The FAA is desperate to hire enough air traffic controllers. Here's what to know about the high-stress job that pays $160,000 on average.
A shortage of air traffic controllers has caused travel headaches in April and May.
The Trump Administration has vowed to hire more and upgrade the FAA's communications infrastructure.
Win McNamee/Getty Images
Updated
2025-05-13T16:45:03Z
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The government is racing to hire enough air-traffic controllers as staffing shortages cause delays.
ATC jobs involve a lot of stress and possible overnight hours, but they can easily pay over $100,000 a year.
Hopefull controllers must go through rigorous training and academic testing.
A staggering shortage of air traffic controllers has once again been thrust into the spotlight as one of the country's busiest airports faces another week of cascading delays — and the government is desperate to higher more, if you can handle the stress.Since late April, equipment issues and a lack of staff at the facility that guides planes into their approach paths for Newark Liberty International Airport, in New Jersey, have caused delays and cancellations day after day.United Airlines, the airport's largest customer, has even cut 35 flights from its schedule to accommodate the traffic limits.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has announced plans for raises, bonuses, and faster hiring to "supercharge" the nation's ATC network and restore staffing to normal levels after years of decline (the system is still about 3,000 controllers short, he said).
"It takes a year to three years to train up a new controller to work in airspace, so this is going to be a longer-term problem," Duffy said on CNBC Tuesday morning.
He'll also need Congress's approval for big spending items like upgrading communications infrastructure.The most recent round of entry-level controller applications closed on March 17, and it's not clear when more will open.
There are currently other openings for support staff, senior roles, and other higher-level jobs with salaries as high as $200,000 a year.What it takes to get hired as an air traffic controllerBeing an air traffic controller is an extremely high-stress job.
More than 14,000 workers nationwide are responsible for moving tens of thousands of lives on board planes across the country every day.Business Insider spoke with FAA controller Cedrick Earley to discuss what it is like to work the job.You may not need a university degree to work in ATCATC is a good option for people looking for a high-salary job that doesn't require a college degree.According to the FAA's hiring website, eligible applicants must:Be a US citizenSpeak clear and fluent EnglishBe under the age of 31 before the application closing date (more on that later)Have one year of full-time work experience or higher education, or a combination of bothMeet specific physical and mental fitness standards
Air Traffic Controllers can start training with minimal to no prior aviation experience.
Michael Dwyer/AP
Successful applicants who apply through the FAA must undergo months of extensive training and pass mandatory tests, such as an aptitude test, a skills assessment, and physical and psychological exams, before being officially hired.The applicants will spend up to five months at the academy, where training and testing will occur.
However, some applicants come from other careers, like the military.Earley went through the Air Force to become a controller instead of the FAA."[Air Force] is a different track," he said.
"The quality of training you receive from the Air Force is equivalent to what you would get if you went through the route with the FAA in Oklahoma."You have to be younger than 31 when you applyAccording to the FAA, all ATC applicants must be 30 or younger on the closing date of the application period to qualify for the position.This is because the agency has determined through extensive research that the older someone is, the harder it is for them to complete the rigorous training.However, according to the agency, those who already have air traffic control experience can be hired up to 35 years of age. You'll go through a lot of testing and trainingWhether you become a controller through the FAA or the military, you will have to undergo monthslong training and pass aptitude, physical, physiological, and skill tests.
These exams assess applicants' health and their ability to train for and perform the job.Initial tests are pass/fail, according to the agency, and failing certain exams will eliminate applicants from the hiring process.The training is demanding, with about 50% of aspiring Air Force controllers failing out.You won't necessarily work in an airport towerEarley said traffic controllers are not just confined to the airport tower but can also work in one of several hundred facilities around and between airports nationwide.
The Houston TRACON is responsible for controlling more than 16,000 square miles of airspace surrounding the Houston Area
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images
For example, one may work in the Terminal Radar Approach Control Facility, or TRACON, in Memphis and be responsible for controlling aircraft leaving the airport for their next destination and directing flights into the airport for a quick and safe landing. Employees can also work in one of the air route traffic control centers, or ARTCCs, throughout the US, which direct aircraft en route to their destinations.The work can be high-stress, but also boring sometimesBeing an air traffic controller can be stressful due to the heavy workload and high-consequence environment.
But depending on how busy the skies are, the job can also be dull and boring.Former air traffic controller Michele Robson wrote in 2020 that the job can be quiet at night, but controllers must always be alert and ready to work at any hour on shift.While some controllers find the job extremely stressful, Earley said that isn't the case for him because he enjoys solving a new problem every day."Controllers are always learning on the job, like updating and refining the processes or learning new rules and procedures," he explained.
"It is a job where you always have to change and adapt."
Safety is always the top priorityAir traffic controllers are responsible for about 50,000 daily flights in the US, so safety is the most important aspect of the job.An increasing number of planes colliding or nearly colliding has further enhanced calls for improved FAA training and staffing.According to Earley, there are several things controllers do to ensure nothing is missed."I work in front of a radar scope, and it can get busy at times, so I am not supposed to work in position more than two hours at a time, so we get a break to keep us refreshed," he said.
