Playing Video Games Can Help You Get This $144,000 Job

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is employing video gamers to address a staffing shortage in air traffic control positions. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that the gamer-focused recruitment campaign launched in April has been successful, meeting the hiring goal faster than ever before, with over 94% of the targets achieved. The campaign has brought in more than 2,000 candidates, with additional candidates still in the pipeline.

The FAA believes that skills acquired through gaming, such as spatial awareness, multitasking, rapid decision-making, maintaining concentration, and processing multiple sources of information simultaneously, can be beneficial in air traffic control. The Transportation Department argues that many individuals currently training to become controllers are gamers, and certain tasks in gaming resemble the mental demands of managing aircraft.

An applicant does not necessarily need a four-year college degree to qualify for the job; experience, education, or a combination of both can suffice. Air traffic controllers can earn over $144,000 annually, with the median salary reported at $144,580 in May 2024. The recruitment drive comes amid ongoing staffing shortages, with the FAA having 13,164 controllers at the end of fiscal 2025, a decline of around 6% from a decade ago despite increasing flight activity.

To become an air traffic controller, applicants must be US citizens, generally under 31 years old, pass medical and security checks, complete the FAA's air traffic pre-employment testing process, and demonstrate sufficient work or educational experience. Candidates who pass the selection process proceed to specialized FAA training, including the agency's academy in Oklahoma City.

While gaming experience alone will not secure a job, the FAA is leveraging gaming skills to attract candidates who may already possess the cognitive abilities required for the role.