Entry-Level Air Traffic Controller Salary in Monroe, NC: $76,649 (2026)

Employers in Monroe primarily include the FAA, which recruits entry-level controllers through various avenues. The FAA’s hiring processes include public bid windows for 'off-the-street' applicants, focused on candidates under 31 years old, along with partnerships with universities through its Collegiate Training Initiative (CTI). Also, military air traffic control veterans can transition via the Veterans Recruitment Authority pathway. To enhance starting pay prospects in North Carolina, candidates must meet specific credentials: being a U.S. citizen, completing a bachelor’s degree or having three years of progressive work experience, and passing the FAA Air Traffic Standardized Aptitude Test (ATSA). Furthermore, after the Initial Qualification Training at the FAA Academy, which lasts about 3 to 5 months, controllers undergo facility-specific training that can take up to 1-3 years to certify as a full CPC. As FAA controllers are federal employees on the FG pay scale, the career trajectory often leads to significant salary increases, especially at en route facilities, where total compensation can exceed $200,000, but realistic expectations for the first years need to account for the chronically understaffed environment post-2013, where overtime work is frequently necessary.