Pros
- Pretty good pay for a job that doesn't require a degree - Government benefits - Retirement pension
Cons
- "Waterfall" or "Rattler" schedule, constant rotating shifts take years off your life (literally) - Air Traffic skills do not translate well into other jobs. - Controller Shortage, constant overtime. You spend most of your life at work - Mental health is not taken seriously, speaking up about your mental health COULD permanently disqualify you from ATC. Most of us are alcoholics honestly. - Stress is manageable, but not if you can't sleep due to rotating shifts. - Union doesn't negotiate appropriate pay raises to follow inflation. You also cannot negotiate your own pay raise. - Cannot legally go on strike to oppose the harsh work environment - Morale is very low in most facilities - Hard to go where you want, you may get stuck in the middle of nowhere - Moving laterally or vertically takes a very long time - Not much diversity