Calling all European controllers: Brothers and sisters - lend me your hand!

[Vectors4cash]

Please, let me apologize for touching upon this open-nerve-like sensitive subject, but me and my colleagues at a particular European FIR are looking to fight the oppression of our greedy overlords and we call upon your help in this matter:

If at all possible, could you, please:

1) state the country you're from;
2) post gross remuneration (with and without overtime if applicable) for TWR, APP and ACC controllers;
3) state minimum salary, if applicable.

I do believe I've seen many figures here over the years, but up-to-date numbers are now of the utmost importance.

If correct, our ansp is the only in EU that pays TWR, APP and ACC virtually the same, while simultaneously paying the least in the whole ECAC. So, while I'd not be able to provide much in gratitude, my thanks are worth their weight in.. well, thanks.

Cheers to all and THANKS in advance!

Yours truly,

Vectors4cash

[SINGAPURCANAC]

What are your numbers ( twr, app, acs) to tell you are we lower or higher than thar?

[Vectors4cash]

Originally Posted by SINGAPURCANAC

What are your numbers ( twr, app, acs) to tell you are we lower or higher than thar?

I know for a fact that all EU ACC's are higher, so for me posting this number is pretty damning, but:

Between 38 000 and 40 000 eur/pa net for acc/app/twr.

We'd sincerely appreciate a thorough response. Although it's not always best to compare different regions and situations, there's an ongoing trend of our management threathening us with 'it could be so much worse, you could have it as bad as *insert country that is now actually doing better than us*'. That's why we seek more info

[mike current]

Originally Posted by Vectors4cash

If correct, our ansp is the only in EU that pays TWR, APP and ACC virtually the same, while simultaneously paying the least in the whole ECAC. So, while I'd not be able to provide much in

Tell us where you are and what your pay is, and you might get some sort of feedback... Otherwise it's just fishing.

[SINGAPURCANAC]

Between 38 000 and 40 000 eur/pa net for acc/app/twr.

Before or after tax? ​​​​​​​


Slightly lower. If netto.

Nothing especially, nothing important says.

As a rule of tumb, Salary for qualified ATCO ( if financed via CRCO) is in the range of 3 to 5 average salaries for that particular country. Again as rot, 3 for twr 5 for ACS/APS. 4 for app/proc.

Exemptions in both direction existed, have existed and will be there...

[LOWI]

So this thread pretty much sums up what is wrong with Europe as a whole.

As Europeans, why are we so reserved in sharing our salaries? This is why, compared with our aviation colleagues in the US and Middle East, we are receiving the bottom dollar wage.

If we were all more open about our salaries, we would be able to be stronger together in pushing for higher pay.

Just my two (€) cents.

[Del Prado]

UK (taken from prospect https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-prof...fic-controller website)

• Trainee air traffic controllers earn a salary of Ł17,000 with NATS. A weekly payment of around Ł60 is also available to help to cover your expenses as you’ll be expected to attend one of NATS colleges for your training.
• On completion of training, you can expect a salary in the range of Ł37,014 to Ł41,253, location dependent.
• Senior controllers with substantial experience can potentially earn over Ł100,000 (including shift pay) at NATS busiest units.

[Request Orbit]

For the UK I followed the Prospect link through to NATS Careers (scroll most of the way down), which now lists the updated 2024 figures. You can probably hazard a guess at recent payrise percentages, but I’ve no idea which year the Prospect figures are taken from.

On joining as a Trainee Air Traffic Controller Apprentice, you’ll get a basic salary of Ł21,330.60, along with an attractive benefits package. This will include everything from a market-leading contributory pension scheme and generous annual leave to a whole host of voluntary benefits and family friendly policies.Because we recognise the costs associated with accommodation when you’re training, we also provide an annual accommodation allowance which is paid monthly whilst you remain an Ab Initio Trainee. The monthly accommodation allowance is equivalent to Ł8,351.91 per annum.

Once you’ve completed and passed all of your training (college and unit), your salary will rise to Ł46,216 - Ł51,508 and, with increments, you could potentially earn over Ł100,000 (inclusive of shift pay) at some of our busiest units.

[TC_Ukraine]

Ukraine (before War and covid)
~20k €/annum. TWR, ACC, APP haddifference less than 10%.
~8К €/annum

[poor]

Originally Posted by Vectors4cash

I know for a fact that all EU ACC's are higher, so for me posting this number is pretty damning, but:

Between 38 000 and 40 000 eur/pa net for acc/app/twr.

