ATC Staffing Stability- Reform Proposals from a Veteran Controller

Raising the cap may effect retention rates but won't do anything for recruiting; you could raise the cap to $400K, but that's not gonna matter if a trainee has to spend the first 1-3 years of the process on AG pay and won't reach the top of the pay band for 5+ years
I think for the theoretical $400k, I could wait it out on AG pay for 3 years. No one joins this career field or only stays in this field for developmental pay.
 
Raising the cap may effect retention rates but won't do anything for recruiting; you could raise the cap to $400K, but that's not gonna matter if a trainee has to spend the first 1-3 years of the process on AG pay and won't reach the top of the pay band for 5+ years

Pilots pay $100k for training and barely make minimum wage as instructors or survey etc to build the time over a few years to get to a regional making under $100k all for the goal of getting to a major and making bank. I don’t think many would mind making AG-D3 if they had $400k to look forward to.
 
I really feel like some of you have no real world friends, the context you have for reality is insane.
 
I really feel like some of you have no real world friends, the context you have for reality is insane.
Well my real world friends all assume I make 400k until I say otherwise.

People that have any clue what this job does always say we make a lot and then when I tell them how much I make they don't understand why we don't make what major airline pilots make because of what's at stake with this job
 
Well my real world friends all assume I make 400k until I say otherwise.

People that have any clue what this job does always say we make a lot and then when I tell them how much I make they don't understand why we don't make what major airline pilots make because of what's at stake with this job
I always chuckle when I try to explain to my friends how it’s bullshit I only got 4 30 minute breaks one day
 
I really feel like some of you have no real world friends, the context you have for reality is insane.
I mean, you're right I have basically no friends (I occasionally spend time with my roommate, or with a former coworker from another facility). After work/commute, I don't have the energy or time for much else except to spend time with my wife.

Anyway, here's the lens I view things from: I got hired and anticipated 120K by the time I was CPC. At the time there was a house I was eyeing in a different state that was an absolute dream. At 600K, it would've still been a bit of a stretch, but whatever. I thought maybe I'd certify, transfer, maybe go into management for a pay bump, buy the house.
Well, I didn't certify at that first facility. So I worked my way back up to a middle ground facility, and last year with OT cleared over 210K. People at that same first facility maybe clear 250K if they work as much OT as I do.

The house... well it sold last year for 1.9M.

So my "context" is I got hired to a career so valuable that we could potentially buy homes worth 1.9M.

On a more local level home prices have doubled in the last 5-10 years. My local dream home would be practical for me to purchase if it was still 2019. Or, you know, if I was making 400K. (And TBF I'm not even suggesting I should get 400K... but maybe the high levels should).
 
Raising the cap may effect retention rates but won't do anything for recruiting; you could raise the cap to $400K, but that's not gonna matter if a trainee has to spend the first 1-3 years of the process on AG pay and won't reach the top of the pay band for 5+ years
You may have a point there, but at the same time this is the reality for pilots. Food for thought anyway.
 
Pilots have a better success rate than ATC, compensation based on investment is skewed. If you had to pay your way to CPC there would be no ATC.
At the current pay rates, sure. If CPCs were paid like pilots and had 12-15+ days off a month, we could have trainees do unpaid apprenticeships while training and people would be beating down the door for this job. But with level 12 CPCs making 40% of what legacy captains make, lack of flexibility in location, and a overall low quality of life, it's no surprise that it's hard to recruit and retain good employees.
 
Pilots have always made way more than atc. This is nothing new. Check out the historical pay for pilots on the forums. This isn’t an argument the agency or an arbitrator gives a shit about it, hate to say it.
 
Pilots have always made way more than atc. This is nothing new. Check out the historical pay for pilots on the forums. This isn’t an argument the agency or an arbitrator gives a shit about it, hate to say it.
Something I've learned from your replies is that it isn't humanly possible to compose an argument that you won't say 'nobody gives a shit'. They drop us to minimum wage, people like you will be along to say 'well yeah, we work in air conditioned buildings, not in the fields.'
 
Wrong as usual
Not really. The only people that could possibly make close to that are the PHL controllers that made the move from N90 and are getting crazy per diem and bonuses due to the forced move.

If there is anyone actually at N90 getting close to 400k it has to be someone with 20 years in that's capped out and working 60hrs a week every single week. Even then idk that it's possible to get to 400k
 
Not really. The only people that could possibly make close to that are the PHL controllers that made the move from N90 and are getting crazy per diem and bonuses due to the forced move.

If there is anyone actually at N90 getting close to 400k it has to be someone with 20 years in that's capped out and working 60hrs a week every single week. Even then idk that it's possible to get to 400k
For an example: We got a guy capped out and worked a little over 500 hours OT last year and made 320k. 400k would be exactly what you said and taking no leave. Ain’t nobody doin that.
 
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