Reading the numbers
Hiring takes time to become operational capacity.
The FAA reports 2,028 trainee hires and 1,460 workforce losses in FY2025. That leaves a net workforce increase of 568, including people still in training.
Calculation: AeroEd, using the FAA's FY2025 recap, printed p. 2. The result agrees with the FAA's reported net increase.
01 / Workforce
How many air traffic controllers does the FAA employ?
The FAA reports 14,832 people in its controller workforce at the end of FY2025, including 10,694 Certified Professional Controllers. The total also includes controllers in training and Academy students.
View staffing chart data and sources
| Fiscal year | Status | Total | CPC + CPC-IT | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2024 | Actual | 14,264 | 11,686 | 2025 plan, p. 10 |
| FY2025 | Actual | 14,832 | 11,695 | 2026 plan, printed p. 5 |
| FY2026 | Forecast | 15,321 | 11,996 | 2026 plan, printed p. 5 |
| FY2027 | Forecast | 15,868 | 12,177 | 2026 plan, printed p. 5 |
| FY2028 | Forecast | 16,425 | 12,372 | 2026 plan, printed p. 5 |
CPC-ITs are previously certified controllers training at another facility. FY2024 follows the 2025 report's combined figure, including three controllers on detail. For FY2025–2028, AeroEd adds the CPC and CPC-IT categories in the 2026 report. Total workforce includes Academy students. Preserve these definitions when reusing the series.
What changed? Total workforce increased by 568 between the two actual snapshots, while the reported CPC + CPC-IT measure increased by 9. These are changes in headcount at two dates; neither measures how many people earned a certification during the year.
- Total FAA controller workforce Actual
- 14,832 people
-
End of FY2025 · FAA controller workforce, including Academy students
Includes CPCs, CPCs in training at a new facility, entry/developmental controllers, and Academy students. It is not a count of fully certified controllers.
FAA · 2026 workforce plan · Figure 1.3, printed p. 5 Source checked 2026-09-12 - Certified Professional Controllers (CPCs) Actual
- 10,694 people
-
End of FY2025 · FAA Certified Professional Controllers
The fully certified category in the FAA's workforce breakdown; CPCs in training at a new facility are listed separately.
FAA · 2026 workforce plan · Figure 1.3, printed p. 5 Source checked 2026-09-12 - Previously certified controllers in facility training Actual
- 1,001 people
-
End of FY2025 · FAA Certified Professional Controllers In-Training (CPC-ITs)
These controllers were certified at a previous facility and are completing training at another. They are not first-time controller trainees.
FAA · 2026 workforce plan · Figure 1.3, printed p. 5; staffing model, printed p. 8 Source checked 2026-09-12 - Entry-level and developmental controllers Actual
- 2,529 people
-
End of FY2025 · FAA AG/developmental controllers
Controllers progressing through facility training. The FAA labels this category AG/Devs and counts Academy students separately.
FAA · 2026 workforce plan · Figure 1.3, printed p. 5 Source checked 2026-09-12 - FAA Academy students Actual
- 608 people
-
End of FY2025 · FAA Academy controller students in the workforce snapshot
A point-in-time student count. This does not measure annual Academy enrollment or graduation throughput.
FAA · 2026 workforce plan · Figure 1.3, printed p. 5 Source checked 2026-09-12 - Net workforce increase Actual
- 568 people
-
FY2025 · Change in total FAA controller workforce
The FAA reports this net increase after all workforce losses. It does not mean that the same number of controllers became fully certified during the year.
FAA · 2026 workforce plan · FY2025 recap, printed p. 2 Source checked 2026-09-12
02 / Hiring
How many controllers is the FAA hiring?
The FAA hired 2,028 controller trainees in FY2025. Its June 2026 workforce plan sets hiring targets of 2,200, 2,300, and 2,400 for FY2026, FY2027, and FY2028, respectively.
View hiring chart data and sources
| Fiscal year | Actual hires | Hiring target | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2024 | 1,811 | 1,800 | 2025 plan, p. 4 |
| FY2025 | 2,028 | 2,000 | 2026 plan, printed p. 2 |
| FY2026 | Not included | 2,200 | 2026 plan, printed p. 2 |
| FY2027 | Not included | 2,300 | 2026 plan, printed p. 2 |
| FY2028 | Not included | 2,400 | 2026 plan, printed p. 2 |
This edition contains completed-year actuals through FY2025. Missing actuals are not zero. Targets are annual goals and do not establish whether an application window is open.
