BHM
Birmingham Tower
FAA Control Tower and Approach Control Birmingham, Alabama
Facility Information
| Facility Overview | |
|---|---|
| Identifier | BHM |
| Facility Name | Birmingham Tower |
| Airport Name | Birmingham-Shuttlesworth Intl |
| Type | Tower and Approach Control |
| Level | Level 8
Show historyHide history
• Prior to Apr 2019: Level 7
• Prior to Mar 2017: Level 8 |
| Core 30 Airport | No |
| Airspace & Operations | |
|---|---|
| Hours of Operation | 0000-2359 (always open) |
| Airspace Class | Class C |
| Overlying ARTCC | ZTL |
| Airport Diagram | Airport Diagram (PDF) |
| Location & Contact | |
|---|---|
| View on full map → | |
| Address | 5900 Messer Airport Hwy Birmingham, AL 35212 |
| Phone Number | 205-769-3900 |
Salary Information
2026 pay for Birmingham Tower, built from the FAA Air Traffic Specialized Pay Plan bands:
| Career Level | Hourly Min. | Hourly Max. | Total Pay Min. | Total Pay Max. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPC | $53.06 | $71.63 | $110,732 | $149,489 |
| D3 | $46.45 | $53.06 | $96,951 | $110,732 |
| D2 | $39.85 | $46.45 | $83,167 | $96,951 |
| AG | $26.64 | $26.64 | $55,603 | $55,603 |
| Total Pay combines Basic Pay, Locality Pay. It excludes premium pay for overtime, nights, Sundays, and holidays. | ||||
| Pay Factors | |
|---|---|
| Facility Level | Level 8 |
| Locality Area | Birmingham |
| Locality Pay | 18.24% |
| Local Affordability | |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living Index | 91.6 (8.4% below avg) |
| Cost-Adjusted CPC Min | $120,834 |
How this pay is calculated
| Basic Pay (Level 8 CPC band maximum) | $126,428 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (18.24% of Basic Pay for Birmingham) | + $23,061 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $149,489 |
| = Total Pay | $149,489 |
| Basic Pay (Level 8 CPC band minimum) | $93,650 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (18.24% of Basic Pay for Birmingham) | + $17,082 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $110,732 |
| = Total Pay | $110,732 |
| Basic Pay (Level 8 D3 band maximum) | $93,650 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (18.24% of Basic Pay for Birmingham) | + $17,082 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $110,732 |
| = Total Pay | $110,732 |
| Basic Pay (Level 8 D3 band minimum) | $81,995 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (18.24% of Basic Pay for Birmingham) | + $14,956 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $96,951 |
| = Total Pay | $96,951 |
| Basic Pay (Level 8 D2 band maximum) | $81,995 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (18.24% of Basic Pay for Birmingham) | + $14,956 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $96,951 |
| = Total Pay | $96,951 |
| Basic Pay (Level 8 D2 band minimum) | $70,338 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (18.24% of Basic Pay for Birmingham) | + $12,829 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $83,167 |
| = Total Pay | $83,167 |
| Basic Pay (Academy Graduate band, set nationally) | $47,026 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (18.24% of Basic Pay for Birmingham) | + $8,577 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $55,603 |
| = Total Pay | $55,603 |
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 (18.24% of Basic Pay for Birmingham) | + $8,577 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $55,603 |
| = Total Pay | $55,603 |
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, July 2026 | |
|---|---|
| CPCs on Board | 24 CPCs |
| CPC Target (CWP) | 22 CPCs |
| Current Staffing | 109.09% |
|
Projected Staffing
Show componentsHide components
|
133.61% |
| ↳ Est. Trainee Certifications | + 8.3 |
| ↳ Projected Retirements/Losses | - 2.9 |
|
Number of Trainees
Show breakdownHide breakdown
|
11 trainees |
| ↳ Academy Graduates | 7 |
| ↳ Developmental 3 | 1 |
| ↳ CPC-IT 2 (Transfer) | 3 |
| Training Information, July 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Training Time (Avg) | 1.99 years |
| ↳ New Hires | 2.36 years |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 1.26 years |
| Training Success Rate (Avg) | 75% |
| ↳ New Hires | 77% |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 71% |
| Travel Days from Academy | 2 days |
Historical Trends
BHM Staffing Percentages
BHM Personnel Counts
BHM Training Metrics
NCEPT
NCEPT manages controller-requested transfers between FAA facilities. See BHM transfer selections on the Transfer Flow Map.
| Eligibility & Staffing, July 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Staffing Source | Academy Sourced |
| TSL (One Training Time) | 91.95% |
| Gaining Target | 101.04% |
| Possible Gains | 0 |
| Primary Releases Avail. | 4 |
| Secondary Releases Avail. | 1 |
| Transfer Activity | |
|---|---|
| Releases, Past 3 Yrs | 5 |
| ↳ Standard | 5 |
| ↳ Priority/Other | 0 |
| Gains, Past 3 Yrs | 6 |
| Last Standard Release | 27 days ago |
Selections by Year, 2016–2026
Demand Trends
NCEPT Priority
Traffic
| June 2025 - May 2026 (12 Months) | |
|---|---|
| Tower Operations | 112,161 operations/yr |
| TRACON Operations | 180,105 operations/yr |
| Total Operations | 292,266 operations/yr |
| Average Daily Operations | 801 operations/day |
| Peer Group Median (Lvl 8 Up/Down) |
333,797 operations/yr |
| Relative Workload | -12.4% vs peer median |