BFL
Bakersfield Tower
FAA Control Tower and Approach Control Bakersfield, California
Facility Information
| Facility Overview | |
|---|---|
| Identifier | BFL |
| Facility Name | Bakersfield Tower |
| Airport Name | Meadows Fld |
| Type | Tower and Approach Control |
| Level | Level 6
Show historyHide history
• Prior to Jun 2016: Level 7
|
| Core 30 Airport | No |
| Airspace & Operations | |
|---|---|
| Hours of Operation | 0600-2300 |
| Airspace Class | Class D |
| Overlying ARTCC | ZLA |
| Airport Diagram | Airport Diagram (PDF) |
| Location & Contact | |
|---|---|
| View on full map → | |
| Address | 1547 Boughton Dr Bakersfield, CA 93308 |
| Phone Number | 661-399-3531 |
Salary Information
2026 pay for Bakersfield Tower, built from the FAA Air Traffic Specialized Pay Plan bands:
| Career Level | Hourly Min. | Hourly Max. | Total Pay Min. | Total Pay Max. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPC | $50.15 | $67.71 | $104,671 | $141,302 |
| D3 | $45.30 | $50.15 | $94,547 | $104,671 |
| D2 | $40.45 | $45.30 | $84,421 | $94,547 |
| AG | $30.75 | $30.75 | $64,176 | $64,176 |
| Total Pay combines Basic Pay, Locality Pay. It excludes premium pay for overtime, nights, Sundays, and holidays. | ||||
| Pay Factors | |
|---|---|
| Facility Level | Level 6 |
| Locality Area | Los Angeles |
| Locality Pay | 36.47% |
| Local Affordability | |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living Index | 100.9 (0.9% above avg) |
| Cost-Adjusted CPC Min | $103,748 |
How this pay is calculated
| Basic Pay (Level 6 CPC band maximum) | $103,541 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (36.47% of Basic Pay for Los Angeles) | + $37,761 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $141,302 |
| = Total Pay | $141,302 |
| Basic Pay (Level 6 CPC band minimum) | $76,699 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (36.47% of Basic Pay for Los Angeles) | + $27,972 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $104,671 |
| = Total Pay | $104,671 |
| Basic Pay (Level 6 D3 band maximum) | $76,699 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (36.47% of Basic Pay for Los Angeles) | + $27,972 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $104,671 |
| = Total Pay | $104,671 |
| Basic Pay (Level 6 D3 band minimum) | $69,281 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (36.47% of Basic Pay for Los Angeles) | + $25,266 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $94,547 |
| = Total Pay | $94,547 |
| Basic Pay (Level 6 D2 band maximum) | $69,281 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (36.47% of Basic Pay for Los Angeles) | + $25,266 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $94,547 |
| = Total Pay | $94,547 |
| Basic Pay (Level 6 D2 band minimum) | $61,860 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (36.47% of Basic Pay for Los Angeles) | + $22,561 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $84,421 |
| = Total Pay | $84,421 |
| Basic Pay (Academy Graduate band, set nationally) | $47,026 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (36.47% of Basic Pay for Los Angeles) | + $17,150 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $64,176 |
| = Total Pay | $64,176 |
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 (36.47% of Basic Pay for Los Angeles) | + $17,150 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $64,176 |
| = Total Pay | $64,176 |
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.
ATC pay has stalled over the past decade. Marangos & Brown are on a mission to increase pay.
Staffing and Training
| Staffing Information, August 2026 | |
|---|---|
| CPCs on Board | 15 CPCs |
| CPC Target (CWP) | 17 CPCs |
| Current Staffing | 88.24% |
|
Projected Staffing
Show componentsHide components
|
102.20% |
| ↳ Est. Trainee Certifications | + 3.5 |
| ↳ Projected Retirements/Losses | - 1.2 |
|
Number of Trainees
Show breakdownHide breakdown
|
4 trainees |
| ↳ Academy Graduates | 2 |
| ↳ Developmental 2 | 1 |
| ↳ Developmental 3 | 1 |
| Training Information, August 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Training Time (Avg) | 1.61 years |
| ↳ New Hires | 1.63 years |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 0.75 years |
| Training Success Rate (Avg) | 88% |
| ↳ New Hires | 88% |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 84% |
| Travel Days from Academy | 3 days |
Historical Trends
BFL Staffing Percentages
BFL Personnel Counts
BFL Training Metrics
NCEPT
NCEPT manages controller-requested transfers between FAA facilities. See BFL transfer selections on the Transfer Flow Map.
| Eligibility & Staffing, August 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Staffing Source | Academy Sourced |
| TSL (One Training Time) | 90.99% |
| Gaining Target | 102.76% |
| Possible Gains | 2 |
| Primary Releases Avail. | 0 |
| Secondary Releases Avail. | 0 |
| Transfer Activity | |
|---|---|
| Releases, Past 3 Yrs | 4 |
| ↳ Standard | 2 |
| ↳ Priority/Other | 2 |
| Gains, Past 3 Yrs | 0 |
| Last Standard Release | 1.9 years ago |
Selections by Year, 2016–2026
Demand Trends
NCEPT Priority
Traffic
| July 2025 - June 2026 (12 Months) | |
|---|---|
| Tower Operations | 105,290 operations/yr |
| TRACON Operations | 99,617 operations/yr |
| Total Operations | 204,907 operations/yr |
| Average Daily Operations | 561 operations/day |
| Peer Group Median (Lvl 6 Up/Down) |
149,241 operations/yr |
| Relative Workload | +37.3% vs peer median |