"We also do not work more than 10 hours in one day, and there is a certain amount of hours we have to be off before we can work again."
Air traffic controllers have strict rest rules to enhance safety.
chara_stagram / Shutterstock.com
The FAA implemented new rules in 2024 to minimize controller fatigue by raising the minimum rest time between shifts from at least nine hours to at least 10 hours.
Controllers also get 12 hours off before and after midnight shifts.Earley also explained that there are redundancies in the job to elevate safety and that other controllers and supervisors help check each other's work."Everyone is actually able to see what is going on with any particular person's work at the time, so it is one team, one fight," he said.
"If we notice something is a little out of sorts, we can bring that to the controller's attention, and they can fix it before it becomes a bigger problem."The salary is good, but the work schedule can be inconsistentEarley explained the job's salary, which increases with seniority, plus the benefits provide a good work-life balance."It's a job that pays me well and allows me to support my family," he said.
"I'm also able to take leisure time for myself, like spending time with my daughter."However, he also said his schedule is not the regular 9-5."I do have some shifts I work from midnight to 8 a.m., as well as some scattered 12-8 shifts, so it rotates," he said.
"I always know what my hours are each day, but it is not always at the same time.
It is consistently inconsistent."Average pay is $160,000 for controllers, the FAA says.
You know your schedule for the entire yearAccording to Earley, air traffic controllers know their work schedule a year in advance.
Air traffic controllers don't work typical schedules.
Brittany Murray/MediaNews Group/Long Beach Press-Telegram via Getty Images
"When we set our schedules up, we bid what we want for the next year, and then we are awarded our full schedule for the year," he said.
"It helps in terms of planning our leave."He also explained that the schedule is only for one year, and controllers can change it the following year.You can retire at 56All air traffic controllers must retire at 56 due to the higher possibility of memory or hearing loss, inattentiveness, or reduced eyesight in older individuals.However, Earley said the 56 age cut-off only applies to those actively working traffic, so controllers who are not yet ready to retire can take a desk or management job instead.Many controllers choose to retire early after completing their required 25 years of service, Duffy said, exacerbating the staffing issues.
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#the #faa #desperate #hire #enough #air #traffic #controllers #here039s #what #know #about #highstress #job #that #pays #averageThe FAA is desperate to hire enough air traffic controllers. Here's what to know about the high-stress job that pays $160,000 on average.
A shortage of air traffic controllers has caused travel headaches in April and May.
The Trump Administration has vowed to hire more and upgrade the FAA's communications infrastructure.
Win McNamee/Getty Images
Updated
2025-05-13T16:45:03Z
Save
Saved
Read in app
This story is available exclusively to Business Insider
subscribers.
Become an Insider
and start reading now.
Have an account?
The government is racing to hire enough air-traffic controllers as staffing shortages cause delays.
ATC jobs involve a lot of stress and possible overnight hours, but they can easily pay over $100,000 a year.
Hopefull controllers must go through rigorous training and academic testing.
A staggering shortage of air traffic controllers has once again been thrust into the spotlight as one of the country's busiest airports faces another week of cascading delays — and the government is desperate to higher more, if you can handle the stress.Since late April, equipment issues and a lack of staff at the facility that guides planes into their approach paths for Newark Liberty International Airport, in New Jersey, have caused delays and cancellations day after day.United Airlines, the airport's largest customer, has even cut 35 flights from its schedule to accommodate the traffic limits.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has announced plans for raises, bonuses, and faster hiring to "supercharge" the nation's ATC network and restore staffing to normal levels after years of decline (the system is still about 3,000 controllers short, he said).
"It takes a year to three years to train up a new controller to work in airspace, so this is going to be a longer-term problem," Duffy said on CNBC Tuesday morning.
He'll also need Congress's approval for big spending items like upgrading communications infrastructure.The most recent round of entry-level controller applications closed on March 17, and it's not clear when more will open.
There are currently other openings for support staff, senior roles, and other higher-level jobs with salaries as high as $200,000 a year.What it takes to get hired as an air traffic controllerBeing an air traffic controller is an extremely high-stress job.
More than 14,000 workers nationwide are responsible for moving tens of thousands of lives on board planes across the country every day.Business Insider spoke with FAA controller Cedrick Earley to discuss what it is like to work the job.You may not need a university degree to work in ATCATC is a good option for people looking for a high-salary job that doesn't require a college degree.According to the FAA's hiring website, eligible applicants must:Be a US citizenSpeak clear and fluent EnglishBe under the age of 31 before the application closing date (more on that later)Have one year of full-time work experience or higher education, or a combination of bothMeet specific physical and mental fitness standards
Air Traffic Controllers can start training with minimal to no prior aviation experience.
Michael Dwyer/AP
Successful applicants who apply through the FAA must undergo months of extensive training and pass mandatory tests, such as an aptitude test, a skills assessment, and physical and psychological exams, before being officially hired.The applicants will spend up to five months at the academy, where training and testing will occur.
