Air Traffic Controller Salary

Air traffic controllers can be considered to be the traffic cops of the skies. They make sure that each flight taking off or landing has clear airspace and runway. They are assigned airspace around the airport they are working in, and are responsible for the safety of the aircraft and its passengers. Air traffic controllers have to deal with weather conditions, different pilots, variable work timings, and to do all this they have to rely on hi-tech equipment and radar. The air traffic controller salary, while on the higher side, is dependent on various factors, including the employer, the place of work, and the qualification of the individual. Let's take a look at the job description of air traffic controllers, before moving on to their salary, as salary ranges for jobs are dependent on various factors.

Air Traffic Controller Job Description

An air traffic controller has to manage the traffic of various aircraft within the assigned airspace. They have to carefully relay precise instructions to the pilots and the ground crew, and they do this with the help of a radio telephony system. They have to give these instructions without even seeing the aircraft, relying on radar screens, which indicate the different aircraft with a tiny 'blip'. Air traffic controllers even have to help the aircraft taxi to and from the gate. In most of the world's busiest airports, they have to communicate simultaneously with several aircraft and have to make sure that precise and correct information is given to each pilot. As most airports are open 24x7, air traffic controllers have to work in shifts. They have to put in 40 hours every week, but many have to do extra hours for which they are compensated. Compensation can either be monetary or in the form of equal time off from work. This is one of the main reasons why the air traffic controller salary is generally on the higher side.

Qualifications for Air Traffic Controller

The FAA conducts a pre-employment test for air traffic controllers, and you will need to have qualifying scores on that test, in addition to some basic qualifications in accordance with the federal law. People with a four-year college degree or 3 years of full-time working experience in a responsible position can also apply. Students who have completed aviation related programs from FAA's Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) program can apply as well. Some of the approved schools that offer AT-CTI program are Florida State College at Jacksonville, Hampton University, Kent State University and more. There are about 31 approved schools which offer the (AT-CTI) program. These schools offer non-engineering degrees in air traffic control. Candidates also have to undergo a 12-week training program in Oklahoma City before they start working as air traffic controllers.

Apart from these qualifications, some other qualities that an air traffic controller should possess include the ability to give precise instructions to the pilot which should be clear and easily understood aver the telephony system, a good memory, as they need to interpret information from radar screens, remember it, and relay it to the pilots and ground crew, and a high level of concentration, to be able to work in a noisy environment. Making quick and correct decisions is also a highly valuable skill looked out for.

After you are suitably qualified, you can be recruited by the following employers. The Federal Aviation Administration is the major employer for air traffic controllers, with a very small percentage being recruited by other agencies. Private or personal airstrips may also have positions for air traffic controllers available, but these are very few, and generally require significant prior work experience.

• U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
• US Air Force (USAF)
• US Army
• US Navy
• United States Government Department of Defense

Career opportunities with all the above employers are good and they all have a different pay scale.

Average Air Traffic Controller Salary

According to the Bureau of Labor Services, the average air traffic controller salary in 2009 was around USD 110,000 (annually). The salary is co-related to the rating of the facility in which the controller works. Salary for an air traffic controller varies from USD 45,000 to USD 161,000. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are the pay masters, they pay a relatively higher salary than the others. The FAA pays between USD 45,000 to USD 161,000 while the US Army, Navy and the Air Force pay anything between USD 20,000 to USD 50,000. The following comparison chart may help you to better decide on suitable employers.

Industry	Salary
FAA	45,000 USD to 161,000 USD
US Air Force	22,000 USD to 47,000 USD
US Navy	24,000 USD to 47,000 USD
US Army	21,000 USD to 45,000 USD
Dep. of Defense	54,000 USD to 85,000 USD

Besides the above factors, the state you work in is also a factor that affects the air traffic controller salary. Given below is a state-wise breakup of the salary that an air traffic controller commands.

Salary for an air traffic controller also depends on the number of years of experience he/she has, and also on the type and level of degree they hold. It also varies from the different positions within an air traffic controller job. Some of these positions are the arrival controller, departure controller, ground controller and radar controller.

Air traffic controllers facilitate efficient air travel for millions of passengers worldwide. The above chart is a clear indication that an air traffic controller salary is enviable, and it is a lucrative career option for people interested in the airline industry.