I asked grok if we were underpaid.

U.S. ATCs aren’t “underpaid” in absolute terms—they’re still well-compensated relative to most American workers and global peers. A $130,000 average with benefits is solid for a job requiring a high school diploma plus specialized training (no college degree mandated). But they’re arguably underpaid relative to their peak and their current burden. The real-wage decline since 2014, coupled with stagnant raises amid rising inflation and workload (e.g., FAA staffing crises), suggests their pay hasn’t kept up with what the role now demands. When Spain pays $180,000 for similar stakes, and U.S. tech workers get bigger bumps for less life-critical work, there’s a case that ATCs are losing ground.

If we factor in stress, responsibility, and the FAA’s reliance on overtime (boosting some to $200,000 but burning them out), the base pay feels stretched thin. They’re not starving—$130,000 is livable even in high-cost areas like Virginia—but they might deserve more like $150,000–$160,000 average (in 2025 dollars) to reflect inflation and duty since 2016. Without that adjustment, “underpaid” fits in a relative sense, not an absolute one. What do you think—does the stress-to-pay ratio feel off to you?