However, some applicants come from other careers, like the military.Earley went through the Air Force to become a controller instead of the FAA."[Air Force] is a different track," he said.
"The quality of training you receive from the Air Force is equivalent to what you would get if you went through the route with the FAA in Oklahoma."You have to be younger than 31 when you applyAccording to the FAA, all ATC applicants must be 30 or younger on the closing date of the application period to qualify for the position.This is because the agency has determined through extensive research that the older someone is, the harder it is for them to complete the rigorous training.However, according to the agency, those who already have air traffic control experience can be hired up to 35 years of age. You'll go through a lot of testing and trainingWhether you become a controller through the FAA or the military, you will have to undergo monthslong training and pass aptitude, physical, physiological, and skill tests.
These exams assess applicants' health and their ability to train for and perform the job.Initial tests are pass/fail, according to the agency, and failing certain exams will eliminate applicants from the hiring process.The training is demanding, with about 50% of aspiring Air Force controllers failing out.You won't necessarily work in an airport towerEarley said traffic controllers are not just confined to the airport tower but can also work in one of several hundred facilities around and between airports nationwide.
The Houston TRACON is responsible for controlling more than 16,000 square miles of airspace surrounding the Houston Area
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images
For example, one may work in the Terminal Radar Approach Control Facility, or TRACON, in Memphis and be responsible for controlling aircraft leaving the airport for their next destination and directing flights into the airport for a quick and safe landing. Employees can also work in one of the air route traffic control centers, or ARTCCs, throughout the US, which direct aircraft en route to their destinations.The work can be high-stress, but also boring sometimesBeing an air traffic controller can be stressful due to the heavy workload and high-consequence environment.
But depending on how busy the skies are, the job can also be dull and boring.Former air traffic controller Michele Robson wrote in 2020 that the job can be quiet at night, but controllers must always be alert and ready to work at any hour on shift.While some controllers find the job extremely stressful, Earley said that isn't the case for him because he enjoys solving a new problem every day."Controllers are always learning on the job, like updating and refining the processes or learning new rules and procedures," he explained.
"It is a job where you always have to change and adapt."
Safety is always the top priorityAir traffic controllers are responsible for about 50,000 daily flights in the US, so safety is the most important aspect of the job.An increasing number of planes colliding or nearly colliding has further enhanced calls for improved FAA training and staffing.According to Earley, there are several things controllers do to ensure nothing is missed."I work in front of a radar scope, and it can get busy at times, so I am not supposed to work in position more than two hours at a time, so we get a break to keep us refreshed," he said.
"We also do not work more than 10 hours in one day, and there is a certain amount of hours we have to be off before we can work again."
Air traffic controllers have strict rest rules to enhance safety.
chara_stagram / Shutterstock.com
The FAA implemented new rules in 2024 to minimize controller fatigue by raising the minimum rest time between shifts from at least nine hours to at least 10 hours.
Controllers also get 12 hours off before and after midnight shifts.Earley also explained that there are redundancies in the job to elevate safety and that other controllers and supervisors help check each other's work."Everyone is actually able to see what is going on with any particular person's work at the time, so it is one team, one fight," he said.
"If we notice something is a little out of sorts, we can bring that to the controller's attention, and they can fix it before it becomes a bigger problem."The salary is good, but the work schedule can be inconsistentEarley explained the job's salary, which increases with seniority, plus the benefits provide a good work-life balance."It's a job that pays me well and allows me to support my family," he said.
"I'm also able to take leisure time for myself, like spending time with my daughter."However, he also said his schedule is not the regular 9-5."I do have some shifts I work from midnight to 8 a.m., as well as some scattered 12-8 shifts, so it rotates," he said.
"I always know what my hours are each day, but it is not always at the same time.
It is consistently inconsistent."Average pay is $160,000 for controllers, the FAA says.
You know your schedule for the entire yearAccording to Earley, air traffic controllers know their work schedule a year in advance.
Air traffic controllers don't work typical schedules.
Brittany Murray/MediaNews Group/Long Beach Press-Telegram via Getty Images
"When we set our schedules up, we bid what we want for the next year, and then we are awarded our full schedule for the year," he said.
"It helps in terms of planning our leave."He also explained that the schedule is only for one year, and controllers can change it the following year.You can retire at 56All air traffic controllers must retire at 56 due to the higher possibility of memory or hearing loss, inattentiveness, or reduced eyesight in older individuals.However, Earley said the 56 age cut-off only applies to those actively working traffic, so controllers who are not yet ready to retire can take a desk or management job instead.Many controllers choose to retire early after completing their required 25 years of service, Duffy said, exacerbating the staffing issues.
Recommended video
Source:
https://www.businessinsider.com/becoming-air-traffic-controller-career-pros-cons-of-job-2022-1
#the #faa #desperate #hire #enough #air #traffic #controllers #here039s #what #know #about #highstress #job #that #pays #average
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