2025 Federal Pay Raise

The real question is, what is everybody cutting back on? This shitty-ass joke of a “raise” combined with the average 15% increase in healthcare premiums equates to an effective pay CUT for many people. Less money in our pockets while everything has gone up in cost. And every other career in the industry has seen 30-40%+ pay raises. We are so fucked.

I have to stop buying 180 dollar bourbon every other week and cut back to bottles in the 100-range.
 
The real question is, what is everybody cutting back on? This shitty-ass joke of a “raise” combined with the average 15% increase in healthcare premiums equates to an effective pay CUT for many people. Less money in our pockets while everything has gone up in cost. And every other career in the industry has seen 30-40%+ pay raises. We are so fucked.
Hookers. Even they are charging for additional services that were complimentary.
 
The real question is, what is everybody cutting back on? This shitty-ass joke of a “raise” combined with the average 15% increase in healthcare premiums equates to an effective pay CUT for many people. Less money in our pockets while everything has gone up in cost. And every other career in the industry has seen 30-40%+ pay raises. We are so fucked.

No cutbacks. We started a new business, though. If all goes well, hopefully it will do better than ATC will, and I can ditch the career while I'm young.
 
No cutbacks. We started a new business, though. If all goes well, hopefully it will do better than ATC will, and I can ditch the career while I'm young.
Do the math before making the jump and make sure it'll offset the benefits overall for your FAA time left. I also did this, and my advice to a fellow entrepreneur. To leave for a biz is intoxicating, but also comes with its own challenges. Good luck on your new venture tho. Respect for doing both. 👏
 
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Do the math before making the jump and make sure it'll offset the benefits overall for your FAA time left. I also did this, and my advice to a fellow entrepreneur. To leave for a biz is intoxicating, but also comes with its own challenges. Good luck on your new venture tho. Respect for doing both. 👏
Thank you. I had a great deal of trepidation: more money as an owner, but more headache and way more risk than just being an employee. However, my wife has been successful in private business (got out in COVID years for obvious reasons) and in upper management, and was asked by a number of people if we might start a company again. We've already hired our director and all the employees, so it will be about as hands off as things can get. The client list is also already full.

She wants to start a second business on top of it all, but I feel that's a little much risk/task stacking. I'm going to stick with ATC at least until we have another kid. I want to see what happens with the career field.
 
Thank you. I had a great deal of trepidation: more money as an owner, but more headache and way more risk than just being an employee. However, my wife has been successful in private business (got out in COVID years for obvious reasons) and in upper management, and was asked by a number of people if we might start a company again. We've already hired our director and all the employees, so it will be about as hands off as things can get. The client list is also already full.

She wants to start a second business on top of it all, but I feel that's a little much risk/task stacking. I'm going to stick with ATC at least until we have another kid. I want to see what happens with the career field.
Sometimes it makes me sad, though... Hal being gone. I have to remind myself that some birds aren't meant to be caged. Their feathers are just too bright. And when they fly away, the part of you that knows it was a sin to lock them up DOES rejoice. But still, the place you live in is that much more drab and empty that they're gone. I guess I just miss my friend.
 
Sometimes it makes me sad, though... Hal being gone. I have to remind myself that some birds aren't meant to be caged. Their feathers are just too bright. And when they fly away, the part of you that knows it was a sin to lock them up DOES rejoice. But still, the place you live in is that much more drab and empty that they're gone. I guess I just miss my friend.
Perfect quote.
 
Agreed, and Europeans also:
Hate GA traffic in a general sense, and make it prohibitively expensive to partake in
Close many major airports overnight for "noise abatement"
Can't comprehend having more than one aircraft cleared to land on a runway at the same time
ATC's don't work as many days/ hours per month as we do
Have better salaries from what I hear
Etc.
We are in a whole different league from our counterparts across the pond.
 
Agreed, and Europeans also:
Hate GA traffic in a general sense, and make it prohibitively expensive to partake in
Close many major airports overnight for "noise abatement"
Can't comprehend having more than one aircraft cleared to land on a runway at the same time
ATC's don't work as many days/ hours per month as we do
Have better salaries from what I hear
Etc.
We are in a whole different league from our counterparts across the pond.
They also put slots and towers at like every single airport.
 
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