We'd sincerely appreciate a thorough response. Although it's not always best to compare different regions and situations, there's an ongoing trend of our management threathening us with 'it could be so much worse, you could have it as bad as *insert country that is now actually doing better than us*'. That's why we seek more info

I am sure Bosnian atcos are paid the least while handling pretty high traffic counts. Talking about ACS ofcourse, rest of units are completly different story.

Tell us your country/company, otherwise it is pointless.

I am an ACS ATCO at BHANSA, Bosnian ANS and we earn about 38k€ net base salary. With sundays/holidays/night shifts etc. it is possible to reach 50k€ net/year. TWR/APS/APP earn significantly less because of lower base and no night shifts.

[Surferboy]

Originally Posted by poor

I am sure Bosnian atcos are paid the least while handling pretty high traffic counts. Talking about ACS ofcourse, rest of units are completly different story.

Tell us your country/company, otherwise it is pointless.

I am an ACS ATCO at BHANSA, Bosnian ANS and we earn about 38k€ net base salary. With sundays/holidays/night shifts etc. it is possible to reach 50k€ net/year. TWR/APS/APP earn significantly less because of lower base and no night shifts.

I ran the numbers in expatistan.com, but i think this is no worse a deal than the one we have in The Netherlands. Yes topscale is about 2,5 times higher, but cost of living is at least 2,5 times higher as well..

[SINGAPURCANAC]

Yes, if you only measure real estates. It is more affordable to buy house/flat ( very descent one) in RS/ B&H if you work as an ATCO. It is not unussual for some to have house with swimming pool, big garden, vineyard or orchard ( a few hundreds of plum trees, hazelnuts or so) , a few flats, new cars and so on...

Daily shopping ( groceries,clothes,technics ..
) is the same price ( if not higher) than NL. Quality and choice are much lower.

Last, but not least- general quality of life ( political stability , social security and general perspective....) are of course on side NL.

[Random ATCO]

Originally Posted by Vectors4cash

I know for a fact that all EU ACC's are higher, so for me posting this number is pretty damning, but:

Between 38 000 and 40 000 eur/pa net for acc/app/twr.

We'd sincerely appreciate a thorough response. Although it's not always best to compare different regions and situations, there's an ongoing trend of our management threathening us with 'it could be so much worse, you could have it as bad as *insert country that is now actually doing better than us*'. That's why we seek more info

In a good year, being at the top of the salary scale, with a fair amount of overtime, I make around EUR 100.000 net, which is around EUR 220.000 before taxes (we pay a TON of taxes here). That's for over 1.600 hours per year and, in my opinion, it is NOT a great salary if we look at the same job in other countries or we have a look at other professions. If you are in Latvia taxation should be much lower there, and real estate used to be very cheap (I have been to Riga and know the prices).

At Abu Dhabi tower, according to my colleague, it is possible to make around 12 - 15k net month, in euros, I think.

In Switzerland, over the years you can make over 200.000 per year (before taxes), apparently the salary goes up progressively.

[mike current]

In the UK at regional airports like Glasgow, Cardiff, Aberdeen etc a Tower and Approach controller with 10+ years experience will make between 100,000 and 110,000 GBP per year (before tax). That's including shift allowance.

Not familiar with Heathrow, Gatwick and Area centres but must be 120k ish and above these days?

[Random ATCO]

Maybe it's time to go on strike in Europe, as ATC salaries are falling behind due to rampant inflation

[Dan Dare]

ATC salaries are falling behind due to rampant inflation

VERY true, but so slowly we don't really notice. This should probably be a whole thread of it's own.

Using beer price inflation my take-home has gone from about 1000 pints a month at the bottom of the scale to about 1000 pints a month at the top of the scale (there should be a 3-4 times difference)
Using car price inflation a 3 year old car used to cost a little over one month take home and now costs 3 months take home.
Using house price inflation the first flat I bought has gone from twice my annual pay at the bottom to twice my pay at the top.

[EbonyGrove]

Originally Posted by mike current

In the UK at regional airports like Glasgow, Cardiff, Aberdeen etc a Tower and Approach controller with 10+ years experience will make between 100,000 and 110,000 GBP per year (before tax). That's including shift allowance.

It's around half that at some other (non London) UK regionals.