Additional Coverage:
- Air traffic controllers didn’t get paid during the government shutdown. Here’s how much they make normally. (businessinsider.com)
Fact Check: Are Air Traffic Controllers Really Earning $180,000 to Start?
Local News Desk
Following the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, which left air traffic controllers working without pay for over a month, a recent claim by U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has sparked debate regarding their salaries.
Secretary Duffy stated that new air traffic controllers begin their careers at $180,000 and can eventually reach up to $400,000. However, a closer look at the data, and insights from the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) and working controllers, paint a different picture.
While controllers are now finally receiving their back pay, which many desperately need to cover overdue bills, the conversation around their compensation has intensified. According to NATCA President Nick Daniels and three active controllers, Secretary Duffy’s figures are significantly inflated, especially for new hires.
“A majority of our controllers do not make anywhere near that money, especially on the $400,000 side,” Daniels explained, emphasizing that new controllers typically start in the mid-five figures. Pete LeFevre, a controller based in Washington, D.C., highlighted the financial strain during the shutdown, noting that some colleagues resorted to gig work to make ends meet, living paycheck to paycheck.
The Bureau of Transportation Statistics estimates the mean annual wage for controllers at approximately $137,000. However, two controllers revealed that their current contract, last negotiated in 2016 and extended through 2029, has not kept pace with inflation, offering only a 1.6% annual raise.
When pressed for clarification, a Department of Transportation spokesperson clarified that “the average certified professional controller earns over $160,000 per year” within three years of leaving the academy. This still contrasts sharply with Secretary Duffy’s initial claim of a starting salary of $180,000.
President Donald Trump also added to the controversy, threatening to withhold some back pay from controllers who took time off during the shutdown, though controllers are set to receive their full back pay starting this Saturday.
To provide a clearer understanding of air traffic controller earnings, from recent graduates to seasoned professionals, we reviewed the pay scale published by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The annual base pay for controllers ranges widely, from roughly $55,000 to $225,700. This variance is primarily due to a controller’s experience level and the flight volume at their assigned facility.
Compensation is also adjusted to account for the local cost of living. This base pay does not include potential incentive or overtime earnings.
Most New Controllers Start Closer to $55,000
Controller pay is directly influenced by experience and the complexity of their assigned facility. The FAA categorizes each location with a level from 4 to 12, with higher levels indicating greater traffic volume and, consequently, higher pay.
New controllers-those fresh out of the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City or those qualified through other avenues-typically start with a base salary between $55,000 and $68,000, regardless of the facility’s level. Those working in high-cost-of-living areas or at busier facilities will see higher starting figures.
For instance, a tower controller in San Francisco, a top-tier location, can expect to start around $68,000 annually. Controllers often work demanding schedules, up to 10 hours a day and six days a week, with mandatory overtime common.
Becoming an air traffic controller is a rigorous process, involving months of intensive training at the FAA Academy. Daniels noted that approximately 40% of trainees do not complete the program, and the cost to train a single candidate is around $100,000. The core responsibility of a controller is to ensure aircraft separation using radar and other tracking tools, along with constant communication with pilots.
With an estimated shortage of 3,000 controllers nationwide, this high attrition rate further strains an already demanding system.
Upon graduation, controllers undergo extensive on-the-job training at one of three types of FAA facilities:
- Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT): Manages airport ground traffic and air traffic within approximately 30 miles of the airport.
- Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON): Oversees departures and arrivals within a 20 to 50-mile radius of an airport, up to about 17,000 feet.
- Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC): Handles high-altitude en route traffic above 17,000 feet across vast geographical regions.
Some airports combine tower and TRACON operations for efficiency. New controllers usually begin their careers at lower-level facilities.
For example, a Level 4 tower in Erie, Pennsylvania, has a starting salary of about $55,000. A Level 7 tower in St.
Petersburg, Florida, offers a similar starting base pay, just under $55,000.
However, cost-of-living adjustments can increase base pay in more expensive regions. A Level 4 tower in Manchester, New Hampshire, for instance, starts at approximately $61,700 due to its proximity to the Boston area.
As controllers progress through their training and achieve full certification, their pay increases, with facility level becoming a significant factor. After several years, pay typically reaches the high five figures, and fully certified controllers can exceed the six-figure mark.
For example, the maximum base pay in Erie is about $95,700, while in Manchester, it can reach up to $108,300, and in St. Petersburg, up to $132,600.
Highest-Paid Controllers Handle the Most Traffic
The most congested airspace corresponds to the highest paychecks. While many controllers start at lower-level towers and TRACONs, some with prior experience or those filling specific FAA staffing needs may be assigned to higher-level facilities from the outset.
Fully certified controllers at a Level 8 tower in Milwaukee can earn a base pay of up to $153,200. In Minneapolis, a Level 9 facility, the maximum approaches $176,500. At Level 12 facilities, such as Chicago O’Hare’s tower or the Southern California TRACON near San Diego, base pay can reach $225,700.
Many controllers receive specialized training to work at Centers, which are typically Levels 10 to 12. These ARTCCs manage millions of aircraft annually and offer higher compensation to reflect the intense traffic volume. For example, controllers at the Seattle Center, which oversees 300,000 square miles across six states, can eventually earn up to $209,000, including cost-of-living adjustments.
Despite these high potential earnings, the year-one base pay at the Seattle center is about $61,000. In Southern California, it’s around $62,000, and in Milwaukee, about $57,000. This demonstrates that controllers will typically spend several years at lower pay levels before ascending to the highest salary brackets.
Beyond base pay, controllers can also receive incentive pay for working at hard-to-staff facilities, as well as premium pay for overtime, night shifts, Sundays, or holidays.