BUF
Buffalo Tower
FAA Control Tower and Approach Control Cheektowaga, New York
Facility Information
| Facility Overview | |
|---|---|
| Identifier | BUF |
| Facility Name | Buffalo Tower |
| Airport Name | Buffalo Niagara Intl |
| Type | Tower and Approach Control |
| Level | Level 7
Show historyHide history
• Prior to Aug 2016: Level 8
|
| Core 30 Airport | No |
| Airspace & Operations | |
|---|---|
| Hours of Operation | 0000-2359 (always open) |
| Airspace Class | Class C |
| Overlying ARTCC | ZOB |
| Airport Diagram | Airport Diagram (PDF) |
| Location & Contact | |
|---|---|
| View on full map → | |
| Address | 165 Holtz Dr Cheektowaga, NY 14225 |
| Phone Number | 716-633-0660 |
Salary Information
2026 pay for Buffalo Tower, built from the FAA Air Traffic Specialized Pay Plan bands:
| Career Level | Hourly Min. | Hourly Max. | Total Pay Min. | Total Pay Max. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPC | $49.71 | $67.11 | $103,743 | $140,052 |
| D3 | $44.18 | $49.71 | $92,201 | $103,743 |
| D2 | $38.65 | $44.18 | $80,656 | $92,201 |
| AG | $27.58 | $27.58 | $57,564 | $57,564 |
| Total Pay combines Basic Pay, Locality Pay. It excludes premium pay for overtime, nights, Sundays, and holidays. | ||||
| Pay Factors | |
|---|---|
| Facility Level | Level 7 |
| Locality Area | Buffalo |
| Locality Pay | 22.41% |
| Local Affordability | |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living Index | 95.8 (4.2% below avg) |
| Cost-Adjusted CPC Min | $108,246 |
How this pay is calculated
| Basic Pay (Level 7 CPC band maximum) | $114,412 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (22.41% of Basic Pay for Buffalo) | + $25,640 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $140,052 |
| = Total Pay | $140,052 |
| Basic Pay (Level 7 CPC band minimum) | $84,751 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (22.41% of Basic Pay for Buffalo) | + $18,992 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $103,743 |
| = Total Pay | $103,743 |
| Basic Pay (Level 7 D3 band maximum) | $84,751 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (22.41% of Basic Pay for Buffalo) | + $18,992 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $103,743 |
| = Total Pay | $103,743 |
| Basic Pay (Level 7 D3 band minimum) | $75,321 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (22.41% of Basic Pay for Buffalo) | + $16,880 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $92,201 |
| = Total Pay | $92,201 |
| Basic Pay (Level 7 D2 band maximum) | $75,321 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (22.41% of Basic Pay for Buffalo) | + $16,880 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $92,201 |
| = Total Pay | $92,201 |
| Basic Pay (Level 7 D2 band minimum) | $65,890 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (22.41% of Basic Pay for Buffalo) | + $14,766 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $80,656 |
| = Total Pay | $80,656 |
| Basic Pay (Academy Graduate band, set nationally) | $47,026 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (22.41% of Basic Pay for Buffalo) | + $10,538 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $57,564 |
| = Total Pay | $57,564 |
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 (22.41% of Basic Pay for Buffalo) | + $10,538 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $57,564 |
| = Total Pay | $57,564 |
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 | 30 CPCs |
| CPC Target (CWP) | 26 CPCs |
| Current Staffing | 115.38% |
|
Projected Staffing
Show componentsHide components
|
136.14% |
| ↳ Est. Trainee Certifications | + 6.1 |
| ↳ Committed Inbounds | + 1 |
| ↳ Projected Retirements/Losses | - 1.5 |
|
Number of Trainees
Show breakdownHide breakdown
|
7 trainees |
| ↳ Academy Graduates | 2 |
| ↳ Developmental 2 | 5 |
| Training Information, July 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Training Time (Avg) | 1.47 years |
| ↳ New Hires | 1.71 years |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 1.01 years |
| Training Success Rate (Avg) | 86% |
| ↳ New Hires | 84% |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 92% |
| Travel Days from Academy | 3 days |
Historical Trends
BUF Staffing Percentages
BUF Personnel Counts
BUF Training Metrics
NCEPT
NCEPT manages controller-requested transfers between FAA facilities.
| Eligibility & Staffing, July 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Staffing Source | Academy Sourced |
| TSL (One Training Time) | 90.28% |
| Gaining Target | 97.97% |
| Possible Gains | 0 |
| Primary Releases Avail. | 7 |
| Secondary Releases Avail. | 4 |
| Transfer Activity | |
|---|---|
| Releases, Past 3 Yrs | 5 |
| ↳ Standard | 4 |
| ↳ Priority/Other | 1 |
| Gains, Past 3 Yrs | 0 |
| Last Standard Release | Recently |
| ERR Demand History | |
|---|---|
| Priority / Draft Order Mar 2026 |
#204 |
| Inbound ERRs on File Feb 2026 |
0 |
| Employees with Outbound ERRs Feb 2026 |
2 (6.5%) |
Demand Trends
NCEPT Priority
Traffic
| June 2025 - May 2026 (12 Months) | |
|---|---|
| Tower Operations | 79,283 operations/yr |
| TRACON Operations | 144,489 operations/yr |
| Total Operations | 223,772 operations/yr |
| Average Daily Operations | 613 operations/day |
| Peer Group Median (Lvl 7 Up/Down) |
206,060 operations/yr |
| Relative Workload | +8.6% vs peer median |