APA
Centennial Tower
FAA Control Tower Englewood, Colorado
Facility Information
| Facility Overview | |
|---|---|
| Identifier | APA |
| Facility Name | Centennial Tower |
| Airport Name | Centennial |
| Type | Tower |
| Level | Level 8 |
| Core 30 Airport | No |
| Airspace & Operations | |
|---|---|
| Hours of Operation | 0000-2359 (always open) |
| Airspace Class | Class D |
| Approach/Departure | D01 |
| Overlying ARTCC | ZDV |
| Airport Diagram | Airport Diagram (PDF) |
| Location & Contact | |
|---|---|
| View on full map → | |
| Address | 7800 S Peoria St Ste I-13 Englewood, CO 80112 |
| Phone Number | 720-873-2770 |
Salary Information
2026 pay for Centennial Tower, built from the FAA Air Traffic Specialized Pay Plan bands:
| Career Level | Hourly Min. | Hourly Max. | Total Pay Min. | Total Pay Max. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPC | $59.87 | $80.82 | $124,948 | $168,680 |
| D3 | $52.42 | $59.87 | $109,398 | $124,948 |
| D2 | $44.97 | $52.42 | $93,845 | $109,398 |
| AG | $30.06 | $30.06 | $62,742 | $62,742 |
| Total Pay combines Basic Pay, Locality Pay, and the additions listed under Pay Factors, including this facility's 2.9% Controller Incentive Pay (how CIP works). It excludes premium pay for overtime, nights, Sundays, and holidays. | ||||
| Pay Factors | |
|---|---|
| Facility Level | Level 8 |
| Locality Area | Denver |
| Locality Pay | 30.52% |
| Controller Incentive Pay (CIP) | 2.90% |
| Local Affordability | |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living Index | 105.8 (5.8% above avg) |
| Cost-Adjusted CPC Min | $118,120 |
How this pay is calculated
| Basic Pay (Level 8 CPC band maximum) | $126,428 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (30.52% of Basic Pay for Denver) | + $38,586 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $165,014 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (2.9% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $3,666 |
| = Total Pay | $168,680 |
| Basic Pay (Level 8 CPC band minimum) | $93,650 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (30.52% of Basic Pay for Denver) | + $28,582 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $122,232 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (2.9% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $2,716 |
| = Total Pay | $124,948 |
| Basic Pay (Level 8 D3 band maximum) | $93,650 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (30.52% of Basic Pay for Denver) | + $28,582 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $122,232 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (2.9% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $2,716 |
| = Total Pay | $124,948 |
| Basic Pay (Level 8 D3 band minimum) | $81,995 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (30.52% of Basic Pay for Denver) | + $25,025 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $107,020 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (2.9% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $2,378 |
| = Total Pay | $109,398 |
| Basic Pay (Level 8 D2 band maximum) | $81,995 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (30.52% of Basic Pay for Denver) | + $25,025 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $107,020 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (2.9% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $2,378 |
| = Total Pay | $109,398 |
| Basic Pay (Level 8 D2 band minimum) | $70,338 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (30.52% of Basic Pay for Denver) | + $21,467 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $91,805 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (2.9% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $2,040 |
| = Total Pay | $93,845 |
| Basic Pay (Academy Graduate band, set nationally) | $47,026 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (30.52% of Basic Pay for Denver) | + $14,352 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $61,378 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (2.9% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $1,364 |
| = Total Pay | $62,742 |
The AG band is a single national rate, so the top and bottom of the band are the same.
| Basic Pay (Academy Graduate band, set nationally) | $47,026 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (30.52% of Basic Pay for Denver) | + $14,352 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $61,378 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (2.9% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $1,364 |
| = Total Pay | $62,742 |
The AG band is a single national rate, so the top and bottom of the band are the same.
Amounts are rounded to the nearest dollar, so lines can differ from the total by a dollar or two.
How CIP works
Controller Incentive Pay is a cost-of-living differential under the NATCA contract. It comes from a fixed $30 million yearly pool that has been running out before year-end; when that happens, payments stop until the next fiscal year. It is not retirement-creditable, and at some facilities only controllers on board before a set date receive it.
ATC pay has stalled over the past decade. Marangos & Brown are on a mission to increase pay.
Staffing and Training
| Staffing Information, July 2026 | |
|---|---|
| CPCs on Board | 19 CPCs |
| CPC Target (CWP) | 25 CPCs |
| Current Staffing | 76.00% |
|
Projected Staffing
Show componentsHide components
|
99.83% |
| ↳ Est. Trainee Certifications | + 5.2 |
| ↳ Committed Inbounds | + 2 |
| ↳ Projected Retirements/Losses | - 0.7 |
|
Number of Trainees
Show breakdownHide breakdown
|
7 trainees |
| ↳ Academy Graduates | 2 |
| ↳ Developmental 2 | 2 |
| ↳ CPC-IT 0 (Transfer) | 1 |
| ↳ CPC-IT 2 (Transfer) | 2 |
| Training Information, July 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Training Time (Avg) | 0.95 years |
| ↳ New Hires | 1.17 years |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 0.79 years |
| Training Success Rate (Avg) | 74% |
| ↳ New Hires | 79% |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 71% |
| Travel Days from Academy | 2 days |
Historical Trends
APA Staffing Percentages
APA Personnel Counts
APA Training Metrics
NCEPT
NCEPT manages controller-requested transfers between FAA facilities.
| Eligibility & Staffing, July 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Staffing Source | Academy Sourced |
| TSL (One Training Time) | 88.61% |
| Gaining Target | 96.61% |
| Possible Gains | 0 |
| Primary Releases Avail. | 0 |
| Secondary Releases Avail. | 0 |
| Transfer Activity | |
|---|---|
| Releases, Past 3 Yrs | 0 |
| ↳ Standard | 0 |
| ↳ Priority/Other | 0 |
| Gains, Past 3 Yrs | 7 |
| Last Standard Release | None in 3+ years |
| ERR Demand History | |
|---|---|
| Priority / Draft Order Mar 2026 |
#119 |
| Inbound ERRs on File Feb 2026 |
5 |
| Employees with Outbound ERRs Feb 2026 |
1 (6.3%) |
Demand Trends
NCEPT Priority
Traffic
| June 2025 - May 2026 (12 Months) | |
|---|---|
| Tower Operations | 307,021 operations/yr |
| Average Daily Operations | 841 operations/day |
| Peer Group Median (Lvl 8 Tower) |
266,143 operations/yr |
| Relative Workload | +15.4% vs peer median |