The FAA has hired more air traffic controllers this year than it set as its goal for all of 2025, a surprising development for an agency that has been struggling to keep pace with controller retirements, persistent staffing shortfalls, and the demands of modernizing the US air traffic system.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said this week the agency brought on 2,026 new controllers in fiscal 2025, slightly above its target of 2,000. That figure represents about 20 percent more hiring than in the same period in 2024 and is part of a push to add nearly 9,000 new controllers by 2028.
Observers have long warned about too few ATC staff and too much overtime. The added hiring is welcome progress after years of shortfalls and ongoing technology problems in the air traffic system. The FAA’s own reports show many facilities still operate with staffing levels well below what is considered safe, and the overtime bill has more than tripled over the past decade as existing controllers work extra shifts to keep the system running smoothly.
Much of the challenge comes down to timing. The FAA is racing against a wave of retirements, as many veteran controllers depart after decades in towers and radar rooms. Federal law sets a mandatory retirement age of 56 for controllers, though some may continue until 61 with a waiver. New applicants must be under 31 when they begin training, which makes it difficult to widen the pool of candidates. Early retirements also compound the pressure, since controllers can leave at age 50 with 20 years of service or at any age with 25 years on the job.
Replacing those workers isn’t easy. New hires must pass a rigorous selection process and then spend years in training before they are fully certified. Roughly a third of trainees wash out before completing the program.
At the direction of Duffy, the FAA has cut months from the hiring process and expanded capacity at its training academy in Oklahoma City. In August 2025 alone, it seated 600 new trainees, the highest monthly total in its history. The FAA has also leaned on college programs that allow students to arrive partly trained, helping to fill seats more quickly.
But training new controllers is not just a question of volume. Many still have to learn how to use legacy radar scopes and paper flight strips while also becoming proficient with new digital platforms the FAA is installing through its modernization program, known as NextGen. That means mastering two worlds at once — the old systems that still dominate in most facilities and the new equipment that is slowly rolling out.
The FAA says modernization is critical to make the system more resilient and reduce workload for controllers. Billions of dollars are flowing into upgraded communications, automation, and surveillance systems. But controllers warn that equipment upgrades alone will not solve the staffing crisis, which is fueled by long hours, mandatory overtime, and difficulty taking leave.
FAA controllers are covered by a special pay plan separate from the standard federal scale. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage was about $145,000 in 2024. Average pay for certified controllers typically ranges between $100,000 and $150,000, though experienced staff at busy facilities can approach $200,000 with overtime and premium pay. Entry-level pay is lower while trainees complete initial instruction, but increases significantly once they are certified and assigned to operational facilities.
