Ask any pilot who has had their bacon pulled out of the fire by the quick actions of a controller, or ask the pilot who was lost and recieved help from a controller, or ask the pilot who lost his engine/s, or instruments in IFR conditions and was guided to a safe landing by a controller, (etc.) if controllers are over paid.
We may sit there in front of our scopes or up in the tower sounding board, or we may sound as if we aren't doing much, but when things are going bad, the controller is there to safely help the pilot through what ever situation they find themselves in.
Mike
FWA