just to add some fuel to the fire, some US Congress quotes:
ATC Pay Raises Eyebrows
A number of congressional eyebrows went up markedly during DOT inspector general Kenneth Mead’s testimony on runway incursions when it was revealed that an air traffic controller in the Kansas City area is making $174,000 a year under the five-year contract that the FAA signed with the National Air Traffic Controllers Association in 1998.
“That’s a better job than this one,” quipped Rep. Harold Rogers (R-Ky.), the chairman of the transportation appropriations subcommittee, who makes about $145,100 a year in base salary. It also was pointed out that it far exceeds the $133,700 pay of members of the senior executive service, which are the highly placed, non-appointed department heads and professional researchers such as FAA associate administrators.
Pressed by Rogers on the controller’s salary breakdown, Mead explained that the individual’s base salary is $125,000, with the remainder made up of overtime and incentive pay, as well as night and Sunday differentials.
"According to the panel, the average controller will be paid $135,000 in the coming year, and that equates to 93 percent of what FAA Administrator Jane Garvey is paid. Next year, more than 9,500 controllers will have salaries exceeding $100,000."
from:
http://www.ainonline.com/Departments...hington01.html