- Controllers hired in FY2024 Actual
- 1,811 hires
-
FY2024 · FAA controller hires
Completed hires reported by the FAA for the fiscal year; applicants and Academy graduates are different measures.
FAA · 2025 workforce plan · FY2024 recap, p. 4 Source checked 2026-09-12 - Controller trainees hired in FY2025 Actual
- 2,028 hires
-
FY2025 · FAA controller trainee hires
Completed hires. The FAA reports that this exceeded its hiring target and was its largest intake since 2008.
FAA · 2026 workforce plan · FY2025 recap, printed p. 2 Source checked 2026-09-12 - FY2026 hiring target Target
- 2,200 hires
-
FY2026 · Planned FAA controller hires
An annual hiring goal in the June 2026 workforce plan. It is not a count of completed hires or currently advertised jobs.
FAA · 2026 workforce plan · Executive summary, printed pp. 2–3 Source checked 2026-09-12 - FY2027 hiring target Target
- 2,300 hires
-
FY2027 · Planned FAA controller hires
A future hiring goal in the June 2026 plan, subject to appropriations and implementation.
FAA · 2026 workforce plan · Executive summary, printed pp. 2–3 Source checked 2026-09-12 - FY2028 hiring target Target
- 2,400 hires
-
FY2028 · Planned FAA controller hires
A future hiring goal in the June 2026 plan, subject to appropriations and implementation.
FAA · 2026 workforce plan · Executive summary, printed pp. 2–3 Source checked 2026-09-12 - Losses from the controller workforce Actual
- 1,460 people
-
FY2025 · FAA controller workforce losses
Includes Academy and developmental attrition, retirements, resignations, promotions, and other separations. This is broader than retirement alone.
FAA · 2026 workforce plan · FY2025 recap, printed p. 2 Source checked 2026-09-12
03 / Pay
How much do air traffic controllers earn?
BLS estimates a median annual wage of $148,080 for May 2025. Training pay is a separate measure: the FAA recruitment page advertises $22.61 per hour at the Academy, as checked on September 12, 2026.
- Advertised Academy starting pay Published rate
- $22.61 per hour
-
Recruitment page checked September 12, 2026 · FAA Academy trainees covered by the recruitment page
Hourly training pay advertised by the FAA. Confirm pay and allowances in the applicable vacancy and offer; this is not certified-controller pay.
FAA · ATC recruitment · Paid Academy Training Source checked 2026-09-12 - Median annual controller wage Estimate
- $148,080 per year
-
May 2025 · U.S. air traffic controller occupation, SOC 53-2021
Half of workers earned more and half earned less. An occupational median describes the workforce; it is not an entry salary or a guaranteed offer.
BLS · Occupational Outlook Handbook · Pay Source checked 2026-09-12 - Lower tenth wage threshold Estimate
- $78,420 per year
-
May 2025 · U.S. air traffic controller occupation, SOC 53-2021
The lowest-paid 10% earned less than this amount. It is not a minimum salary or a trainee pay band.
BLS · Occupational Outlook Handbook · Pay Source checked 2026-09-12 - Upper tenth wage threshold Estimate
- $215,610 per year
-
May 2025 · U.S. air traffic controller occupation, SOC 53-2021
The highest-paid 10% earned more than this amount. It is not a maximum salary or an expected starting wage.
BLS · Occupational Outlook Handbook · Pay Source checked 2026-09-12
04 / Job outlook
What does the longer-term job outlook look like?
BLS projects 2,100 annual openings on average over 2025–2035 and 2% net employment growth. Replacement needs account for most projected openings.
- U.S. controller employment Estimate
- 24,000 jobs
-
2025 · U.S. air traffic controller occupation, SOC 53-2021
A rounded BLS occupational estimate with different coverage from the FAA administrative workforce count. Do not combine the two as a single time series.
BLS · Occupational Outlook Handbook · Work Environment; Employment projections table Source checked 2026-09-12 - Projected annual openings Projection
- 2,100 openings/year
-
Average over 2025–2035 · U.S. air traffic controller occupation, SOC 53-2021
Includes replacement needs when workers leave the occupation. This is a decade-average projection, not a live job count or an FAA hiring announcement.
