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, trainee air traffic controllers start on a package of around £31,137 per year — made up of a basic salary of roughly £22,376 plus an annual accommodation allowance of about £8,761, paid monthly throughout basic training.

After completing basic training (typically 12–15 months) and moving on to unit-based training, your salary rises to approximately £36,000, inclusive of shift allowance and depending on location.

Newly Qualified Controller

Once you validate and qualify, NATS salaries increase to between £48,480 and £54,032, depending on the type of unit you are posted to (aerodrome, approach, or en-route). You also receive a market-leading contributory pension and 28 days of annual leave plus public holidays.

Experienced Controller Salary

Salaries increase with endorsements and experience. A controller with multiple sector endorsements at a busy aerodrome or approach unit can expect to earn in the range of £60,000–£80,000.

Senior/Complex Unit Controllers

Controllers at the most complex and demanding units earn the highest salaries. En-route controllers at Swanwick and Prestwick, and approach/aerodrome controllers at major airports like Heathrow and Gatwick, can earn:

Heathrow specifically is known for the highest total packages due to the complexity and responsibility of the role.

Shift Pay and Allowances

A significant portion of total ATC pay comes from:

These allowances can add 20–40% on top of basic salary for controllers working shift patterns at busy units.

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.