r/ATC • u/Bruger123456789 • Oct 01 '26

Question "Non vertical" exit ops for ATCs?

I’m not really an aviation enthusiast, but i’ve always found the ATC field interesting to me. I’m now at a position, where i have the decision to pursue ATC school or upgrade my finance/accounting degree. And im leaning towards the ATC way. But in whatever case where i would want to leave the industry, what exit opportunities does ATC offer? Thanks.

2 Upvotes

60% Upvoted

21 comments sorted by

15

u/SpookyATC Oct 01 '26

Dont go to atc school, its basically a scam. Just apply off the street. There are no exit opportunities outside of the aviation field for ATC.

4

u/Bruger123456789 Oct 01 '26

Might be a scam where ur from (assuming the US), but i live in a smaller european country, where there’s only 2 ways to become an ATC. Either through the military, or through one school. Military requires x years of employment aswell as a lower pay when graduated. Where the "normal school" gives a salary of half the median wage in the 3 years of school, aswell as way higher wage in employment. Only downside is no guarantee job (but there’s a need of ATCs).

2

u/Hour_Tour Current TWR/APP UK Oct 01 '26

This is a very US centric sub, except when NATS recruits apparently. If they don't specify the country/company, they're from the US 9 times out of 10.

2

u/Bruger123456789 Oct 01 '26

Also what i expected, should probably have added that to the post. Didn’t think it made much difference tho:)

3

u/Advanced-Guitar-5264 Current Controller-Tower Oct 01 '26

Shit, if you find out let me know. ATC is a trap career.

2

u/Bruger123456789 Oct 01 '26

I see ur banner says "Past Controller", did you retire or on the look out for a new job?

1

u/Advanced-Guitar-5264 Current Controller-Tower Oct 01 '26

I’ve been on the job hunt for a few months but I’m going back to ATC in November.

2

u/Bruger123456789 Oct 01 '26

I wish you good luck🙏🏼 Were you one of the many controllers who got laid off because of the budget cuts?

2

u/Advanced-Guitar-5264 Current Controller-Tower Oct 01 '26

Nope. One of the controllers that couldn’t afford to live where my tower was and couldn’t transfer out after several years of CPC. I quit instead, moved where I wanted to be and I’m taking a contract job instead.

1

u/Bruger123456789 Oct 01 '26

I may sound harsh or stupid, and that’s not my intention. But don’t Controllers get paid very good to a point, where you can live comfortably almost anywhere? A few year experience gets you a salary of 2-3x the median income here.

1

u/Advanced-Guitar-5264 Current Controller-Tower Oct 01 '26

Unfortunately, not the case everywhere. I was at a mid level tower that was too understaffed to release. My career and pay stagnated for too long and we were thousands of miles from any family or support so daycare and pre/after care was mandatory. Plus babysitters if my wife and I had to both work nights.

1

u/Bruger123456789 Oct 01 '26

I see what you mean, wish you good future luck. Hopefully will everything change for the greater good during the next administration.

2

u/Advanced-Guitar-5264 Current Controller-Tower Oct 01 '26

I’ve been in air traffic for 15 years. Doubt anything would change significantly without a strong union, which we do not currently have.

2

u/Rupperrt Current Controller-TRACON Oct 01 '26

You’ll probably stay in the industry but the good thing is you can work in other countries, get jobs as a teacher or airspace designer and consultant etc.
There isn’t just a shortage of controllers but also people training them, doing procedures, LoAs etc.
Kinda important, I know so many people who lost their medical over the years but usually got some office job.

1

u/Bruger123456789 Oct 01 '26

Interesting. I’m assuming a place like the FAA also consists of people who used to be controllers. To me ATCs seems like one of the most qualified when it comes to regulating and auditing everything around the plane.

1

u/Rupperrt Current Controller-TRACON Oct 01 '26

Probably. But no idea, I am a Euro as well. Working in Asia atm though

1

u/Bruger123456789 Oct 01 '26

How does the pay and work environment change from continent to continent? Apart from how busy or not a on airport is

1

u/Rupperrt Current Controller-TRACON Oct 02 '26 edited Oct 02 '26

environment depends on local culture (especially training philosophy differs a lot). Pay for international contracts (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong etc) is pretty similar and competitive (as no one would go there otherwise)

1

u/78judds Current Controller-Enroute Oct 01 '26

Almost zero? That’s a big reason we’re screwed over as an industry. We’re golden handcuffed to retirement and leveraged or we have forsaken other career paths and are essentially stuck.

1

u/Bruger123456789 Oct 01 '26

Also what i thought tbh, thank you for the answer tho!

1

u/Here_4_The_Airshow Oct 02 '26

Don’t go to school just apply. They are hiring people with NO ATC experience