057 per year after Income Tax (£17,432) and National Insurance (£3,511). The effective tax rate is 27.92%.
What will a Air Traffic Controller actually take home each month?
On a typical Air Traffic Controller salary of £75,000, your monthly take-home is £4,505 in 2025-26. Your gross monthly pay is £6,250 — deductions of Income Tax (£1,453/mo) and National Insurance (£293/mo) leave you £4,505/month. Pension contributions, if applicable, would reduce this further.
What is the hourly rate for a Air Traffic Controller?
A Air Traffic Controller on £75,000 per year earns approximately £27.72 per hour after tax, based on a 37.5-hour week over 52 weeks.
Why is a Air Traffic Controller take-home pay lower than the headline salary suggests?
On the typical Air Traffic Controller salary of £75,000, Income Tax costs £17,432/year and National Insurance costs £3,511/year — £20,943 in PAYE deductions. Add a typical 5–8% workplace pension contribution and any student loan repayments, and the gap between gross and net can feel significant. The effective tax rate (IT + NI only) is 27.92%.
What is a typical Air Traffic Controller salary in the UK?
The typical Air Traffic Controller salary in the UK is around £75,000, with the range spanning £50,000–£100,000 depending on experience, location, and sector. Qualified ATCOs in the UK earn £50,000–£100,000 depending on grade and airspace complexity. NATS controllers at busy airports (Heathrow, Gatwick) earn at the higher end.
Is £75,000 a good Air Traffic Controller salary?
At £75,000, a UK Air Traffic Controller salary sits within the typical range of £50,000–£100,000. After tax, you take home £54,057/year (£4,505/month, £27.72/hour), which is above the UK median take-home pay.