Aviation & Aerospace
Air Traffic Controller
Direct aircraft from control towers and radar facilities. Federal job with one of the best pay-to-effort ratios in America — and you can't be older than 31 when you apply.
high-paypaid-trainingno-degree-requiredstable
70
ROI · Strong
Investment vs return
Cost · time · demand normalized 0–100
Salary progression
What you'll earn over your career
$45k
$138k
$185k
Entry
Mid-career
Senior
10-yr outlook
+1%
+1% (Average)
Open positions
3,000
Estimated nationwide
Entry paths
How to get here
Multiple paths lead to this career. Compare time, cost, online vs in-person delivery, and program links.
Fastest ROI
Apprenticeship In Person
FAA Academy + on-the-job training
Time
3–4 months Academy + 2–3 yrs OJT (all paid)
Cost
Paid / Free
Must apply by age 31. Paid from day 1 of Academy. No degree required.
Degree In Person
AT-CTI program degree
Time
2–4 years
Cost
$20,000 – $80,000
Top programs
AT-CTI grads skip the Biographical Assessment — much higher acceptance rate.
Affiliate disclosure: Some of the program links above may be affiliate partnerships. If you enroll, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only link to programs we have actually reviewed against our methodology. See our methodology for how we evaluate schools.
Quick math
If you took the fastest path…
You'd train for
3–4 months Academy + 2–3 yrs OJT (all paid)
You'd spend (avg)
Paid / Free
Starting salary
$45,000
Mid-career
$138,000
Read more
Articles & resources
Sources: BLS OOH 2024 · FAA