The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is accepting applications from experienced air traffic controllers through a year-long Direct Hire public notice for Air Traffic Control Specialist (ATCS) positions at FAA facilities nationwide. The official USAJOBS listing shows a salary range of $47,026 to $177,543 per year, and the announcement is open from October 5, 2026 to October 4, 2027. If you’ve controlled live traffic in the military, at a Department of Defense facility, or at an FAA contract tower, this is one of the fastest ways into an FAA career in 2026.

FAA air traffic control tower at Indianapolis International Airport. Photo: Matt Carr via Wikimedia Commons (public domain)

Below you’ll find who qualifies, what the job pays, the age rules, and how to apply without getting disqualified on a paperwork error.

Job Snapshot

Position: Air Traffic Control Specialist, Direct Hire public notice (series 2152)
Agency: Federal Aviation Administration, Air Traffic Organization (U.S. Department of Transportation)
Location: FAA air traffic locations nationwide (many vacancies)
Salary: $47,026 to $177,543 per year
Pay plan: AT (ATCS pay bands under the NATCA agreement)
Schedule: Full-time, permanent; nonstandard hours and workweeks
Security clearance: Secret
Who can apply: U.S. citizens, individuals with disabilities (Schedule A), and special authorities including 30% or more disabled veterans and VRA
Announcement number: FAA-FAA-27-PUB NOT-100832 (control number 887464500)
Open period: October 5, 2026 to October 4, 2027

View the official FAA Air Traffic Control Specialist announcement and apply on USAJOBS →

Who This Announcement Is For

This isn’t an entry-level trainee posting. It’s for candidates who have at least 52 consecutive weeks of full-time air traffic control experience involving the active separation of live traffic, earned after receiving an ATC certification or facility rating, within the last 5 years, at one of these:

An FAA air traffic control facility
A civilian or military air traffic control facility of the Department of Defense, or any National Guard facility
A tower operating under contract with the FAA (section 47124)

You must also be willing to work at any FAA air traffic control facility. The FAA has facilities in every state plus Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam.

If you’re a graduate of an FAA Collegiate Training Initiative (CTI) program without that experience, check USAJOBS for the FAA’s separate Enhanced CTI direct hire announcement instead.

Key Duties

ATCS positions are responsible for the safe, orderly and expeditious movement of air traffic through the national airspace. Depending on the option you’re placed in:

Terminal controllers work at airports, give pilots taxi and takeoff instructions, air traffic clearances and advice, and hand aircraft off to en route centers (ARTCCs) as they leave the assigned airspace.
En Route (Center) controllers give clearances, instructions and flight-condition advice to aircraft flying between airports, and keep aircraft separated along federal airways.

New hires go through the appropriate phase of field training at their assigned facility, working toward full Certified Professional Controller (CPC) status. Some training may take place at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City.

Qualifications and Eligibility

U.S. citizenship is required. Noncitizens aren’t accepted.
Specialized experience: 52 consecutive weeks of certified, full-time live-traffic experience within the last 5 years. FAA Academy or military training time before certification doesn’t count, and there’s no education substitute.
Age: Applicants qualifying on the 52 weeks of experience must be 35 or younger on or before the closing date. Former FAA or DoD civilian 2152 controllers must submit the SF-50 showing they were first appointed to the 2152 series before age 35. Mandatory retirement for career controllers is at age 56.
Training history: Applicants who previously failed the Academy or field training may not be considered.
Other conditions: Selective Service registration (males born after 12/31/1959), a pre-employment physical, drug testing, a possible background investigation, and a one-year probationary period.

Salary and Benefits

The listing shows an overall range of $47,026 to $177,543 per year. Under the ATCS collective bargaining agreement, the starting level depends on your background:

AT-2152 AG (selectees who are not former FAA CPCs): $40,649 base salary plus locality pay for the assigned facility
AT-2152 xD/xF/xG (former FAA developmental controllers rehired within 1 year of leaving): $48,854 to $113,804 plus locality pay
AT-2152 DH through LH (former FAA CPCs): $52,918 to $153,636 plus locality pay

You’ll get pay increases as you complete each phase of controller training. As a federal employee, you also get the standard federal benefits package. The position is represented by NATCA.

How to Apply: Step by Step

Collect your certifications. Scan the front and back of your certification cards (for example, a pink card or CTO card showing your facility or position ratings). Military training records showing the rating and date are also accepted.
Get your SF-50s if you’re a former FAA or DoD civilian 2152 controller, including your first 2152 appointment and, if applicable, proof of CPC/FPL status.
Write a resume of no more than two pages. For each job, list the title, employer, start and end dates, hours per week and specific ATC duties. Your certificate dates must match your work history and show 52 consecutive weeks after certification.
If you’re on active duty, include a DD-214 or a certification from your branch showing you’ll be discharged honorably within 120 days.
Click “Apply” on the USAJOBS announcement, upload all required documents with your application, and complete the questionnaire. If any document is missing, you’ll be disqualified.
Complete any assessments the FAA requests, then respond to your Clearance Instruction Letter within 30 days if you’re selected.

FAA Aviation Careers can be reached at 405-954-4657 or aviation.careers@faa.gov. More details are on the FAA’s experienced controllers page.

Closing Date

The public notice is open from October 5, 2026 through October 4, 2027. It works as a resume repository, so positions may or may not be filled from it. That makes it smart to apply early while the FAA is drawing from the pool.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply with no air traffic control experience?

Not under this notice. It requires 52 consecutive weeks of certified live-traffic experience within the past 5 years.

What is the age limit for FAA air traffic controllers?

Under this announcement, applicants qualifying on experience must be 35 or younger by the closing date.

Does military ATC experience count?

Yes. Experience at a civilian or military DoD air traffic control facility or a National Guard facility counts, as long as it meets the 52-week certified requirement.

Can I choose my facility?

The FAA may use your geographic preferences, but the type and location of your position depend on agency needs, and you must be willing to work at any facility.

Does veterans’ preference apply?

No. The announcement says the Rule of Three, veterans’ preference and traditional rating and ranking don’t apply.

Source: Official USAJOBS announcement FAA-FAA-27-PUB NOT-100832. Always confirm the latest details on the official USAJOBS listing before applying.

FAA Air Traffic Controller Jobs 2026: Direct Hire for Experienced Controllers Nationwide, $47,026–$177,543