NATS Air Traffic Controller Salary Guide (2026)

Air traffic control is one of the highest-paying careers in the UK open to candidates without a degree. This guide gives an honest, up-to-date overview of NATS air traffic controller salaries in 2026 at every stage of the career, based on NATS's published trainee package and qualified pay scales.

Trainee Controller Salary

You are employed and paid by NATS from day one of training. According to NATS (2026 rates), trainee air traffic controllers start on a package of £34,611.60 per year — a basic salary of £25,500 plus an annual accommodation allowance of £9,111.60, paid monthly throughout basic training. NATS also pays a £1,000 welcome bonus and a £500 bonus when you finish college training.

After completing basic training (typically 12–15 months) and moving on to unit-based training, your salary rises to approximately £37,490–£42,786, inclusive of shift allowance and depending on location.

Newly Qualified Controller

Once you qualify, NATS says salaries increase to between £50,468 and £56,247, depending on the unit you are posted to. You also receive a market-leading contributory pension and 28 days of annual leave plus public holidays.

Experienced Controller Salary

Pay rises with experience, endorsements and seniority, and varies by unit. NATS doesn't publish pay for experienced controllers, so be wary of precise figures quoted online; check current vacancies and NATS's careers pages for up-to-date information.

Shift Pay and Allowances

A significant portion of total ATC pay comes from:

How much these add depends on your unit and shift pattern.

How Does ATC Pay Compare?

To put ATC salaries in context:

The trade-off is the intensity of the work: managing multiple aircraft simultaneously under time pressure, carrying legal and safety responsibility for every clearance issued.

Air Traffic Controller Jobs in the UK: Demand and Outlook

NATS is the UK's main employer of air traffic controllers, handling around 2.5 million flights a year across its two control centres — Swanwick in Hampshire and Prestwick in Ayrshire — and at airports including Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Stansted and others. Beyond NATS, some UK airports contract their tower air traffic control to other providers, and there are further opportunities in military air traffic control and overseas.

Demand for controllers is driven by long-term air traffic growth and by retirements among the existing workforce, so NATS recruits trainees in periodic intakes rather than continuously. Because qualifying takes around three years and places are strictly limited, controllers remain a scarce, well-protected profession — a large part of why pay and job security are so strong. If you are aiming for one of these jobs, the single most important step is passing the Stage 1 aptitude tests, the stage that filters out the majority of applicants.

Is the Pay Worth It?

For candidates who pass the NATS selection process, ATC offers exceptional financial reward, job security, career progression, and the genuine satisfaction of performing a highly skilled and socially important role. The key challenge is passing the initial selection — particularly the Stage 1 aptitude battery. To understand your real chances, read our guide on how hard it is to become an air traffic controller.