ATC Earnings

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
G

Guest

Guest
According to BLS.gov, the average salary of a FAA-employed air traffic controller was $95,700 in 2002. This seems pretty high for an average salary. Does anyone know if this information is true and reliable?

Just because it is from BLS.gov, doesn't mean it is nescessarily reliable. At least for the position of a flight instructor, they were saying that the average salary for a CFI was about $80K.

Does anyone know the earnings of a ATC today?
 
no atc makes bank. Currently i am enrolled in an ATC minor at Riddle and after i graduate i will be eligible for an ATC job. It is really hard to pass up all that money. If your a pretty good controller and get based somewhere like NY or Atlanta you can make at least $120,000 after just a few years.

Adam
 
The earnings of an ATC will vary because of the traffic level at the facility they are at. A person working in a small tower such as say, Ann Arbor, MI, will not be making the same as a person working in the C90 Tracon in Chicago.

I'm an ATC student so I've spent time looking at the different facility rankings and pay.

I believe facilities are given rankings with 5 being the lowest and 12 being the highest. For example I believe Ann Arbor is a 5 and the C90 is a 12. Most centers and busy tracons are 11 or 12. You can make a pretty nice living at the high end facilities. I know a friend of a friend in the New York Tracon (N90 i think) who claims to be making 170,000 dollars at the age of 24. But that is misleading. I've been told he works a grueling 6 day week with wacky hours. And not all of that 170k is his salary, because he is in NY, he recieves a high "Cost of Living Expenses" or "Locality Expenses."

Right now, it appears the FAA is going to start controller hiring within the next few months after a two year or so hiatus for lack of funds. The rumor I've heard that they will try to hire approximatly 1500 a year for the next 5 years, to replace the controllers slated to retire soon, but that is only speculation.

Here is a old thread which has links to facility rankings and pay. ATC facilty pay rates

If anybody more knowledgable can correct my statements on facility ratings, etc, please do, I'd really appreciate it for my own knowledge.
spin2.gif
 
Thanks for all the info. ATC doesn't seem like a bad career at all. I wonder what it would be like going from a $100,000/year job to a low paying regional job.
crazy.gif
 
Controllers start off as trainees at GS-7 and finish at GS-9, I believe. Once facility qualified, their pay ranges from GS-11 to GS-15 depending on how busy the facility is. Cost of living overrides and overtime pay add to that total. Should you move in to a supervisory role, the scales go even higher.

To see what the current "GS" pay scales are, consult a government website ... didn't have time to find one myself.

You won't get rich, but you'll earn a darn good living. A college buddy is doing it and loves it.
 
There is a retired air traffic controller supervisor in my class. I have asked him about this before and here is what he said:

1. ATC is hiring and actually has been hiring like crazy the past few years because they cannot get enough qualified people.

2. Salary gets up to six figures though Im not sure about 170,000

3. A senior controller will make at least 80k a year


What sucks is you have to retire by age 56(4 years earlier than an airline pilot) and the work schedule is always wacky. ATC is one of the most stressful but rewarding jobs you can have and if you want it there is a job waiting for you almost gaurunteed. Also from what Ive read is by FAA regs you have two years from the date you graduate the program to get hired. If you do not get hired your SOL.
cool.gif
 
My uncle on Kristie's side...err... I guess you could say Kristie's uncle was a supervisor down at Miami center until he retired about two years ago. Don't eeeeeeeven ask to have him come to the site because it's not going to happen!
smile.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
There is a retired air traffic controller supervisor in my class. I have asked him about this before and here is what he said:

1. ATC is hiring and actually has been hiring like crazy the past few years because they cannot get enough qualified people.

2. Salary gets up to six figures though Im not sure about 170,000

3. A senior controller will make at least 80k a year


What sucks is you have to retire by age 56(4 years earlier than an airline pilot) and the work schedule is always wacky. ATC is one of the most stressful but rewarding jobs you can have and if you want it there is a job waiting for you almost gaurunteed. Also from what Ive read is by FAA regs you have two years from the date you graduate the program to get hired. If you do not get hired your SOL.
cool.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

SOL?
 
[ QUOTE ]
SOL?

[/ QUOTE ]SOL = $h!t Outta Luck

Add that one to your dictionary, Brian ...
 
[ QUOTE ]


1. ATC is hiring and actually has been hiring like crazy the past few years because they cannot get enough qualified people.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ehh....I beg to differ. According to NATCA's webpage, 500 controllers retired this past year and only 13 or so we're hired. However, in late November, Congress approved an Appropriations Bill which is supplying 9million dollars I believe for the hiring of new controllers.


[ QUOTE ]


Also from what Ive read is by FAA regs you have two years from the date you graduate the program to get hired. If you do not get hired your SOL.
cool.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

That is true and that is the gamble you take by entering the CTI (the program which 12 or so accredited colleges use to train ATC). In fact, there are several grads of this program whose two year "clock-o-death" is almost up due to the hiring freeze. When you graduate, your school "recommends you" to the FAA and once your recommendation is received, your clock starts. However, the two year policy is just that, a policy, and can theoretically be axed by the FAA ; something that alot of people on the clock are pushing for.
 
Is it true that ATC techonoly is old but is slowly being upgraded?
 
[ QUOTE ]
S#^t Out of Luck.

[/ QUOTE ]

Nahhh gaaaaah doowit, if you remember "George The First"
 
[ QUOTE ]
Is it true that ATC techonoly is old but is slowly being upgraded?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah that has been a common complaint that parts of the system are outdated and slowly being improved.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



1. ATC is hiring and actually has been hiring like crazy the past few years because they cannot get enough qualified people.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Ehh....I beg to differ. According to NATCA's webpage, 500 controllers retired this past year and only 13 or so we're hired. However, in late November, Congress approved an Appropriations Bill which is supplying 9million dollars I believe for the hiring of new controllers.

[/ QUOTE ]


I was just quoting what he said. Im turned off by the have to be hired by age 32 deal. By the time I finish A&P school Ill be 26. 28 when I actually have my bacheleor's in hand(at least), I dont want to have a career window of 4 years. Besides I think it would be torture for me to watch all those planes in the air without me being in one. I already go crazy every night when I get in the bucket and de-ice airplanes. One of these days I tell ya Im just going to hop out the bucket and hitch a ride;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top