Linked here with proof:
Link here!
Update 4/14
I have caught up on most questions and DMs. Please feel free to continue to ask questions over on , here, or in my DMs.
I’ll see y’all here on Friday when I post the link to the application at the top of this post.
Update 4/12
I’m back on to answer more questions. I’ve received a lot of DMs, and will respond to all of them and all questions here as well.
I will post a direct link to the application at the top of this post once the application goes live on April 19.
I also highly suggest subbing to to keep in touch with other applicants and ask questions along the way.
is a list of all the facilities in the country with their unofficial staffing count and max pay.
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Here we are again. I’ve been doing AMA’s for these “off the street” hiring announcements since 2018, and they always receive a lot of interest. I’ve heard back from hundreds of people (if not thousands at this point) over the past few years who saw my posts, applied, and are now air traffic controllers. Hopefully this post can reach someone else who might be looking for a cool job which happens to also pay really well.
I made a sub for applicants, controllers, trainees, and anybody interested to find a common place to communicate with each other. Feel free to join over on .
Also, check out my previous AMAs from years past for a ridiculous amount of info:
** This year the application window will open from April 19-22 for all eligible U.S. citizens.**
Eligibility requirements are as follows:
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Must be a U.S. citizen
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Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (Required for males born after 12/31/1959)
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Must be age 30 or under on the closing date of the application period (with limited exceptions)
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Must have either three years of general work experience or four years of education leading to a bachelor’s degree, or a combination of both
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Must speak English clearly enough to be understood over communications equipment
- Be willing to relocate to an FAA facility based on agency staffing needs
to visit the FAA website and read up on the application process and timeline, training, pay, and more. Here you will also find detailed instructions on how to apply.
Let’s start with the difficult stuff:
The hiring process is incredibly arduous. After applying, you will have to wait for the FAA to process all applications, determine eligibility, and then reach out to you to schedule the AT-SA. This process typically takes a couple months. The AT-SA is essentially an air traffic aptitude test. The testing window usually lasts another couple months until everyone is tested. Your score will place you into one of several “bands”, the top of which being “Best Qualified.” I don’t have stats, but from my understanding the vast majority of offer letters go to those whose scores fall into that category.
If you receive and accept an offer letter (called a Tentative Offer Letter, or TOL) you will then have to pass medical and security clearance, including:
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Drug testing
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Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI2)
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Class II medical exam
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Fingerprinting
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Federal background check
Once you clear the medical and security phase you will receive a Final Offer Letter (FOL) with instructions on when/where to attend the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City, OK.
Depending on which track you are assigned (Terminal or En Route), you will be at the academy for 3-4 months (paid). You will have to pass your evaluations at the end in order to continue on to your facility. There is a 99% chance you will have to relocate. Your class will get a list of available facilities to choose from based solely on national staffing needs. If you fail your evaluations, your position will be terminated. Once at your facility, on the job training typically lasts anywhere from 1-3 years. You will receive substantial raises as you progress through training.
All that being said:
This is an incredibly rewarding career. The median pay for air traffic controllers in 2021 was $138,556. We receive extremely competitive benefits and leave, and won’t work a day past 56 (mandatory retirement, with a pension). We also get 3 months of paid parental leave. Most controllers would tell you they can’t imagine doing anything else. Enjoying yourself at work is actively encouraged, as taking down time in between working traffic is paramount for safety. Understand that not all facilities are well-staffed and working conditions can vary greatly. But overall, it’s hard to find a controller who wouldn’t tell you this is the best job in the world.
Please ask away in the comments and/or my DMs. I always respond to everyone eventually. Good luck!