Vantaggi
After you are certified, the work is somewhat rewarding if a bit repetitive and boring. The pay is pretty good and the benefits are good. Work doesn’t follow you home; no deadlines, no off-hours responsibilities.
Svantaggi
Management and the workforce have very different and often opposing views on how things should be done and what is importing regarding the national airspace system and safety of flight. This can be quite frustrating and lead to low morale with very little opportunity for positive change. Initial training for the job is very stressful and difficult and takes several years. The work schedule can be a grind. The whole nation is short staffed currently requiring 6 day work weeks at many facilities and very little opportunity for life outside work. That said, the work week is 40 or 48 hours with a maximum of 60 hours with anything over 40 paid as overtime (1.5x) also extra pay for night shift (any hours worked between 6pm-6am an extra 10%) and Sundays (+25%.) After working 6 days a week for a while (or for years) the money doesn’t seem to matter at all. You are working in a small room with the same 10-15 people day in and day out. No cubicles, just everyone in everyone else’s face. I hope you really like your co-workers.