How long does it take an air traffic controller to make decent money?

Question

I make $65,000 annually working in a papermill. Unfortunately, the paper industry is dying, and I'm trying to establish a game plan. I hear that ATC's can make over $100k, but I know that takes time. I have a wife and two kids, so I need to make decent money. I hear that training is less than $18k, and starting is $33k. I hope to survive on severance and unemployment through training, but how long does it take to get closer to the $65k I'm used to?

Answer 1

If you are thinking about working for the FAA, be advised that you have to be under 31 years old to get hired as an air traffic controller. If you are over 31, you are ineligible.

Answer 2

You might never make that much.  Your over 100K statistic is only made by the absolute most senior controllers at the nations top most busy facilities.  It all depends on how busy your facility is.  Of couse the downside of a busy facility for a new hire is trying to avoid sinking and treading water long enough to certify and get the seasoning required to make a jump to a busy facility to make more than you're making now.  Make no mistake, if you jump for the busy facility and sink as most do, you can forget ATC as a career and can look forward to explaining why the feds fired you during your next job search.