If you’ve ever dreamed of a high-paying career without the burden of a four-year degree, you might want to look up—literally. Air traffic controllers, the unsung heroes who keep our skies safe, are in desperate demand across the U.

Too few controllers have been on the job across the country in general, and in the Baltimore-Washington corridor in particular, in recent years.

Air traffic controller staffing has faced renewed attention after a January plane crash in Washington, D.C. Chicago has not been immune from challenges.