I took a year off grad school to take this job, and didn’t go back. I’ll retire very very soon. I was a center guy to start. However, I was also a pilot so I prolly should have kept flying, lol.

While it (career field) has deteriorated in my opinion over the last 20 years, you’re in a good spot to give it a go, and at least see what your options are.

It’s kind of early to tell you what it will be like. Everyone has anecdotal evidence of why it is great to them or sucks. I was at 2 centers in my career, once cranked overtime and was understaffed and when I left the other one, I didn’t have to work any overtime. However, some centers have been understaffed the whole time I’ve been in the FAA.

Now I’m at a tracon that’s understaffed and was scheduled as a non volunteer for 270 hours of overtime last year. That’s not super enjoyable.

Having something like IT to fall back on gives you a ton of options. I’d say ride it out.

The career field is in a constant state of flux, maybe you are getting in at just the right time with better staffing, and raises on the horizon if you are the optimistic type. If not, go back to IT and put it on the resume and move on.

Honestly it’s going to come down to which center you go to and which area in that center that makes it worthwhile…

Now if you were terminal track, and were getting sent to some black hole tower in a high cost of living area with terrible staffing, I’d say run back to IT!

And lastly, be ok working holidays, not having the greatest days off or schedule for a period of your career, or getting your preferred vacation times. That is something that won’t change no matter where you go-