Luigi
Well-Known Member
I would take it if I were you. Knowing you could always fall back to dispatch if you had too.
Atc vs dispatch
- Thread starter van12
- Start date
manniax
Well-met in the Ka-tet
I agree. If you were at a major it would be a tougher choice...but regionals are always hiring, and especially since you have experience dispatching now it would be easy to get hired by another one if ATC school doesn't work out or you don't like the job.
Luigi
Well-Known Member
Seconded. I would never leave a major for another job. The pay and QOL is just too good. But man regional life ain’t that pretty.
R2D
ACK
Thirded?
ATC and a major are lucrative professions if you get there. I still have a passion for ATC, and I would have loved to have had a shot, but there's no chance I can walk away from this now. I was lucky to have skipped the regional life, but I would have risked the regional job for a shot at ATC.
R2D
ACK
No ATC experience. I was an internal hire.
Altimeter
Well-Known Member
Not sure if they quickened the pace on ATC, I was in a similar position 2 1/2 years ago. Keep jumping thru the hoops (MMPI, medical, etc) and see where you end up. Take a hard look at where you’re at, how many years of dx experience, have you networked or know someone who will move your resume at a major. If you just got the tentative you might have 6 months to year before you really have to make a hard choice. Having choices is a nice thing. In my opinion both careers are great and I would have gone through with ATC if not getting a major job during the hiring process with the Feds. Good luck and congrats.
RetiredATLATC
Well-Known Member
This was my schedule while being the 6th most senior controller at A80, after 27 years in the FAA. When FAA staffing is as bad as it is/was even being one of the most senior doesn't help. From what I gather from other posts in the dispatch forums you folks have it much better when it comes to time off.
Edit: however whomever mentioned the retirement being better in atc I'd have to agree. I retired the day I turned 50 after a little over 28 years atc (all FAA).
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flynryan692
Well-Known Member
Yeah I'm a little perplexed that some would value flight benefits over early retirement and a full pension. I wish I could drop my flight benefits for that, I'd do it in a heartbeat.
Altimeter
Well-Known Member
I’m just as perplexed by your position. There’s plenty of stuff you can do to retire early from a major (depending on your age). My first full year at a major I maxed 401k. Then there’s Roth IRA and other investing you can get involved. Especially since you have so much more time off. Again the guys and gals that go ATC are saints to me and don’t get paid enough. There’s not a one is better than the other. It’s all person dependent. I know a guy who left a major after 2-3 years there because ATC was his dream. He’s at a level 6-7 tower now. Decent pay cut, but it’s his dream and he’s living it.
I suppose some people don't want to wait until they're 50 to travel a lot.
I'll be new to both atc and dx so I'm definitely not coming from a major to atc. I'll do both and see which I liked better.
If he's at a level 6 and fully certified then his minimum is 90k, I don't see how it can be a cut from a major.
I'll be new to both atc and dx so I'm definitely not coming from a major to atc. I'll do both and see which I liked better.
If he's at a level 6 and fully certified then his minimum is 90k, I don't see how it can be a cut from a major.
Altimeter
Well-Known Member
It’s is.
who'swho
Don't hesitate. Penetrate!
Dispatchers at the legacy carriers are walking away with boatloads.
bbmikej
Well-Known Member
Average topout at majors is what, 10-12 years and it's in the 150k base range. If you are young enough when you get hired, an early retirement isn't off the table.
flynryan692
Well-Known Member
I think you've misunderstood, I said I'd take a pension and early retirement over flight benefits, not that you can't retire early at a major. I just feel like flight benefits are grossly overrated. Maybe part of that is because I am still on regional flight benefits rather than major flight benefits, and I have kids so nonrev travel is hard, but still, meeeehhhh.
Altimeter
Well-Known Member
Oh ya, you’ll get there. When you don’t have to stay in $20/ night hostels. When you make it to a major you might feel differently. Keep grinding.
Exactly, after 10-12 years and overtime.
Lots of pros and cons to both. I keep bouncing back and forth. If I was already at a major I wouldn't leave.
PuddlePirate
Well-Known Member
By law the maximum any FAA employee can make is $192K in a year. I know dispatchers who make over $250K. You’re trying to tell me a low level tower is on par with dispatch pay at a major?
After how many years of staying with that major did they start making 150k?
Center and tracons make that number after 2 years, but QOL and schedule is definitely better for dx.