The Trump administration is taking serious steps to boost recruitment numbers for air traffic controllers, including a 30% pay hike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy\u00a0made the announcement during a press conference at the air traffic controller’s academy in Oklahoma on Thursday. He argued that the pay structure and the technology air traffic controllers are forced to use are outdated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n“Currently, students are paid $17.61 an hour. By the way, you might be able to go to Walgreens and make that, right? So we’re going to bump it up to $22.84 an hour,” Duffy said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
“And again, I think making sure people have a wage that can allow them to live while they’re going through school. But the real incentive is, again, three years out of this academy, and you’re certified, on average, $160,000 a year. So you can be 24 years old, 23 years old, making a great salary,\u00a0as an air traffic controller.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Duffy noted that the pay increase plan will require Congress to approve “billions” in additional funding for the DOT.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Elon Musk also sent out a request for retired air traffic controllers to return to work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n