Just a data point, but in 1988, my new hire ATC salary at the FAA Academy in OKC was GS-7 pay rate; $18,000 per year / $35-ish in today dollars. Within 4 years, I was a GS-14 making $75k, fully certified at Oakland Center (I guess about $140,000 in today dollars, which means the GS scale has not kept up with inflation).

I bought a slightly used 1989 Corvette, red, 6 speed from another controller. Fun times. Great parties.