Entry-Level Air Traffic Controller Salary in Plainfield, NJ: $102,131 (2026)

In Plainfield, the primary employers looking to hire new graduates are the FAA and its recruitment initiatives. The FAA actively fills positions through public bid windows, which allow applicants under age 31—unless they are military veterans—to enter the field. The agency also relies on partnerships with select universities through its Collegiate Training Initiative (CTI) program. Aspiring controllers should prep with all necessary credentials, including US citizenship, and either a bachelor’s degree or three years of progressively responsible work experience, alongside passing the FAA Air Traffic Standardized Aptitude Test (ATSA). With the potential for intensive training at the FAA Academy, which usually lasts between three to five months, new hires undergo facility-specific training that can last up to three years before full certification as a Controller Pilot (CPC). Those in entry-level positions can expect reasonable salary growth, influenced by the fact that FAA controllers are federal employees on the FG pay scale. As they gain experience, both in terms of time served and shift differentials, their salaries can substantially increase, aligning more closely with the upper end of compensation for controllers at top-tier facilities across the region.