The U.S. government shutdown is affecting the livelihood of thousands of air traffic controllers, as they’re expected to keep working without a paycheck. It’s led to major staffing shortages and employees calling out sick, delaying flights and packing airports with travelers anxious about safety risks.
Airports all around the country—from Newark and Phoenix to Denver and Los Angeles—are all experiencing staffing issues. In California, Hollywood Burbank Airport had no air traffic controllers at its tower from 4:15 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Monday as it grappled with the issue. About 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers were required to show up to work, despite not being paid. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said air traffic staffing has been cut by 50% in some areas since the government shutdown started last week.
The shutdown is only exacerbating an air traffic controller shortage that America has been grappling with for years. As of May 7, only two of America’s 313 airports met staffing targets set out by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This problem rides on the heels of the American Airlines tragedy that happened in February, when a passenger jet collided with an Army helicopter right outside Reagan Washington National Airport, killing all 67 people involved.
There are a few key reasons as to why there aren’t enough workers on call: from costly and time-consuming training, to high churn in the coaching phases. But for those who hold out in the field, there are several upsides. When paychecks are rolling in, air traffic controllers make an average of nearly $145,000 annually, and the workforce is growing within the labor market as the travel industry continues to thrive.
Why there’s an air traffic controller shortage in the U.S.
At the start of this year, about 91%, or 285 of 313 U.S. air traffic control facilities, operated below the FAA’s recommended staffing levels, according to data from the union representing controllers. What’s worse: At 73 of these locations, at least a quarter of the workforce was missing. Operations in New York and Long island have been especially squeezed for staffers.
Aviation safety experts have connected the staffing shortage among air traffic controllers with a high number of “near misses,” or aircrafts almost hitting each other. There were about 1,757 of these “runway incursions” in 2024, when there is an incorrect presence or position of plane or person on the runway. Some pointed fingers at Trump’s anti-DEI stance for worsening the labor gap, which in theory could deter or limit the applicant pool. But this has been an issue long before he took office.
Air traffic control has historically been an understaffed profession. Experts point to a few factors, but many contend the friction lies within the onboarding process. Training a new air traffic controller can take anywhere from 16 months, like at Reagan National Airport, to several years. And when the pandemic hit, many employers paused the coaching process. During that time, many older controllers also transitioned into retirement.
Training new air traffic controllers is also neither cheap nor easy. The former inspector general of the Department of Transportation, Mary Schiavo, said getting these workers prepped and primed is extremely costly. And for some who do make it to onboarding, the job turns out to be more grueling than expected.
“It takes a long time to train an air traffic controller,” Schiavo told CNN earlier this year. “It’s very expensive. And about a third of them wash out because it’s very rigorous.”
The career lifespan for an air traffic controller is limited, too. In the U.S., controllers have to retire by the age of 56. Because of this, the FAA wants fresh meat; it’s unwilling to hire anyone older than 31, in order for employees to have 25 long years on the job.
As the American workforce ages, Gen Z will have to step in as the next cohort of air traffic controllers. Anyone who can last in the difficult industry will reap a comfortable six-figure salary and have decent job security.
Air traffic controllers work hard but make six figures
Being an air traffic controller is no walk in the park. Workers describe long working hours to fill scheduling gaps, unaddressed mental health concerns, and unpredictable shift patterns.
There is one upside to the role: financial stability. Air traffic controllers make an average of $144,580 per year, according to a 2024 report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). But the path to that six-figure salary isn’t easy.
The job doesn’t require multiple degrees. The typical education level for being an air traffic controller is having an associate’s degree, according to the BLS. And while having a relevant work background isn’t essential, entry-level employees must spend months at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City for mandatory training. After that, another two to three years of classroom and on-the-job experience is required before receiving a controller certification.
Applicants also need to fit other qualifications. To be considered as an air traffic controller, candidates must be U.S. citizens under the age of 31, clear both a medical exam and security investigation, pass the FAA air traffic pre-employment tests, have decent English fluency, and three years of “progressively responsible” work experience and/or a bachelor’s degree. The FAA says less than 10% of applicants meet these criteria and are accepted into the training program.
For those who do make the cut, their career outlook is positive. The profession is expected to grow 3% between 2023 and 2033, with 2,200 new openings projected each year, according to the BLS data. And as Americans continue to indulge in travel, more and more aviation staff will be needed to helm the growing vacation industry.
A version of this story originally published on Fortune.com on Feb. 4, 2025.
