make less than 100,000 a year. the lowest earner among them made almost 81,000. the study by heritage foundation said the average air traffic controller compensation is expected to rise towards 200,000 in the last five years. the average american makes 50,000 a year and average dot employee makes 70,000. federal employee unions aren t legally allowed to negotiate compensation but they can bargain on other working conditions through out the federal government and departments and agencies are obligated to pay career employees who payoff fish shall time performing union duties. the department of transportation paid more than $15.4 million in those in 2010. that s compared to 12.5 million in 2009. we don t know where it is now but pretty fair guess it is hire than that. also looking to look at cutting