The cap on the gs pay scale for gs-15 is equivalent to the cap at a level 10. If you work at a level 11 or 12 you can make a lot more than you could make on the gs scale.
Fair point, but a short list :
-Telework Option (most are doing 8 days work from home and 2 in the office per pay period)
-No six day work weeks
-No rotating shifts
-Weekends + Holidays off
-Detail opportunities (liaison with a variety of different agencies / make connections)
-Do not like the job? Transfer to another one without the Union Handicapping you because of staffing
-Pay cap on the GS scale as you pointed out (different agencies have different pay tables / different localities)
-Lack of ATC retirement (for simplicity purposes)
As opposed to
-Six day work weeks
-Constant rotating shifts
-Bad weather day, final strung out 30-40 miles +supervisors losing their mind
-Management goose stepping around the TRACON demanding constant updates because they cannot read a scope
-NATCA issues (enough said)
-Lack of Career progression post certification (minus Supervisor slots)
-Lack of ability to transfer inside ATO (Air Traffic Organization)
These are just some good things and bad things to consider. The "Best Job in the World" line is outdated and beaten to death from a time when a high school diploma could pay 6 figures with a strong Union (all praise Johnny "the Bull" Carr). Now the tag line is repeated early and often by a Union that stands only to gain for its own benefit while handicapping transfers of controllers stuck at their first (and sometimes only) facility not to even speak of the fact the Union will not fight for pay raises.,.. As previously mentioned, people want to bitch and moan but no one wants to do anything about it. When your career ends and you are still stuck at that level 6/7/ whatever, who really looked out for you? Was it management? Was it the Union? The answer is no one. You have to look out for you. Sure help our brothers and sisters along the way but in the end take care of you. Are quality of life changes more important to you or is showing up to work with no staffing relief in sight working 6 days a week while missing family events or your kids birthdays? The choice is yours.