ATC

Most agree that the job of air traffic controller (ATC) is stressful and so steps are taken in their schedule to reduce stress. They work 90 to 120 minutes and then take a mandatory 30-minute break. They also get two 15-minute breaks and a 30-minute lunch break. The shift can be up to 10 hours long when the break times are included and they must have at least 9 hours between shifts. There is a mandatory retirement age of 56. They are eligible for retirement at age 50 with 20 years of service and average retirement is $40,000 and extra is granted until social security kicks in at age 62. The average pay is $138,000. There has been an ongoing shortage of ATC for years and the government is expediting the hiring process by raising starting salaries and streamlining the application process. They are also offering bonuses for those who delay retirement. The training is mostly on the job and can last three to five years. $12 billion was set aside in the big new bill to train people and to upgrade systems.