BLS · Occupational Outlook Handbook · Job Outlook Source checked 2026-09-12 - Projected employment growth Projection
- 2% over the decade
-
2025–2035 · U.S. air traffic controller occupation, SOC 53-2021
BLS's rounded projection of net growth across the decade. Replacement openings can be substantial even when net employment changes little.
BLS · Occupational Outlook Handbook · Job Outlook Source checked 2026-09-12
Two different populations. The BLS occupation and the FAA's administrative workforce have different coverage and methods. The BLS employment estimate cannot be used as an alternative count of FAA controllers or spliced into the FAA staffing chart.
05 / Training
How long does certification take?
The FAA recruitment page describes 1–3 years of on-the-job experience after Academy graduation. Application processing and Academy training add time before that stage.
Choosing how to enter the profession? Compare applying directly, standard AT-CTI, and Enhanced AT-CTI, including school costs and which training each route requires.
- Advertised facility-training range Published guidance
- 1–3 years
-
Recruitment page checked September 12, 2026 · FAA Academy graduates progressing toward CPC certification
The FAA recruitment page gives this range for on-the-job experience after Academy graduation. It excludes application processing and Academy time; individual timelines vary.
FAA · ATC recruitment · Phase 05 — On-the-Job Experience Source checked 2026-09-12
The workforce plan identifies training capacity as the main constraint on growth. An Academy headcount is a snapshot, and a hiring total is an annual intake. Neither is an Academy pass rate. This reference does not infer pass rates by dividing figures for different cohorts. FAA training discussion, printed p. 7 ↗
Put the numbers to work
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Open my Flight Plan06 / Sources & methodology
A reference you can trace back to the source.
Compiled by AeroEd from the original publishers below. Figure values, definitions, chart labels, and source links on this page were checked with AI assistance on . FAA and BLS produced the underlying observations; AeroEd compiled the comparisons and charts.
Federal Aviation Administration
Air Traffic Controller Workforce Plan 2026–2028
FY2025 actual results and FY2026–2028 plans. Printed page 5 is PDF page 6; printed page 2 is PDF page 3.
Published 2026-06-01 · Checked 2026-09-12
Federal Aviation Administration
Air Traffic Controller Workforce Plan 2025–2028
Used only for FY2024 actuals and its FY2024 hiring target. Onboard snapshot: September 21, 2024. Figure 2.2 reports 11,686 CPC + CPC-IT; the appendix accounts for three controllers on detail in addition to 11,683 at facilities.
Published 2025-08-21 · Checked 2026-09-12
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Air Traffic Controllers — Occupational Outlook Handbook
May 2025 wages and 2025–2035 employment projections for occupation 53-2021. BLS occupational estimates and FAA administrative headcounts have different coverage.
Checked 2026-09-12
Federal Aviation Administration
Safe Skies. Strong Careers. We're Hiring Air Traffic Controllers.
Recruitment-page figures as checked, including Academy hourly pay and the advertised facility-training range. Check the applicable vacancy announcement for current terms.
Checked 2026-09-12
How to read and reuse these figures
- Keep the reporting period. A September 2026 source check does not turn May 2025 wage data into 2026 wage data. FY is the federal fiscal year, October through September.
- Keep the status. Observed FAA results, BLS estimates, hiring targets, and employment projections answer different questions. Forecasts reflect the cited report, not a promise.
- Keep the denominator. Total workforce includes Academy students. CPC-ITs have a prior certification but are training at a different facility. Their operational contribution is not interchangeable with that of CPCs.
- Use the appropriate edition. FY2024 staffing and hiring come from the 2025 plan. Later staffing forecasts and hiring targets use the 2026 plan; superseded forecasts from the older report are omitted.
- Calculations are reproducible. Net growth subtracts reported losses from hires. Combined CPC + CPC-IT figures for FY2025–2028 add the two published categories. Year-to-year changes compare those reported snapshots, with the FY2024 on-detail treatment noted in the chart table.
- Refresh when the source changes. This is a dated edition. Updates should follow new FAA workforce reports, BLS releases, or changes to the recruitment page. Consult the FAA's live announcement for application status and terms.
Cite this reference
AeroEd. “U.S. Air Traffic Controller Statistics: Workforce, Hiring, Pay and Training.” Source figures checked September 12, 2026. https://www.aeroed.ai/data/air-traffic-control
When quoting an FAA or BLS observation, credit and link to that publisher too. When using a chart or comparison, credit AeroEd and retain the source notes and reporting periods.