To keep controllers from folding under the stress of a regular workday, they are given a break every two hours. Air traffic controllers have a lot of mobility once they've gained experience.Īside from being able to work nearly anywhere you want, you can also expect frequent breaks throughout the day. If you've always dreamed of living next to a salmon farm in Alaska, you're in luck. The FAA employs controllers in Hawaii, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and American Samoa (where they definitely make those Girl Scout cookies).Īir traffic controllers may also contact a particular region that tickles their fancy to find employment. One major perk is that you may get a coveted position at an awesome tropical location. Welcome to the life of an air traffic controller. Get the testing jitters the second round and you may not be able to retake the test if you score under seventy. Fail the test the first time and you need to wait a year to be retested. You must also score seventy or higher on their FAA pre-employment test. The FAA wants someone who has a four-year degree or three years of work experience. Furthermore, you must be under the age of thirty-one to apply. Air training courses are only available to those who pass a security screening, drug test, and medical examination. That's if you make it into the twelve-week training course. Hope you think Oklahoma is okay, because your training will take place in Oklahoma City. If you want to work in the tower, you need a Control Tower Operator Certificate, too.Ĭertification shows that you know the ins and outs of basic air traffic control, meteorology, and procedures. All controllers must go through training to receive an FAA-issued Air Traffic Control Certificate. In fact, waltzing in their buildings is pretty much frowned upon, period. You can't exactly waltz in one day and start directing air traffic, either. You can say goodbye to all of the waltz galas you and your buddies used to go to, your waltzing days are over. However, there are a number of controllers who work for the private air traffic control companies that serve non-FAA towers or the military.

Most air traffic controllers are employed and salaried by the federal government (specifically, by the Federal Aviation Administration). The goal of an air traffic controller is to help planes taxi from the terminal to the runway or vice versa, keep planes three to five miles apart in the air (and separate them vertically 1,000 feet or more when in the air), determine the routes that planes should fly, give pilots weather advice, and assist pilots during emergencies.Īir traffic controller jobs are not something that you can moonlight at while you're waiting for your band to make it. No matter what, you're looking at a well-paid job and early retirement. Those are the times when you can really start earning the big bucks. At its worst, an ATC is still making $65,000 a year-and if that's unsatisfying, you can adjust your work schedule to nights, Sundays, and holidays.

Do we have your attention now? The pay is great. The median salary for air traffic controllers is around $120,000 a year. People who tend to stare into space and daydream need not apply. Air traffic controllers stare at green dots on a screen and are busy every minute of the day. There's plenty of glory for the upside and terrifying downsides that could happen. ( Source)Īctually, the responsibility it takes to ensure that thousands of passengers safely leave and meet their gate is one of the more stressful jobs on the planet.

Seriously, Jared? We've been talking for, like, five minutes.

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