Facility Selection after passing Academy.

[Phillyman2633]

ZSU=L9 pay without paying federal taxes, so basically L11 money working 9 traffic on an island where you can buy a house a couple blocks from the beach for under $300k.

 

[Dousand24]

Why? High pay in a lower cost of living area with no state tax and you get to see young girls in Abercrombie cloths on the beach all year.

Ummm, wrong beach spot....Daytona isn’t Panama City Beach bud

 

[32andBelow]

ZSU=L9 pay without paying federal taxes, so basically L11 money working 9 traffic on an island where you can buy a house a couple blocks from the beach for under $300k.

Plus free paper towels

 

[Move78]

If you’re not staying go to ZLA and get the 12 right from the start. And the training environment is not bad compared to some Zs

 

[ONE]

If you’re not staying go to ZLA and get the 12 right from the start. And the training environment is not bad compared to some Zs

What's the advantage of getting the 12 from the start? The high taxes kind beat down the pay even more (it's around 33% once you CPC)

 

[32andBelow]

What's the advantage of getting the 12 from the start? The high taxes kind beat down the pay even more (it's around 33% once you CPC)

Save pay if you transfer. He can be like maxed out at a 10 after a couple years training at ZLA

 

[ONE]

Save pay if you transfer. He can be like maxed out at a 10 after a couple years training at ZLA

Ah I see. That's pretty sick, thanks for the reply!

 

[32andBelow]

Ah I see. That's pretty sick, thanks for the reply!

There’s a 12-10 transfer where I work that cleans up compared to everyone else his age

 

[ONE]

There’s a 12-10 tanager where I work that cleans up compared to everyone else his age

tanager? teen manager?

 

[32andBelow]

tanager? teen manager?

I edited it to transfer

 

[Move78]

What's the advantage of getting the 12 from the start? The high taxes kind beat down the pay even more (it's around 33% once you CPC)

Unless you plan on transferring to a low to mid level facility and staying there forever, in which case a 10 would put you at the max soon anyway, then getting the 12 first makes a massive difference in 20 years worth of compiling raises. Like a few million dollars worth. For real.

 

[32andBelow]

Unless you plan on transferring to a low to mid level facility and staying there forever, in which case a 10 would put you at the max soon anyway, then getting the 12 first makes a massive difference in 20 years worth of compiling raises. Like a few million dollars worth. For real.

lol it’s not a few million dollars

 

[jdatc]

lol it’s not a few million dollars

Agreed. I went to a 12 first and then to a 10 after 11 years. A guy who was senior to me by a year who had spent his whole time at the 10 made 30k less in base pay. Even with differentials and tsp matches, long term it's not a couple million.

 

[Move78]

lol it’s not a few million dollars

I guess it's not a few million in this scenario, you're right. But compared to the lower levels it absolutely is. And you can also factor in an increased agency contribution to your tsp that is also compiling in the market over 20 years. Some controllers at lower levels don't really get much over 100k even later in their careers and some are grossing 200k for a whole career. And you also have to factor in a higher pension for anywhere from 0-40 years.

Agreed. I went to a 12 first and then to a 10 after 11 years. A guy who was senior to me by a year who had spent his whole time at the 10 made 30k less in base pay. Even with differentials and tsp matches, long term it's not a couple million.

Also another factor is your raises will constantly result in a higher dollar amount for the rest of your careers so the gap slowly increases.

 

[32andBelow]

I guess it's not a few million in this scenario, you're right. But compared to the lower levels it absolutely is. And you can also factor in an increased agency contribution to your tsp that is also compiling in the market over 20 years. Some controllers at lower levels don't really get much over 100k even later in their careers and some are grossing 200k for a whole career. And you also have to factor in a higher pension for anywhere from 0-40 years.

Maybe compared to an tower. But the lowest center is a 9.

 

[Stinger]

Maybe compared to an tower. But the lowest center is a 9.

Guam, ZUA, is lowest at an 8.

 

[OKbusyB]

Agreed. I was surprised the classmates ahead of me passed on my 12 w/ high locality when we picked. Even at D1, it’s a very comfortable living.

 

[CF]

Guam, ZUA, is lowest at an 8.

God bless them too. all 10 of them.

 

[accentliq]

I looked around but couldn't find it. Can anyone point me in the right direction to understand all the pay related stuff everyone is talking about in this thread?

New guy looking to hopefully apply in the next OTS bid. Thank you guys in advance.

 

[ONE]

I looked around but couldn't find it. Can anyone point me in the right direction to understand all the pay related stuff everyone is talking about in this thread?

New guy looking to hopefully apply in the next OTS bid. Thank you guys in advance.

FAQ

the FAQ my dude