I'm glad that the Transportation & Infrastructure committee hosted today's session. It's good that Congress is actively paying attention to the problems in the NAS.
I thought about it, and I'd like to bring up some statistics I've dug up and put together. Real ATC pay has, as far as we can tell, decreased slightly for a decade and a half.
According to the BLS, the average controller in 2010 earned 108,040 dollars. In 2024 average, that's 155,423. The BLS' last salary release was the 2023 median, 137,380.

According to last week's statement by Chair Duffy, the average controller earns 160 thousand (didn't give a more specific number) but there are no statistics cited to back this up at the current juncture. It could be true, but we only have the official BLS numbers from 2023 as of now. If that 160,000 figure is true, then we're closely matched.
However, when you adjust for inflation, the CPI shows that the cost of living for Americans have increased since 2010. As a result...
real salary has decreased.
Excuse me for not providing more detail, I have to grab lunch now.
Salary:
Air traffic controllers coordinate the movement of air traffic to ensure that planes stay safe distances apart.
web.archive.org
Air traffic controllers coordinate the movement of aircraft to maintain safe distances between them.
www.bls.gov
Chart: (cross reference with
CPI Inflation Calculator)
Free inflation calculator that runs on U.S. CPI data or a custom inflation rate. Also, find the historical U.S. inflation data and learn more about inflation.
www.calculator.net
CPI stats, article and white paper:
The most relevant statistics and facts about the cost of living in the United States.
www.statista.com