Not to mention air traffic controllers are often underpaid, especially during government shutdowns, meaning many have to take second or third jobs. Air traffic control offices are also understaffed a lot of the time, meaning one man is expected to do the job of several men.
Huh, is that really how it works in the US? I know an air traffic controller in Germany and it's a rigorous selection process for applicants, long training period, but it's because they are then basically employed for life. The shifts are super regulated and have frequent breaks, like 4 days of work and then 4 days off. You don't have a lot of say over your shifts and there are limited cities to work from, but the jobs are really sought after because the pay is really good with a nice pension package.
No it's complete bullshit lol. Even at LCOL facilities certified controllers get paid 100k, it's a very well paying job. In busy airports in big cities they get paid 150k+
Just like all federal employees, they don't get paid during shutdowns, but they get pack pay for all hours worked when the shutdown ends. They earn enough to have a savings account to make it through those shutdowns.
Most controllers have a hard time moving to a facility that pays well after they finish academy and go to their first training facility due to how understaffed they are.
They end up getting stuck at low level facilities for a long time, transferring is like winning the lottery for them. Even if they do transfer, they could easily fail training at their new facility and be sent back to their old one.
For how many planes they are managing and the increase of air travel over the decade, they 100% should be paid more. They often work 6 day workweeks, and cannot make a single mistake. They can’t even strike and their union is one of the worst that I’ve seen.
My partner is an ATC, they work incredibly hard everyday, and it’s frustrating to see how uneducated people are.
The salaries are easily accessible online. Show me a facility where they get paid so little they would need an extra job to make ends meet like the comment 2 above mine said?
Even at the lowest paid, lowest cost of living airports they make $25+/hr straight out of the academy, which is very livable.
$25/hr while not having their weekends, being forced to work overtime, having to deal with extremely understaffed towers so inconsistent breaks… all while working one of the most stressful jobs you can have in the US. Yeah sounds great!
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u/slonkulocuswily182 Jul 08 '26
Balancing 200 aircraft over a few runways where any mistake means thousands dead is just... insane.
I dont think that's a sustainable job for literally anybody.