Is this normal?

PantherFlyer13 said:
After graduating college, getting married, and working as a CFI "full-time", I'm going from $1000/month if I'm lucky to $4000/month while at the Academy in OKC (including base salary, locality percentage of 23.56% for Detroit TRACON, and daily per diem).

To each his/her own, but I'm planning on making more money at the Academy in 2 1/2 months than I'm currently earning in a full year. Plus the Mrs. will be living at home in Detroit with family pulling the poor newlywed card, so there's only one household to support. I'm not complaining at all.

-Panther
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You graduated college to make $12,000 a year? Why? I make more than that as a bartender. Like, double that. They pay $1000/month for CFI?
 
greg1016 said:
Cite your sources please. I believe you don't draw locality pay until you report to your facility, can someone who has actually been through the process confirm/deny this?

Seriously, why would they pay you per diem and locality? Doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.
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From my TOL about training in OKC:

"Position: Air Traffic Control Specialist, FG-2152-01
Salary: $20,725 per annum, which includes 18.16% locality
Option: Terminal
Type of Appointment: Excepted Appointment NTE 13 months; full-time, temporary"

Down the page about my facility:

"Position: Air Traffic Control Specialist, AT-2152-HC
Type of Appointment: Excepted-Conditional; full-time, permanent.
Salary: $39,820 per annum, which includes 18.16% locality"

If you've already received a TOL, check it out. The only difference between a COLA and Locality, is that COLA is tax free whereas Locality is taxable. Per Diem is also tax free.
 
greg1016 said:
Cite your sources please. I believe you don't draw locality pay until you report to your facility, can someone who has actually been through the process confirm/deny this?

Seriously, why would they pay you per diem and locality? Doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.
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Yes, your pay is based on the facility you will be going to. I got an extra 18ish% because I was headed to ATL when I was in OKC, so I made more in OKC than my classmates who were headed to Billings or CLT, MEM, etc. Didn't add up to much there, but does now.

So in total, you get your base pay (like right at $9.50/10 an hour plus locality) and the per diem of $80ish per day. So you actually make more at OKC than when you first get to your facility.
 
Alright, well I am certainly not complaining, considering I am interviewing with ZNY and the locality there is 27.96%. I was just under the impression you didn't get locality pay till you were physically at your facility. That is the way the military works.
 
pd82 said:
If you use the facility pay calculator on this website, it tells you your pay at all levels of your training. It does your base pay at the academy and adds in the locality of your future facility. It does not, however, tell you your total with per diem.
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Where is this calculator you speak of??
 
I think the calculator is on that other site, and I think you have to be a paid member to use it. But there is a pay scale on the main ATC forum here, just take the lowest base pay and multiply it by 1.x with x=locality percentage (with no decimal). If your locality pay is 21.52% then take base pay * 1.2152 = pay with locality. The pay scale here may not include pay at the academy.
 
KT430 said:
Can the manager of a certain facility, request an individual while they are in OKC.
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They were able to do that before the FAA started using a standard HR company to run the hiring process. The selection panel is comprised of many of the facility managers, but just because you know them doesn't necessarily mean you will be selected by them. It never hurts to talk to them, though, and to get your name in front of them. I talked to the ATMs in the two places I wanted to go (St. Louis and Nashville). I got one of the 5 St. Louis area facilities. Now, whether that had to do with the fact that I talked to him or if Kansas City/Springfield didn't have any openings and I was the only one that selected MO as my primary preference. In any case, I took one of the last positions in the STL area that wasn't already flooded with trainees.
 
Does the controller decide whether they work a center or tracon position or if they are IN a tower?

Say I wanted to work in a tower but wasn't really up for Center ops?
 
Since they upgraded the system, when you get your geo prefs you can choose between center only, tower only, or both. I am not sure if TRACON falls under center or tower. Also, everyone wants tower, so if you choose tower only you are less likely to get picked, I wouldn't recommend it.
 
greg1016 said:
Since they upgraded the system, when you get your geo prefs you can choose between center only, tower only, or both. I am not sure if TRACON falls under center or tower. Also, everyone wants tower, so if you choose tower only you are less likely to get picked, I wouldn't recommend it.
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I remember getting an email that offered TERMINAL ONLY, ENROUTE ONLY, and BOTH. The TERMINAL option includes all available positions in TRACON's and TOWER's within the states that you select in your geographic preferences. The ENROUTE option simply limits your choices to Level 12 ARTCC's. Everyone has their own goal in mind or best idea for themselves of which is best for them, so to each his or her own.

FWIW, I opted to go TERMINAL-ONLY, picked Michigan and Florida as my specific two geographic preferences, and in the comments section wrote that I would like to live in the Detroit metro area. I was selected for Detroit TRACON.

-Panther
 
PantherFlyer13 said:
I remember getting an email that offered TERMINAL ONLY, ENROUTE ONLY, and BOTH. The TERMINAL option includes all available positions in TRACON's and TOWER's within the states that you select in your geographic preferences. The ENROUTE option simply limits your choices to Level 12 ARTCC's. Everyone has their own goal in mind or best idea for themselves of which is best for them, so to each his or her own.

FWIW, I opted to go TERMINAL-ONLY, picked Michigan and Florida as my specific two geographic preferences, and in the comments section wrote that I would like to live in the Detroit metro area. I was selected for Detroit TRACON.

-Panther
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I didn't know anyone lived in Detroit anymore... :joke:
 
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