BUF - Buffalo Tower

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

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.

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 Information, August 2026
CPCs on Board	30 CPCs
CPC Target (CWP)	26 CPCs
Current Staffing	115.38%
Projected Staffing Show componentsHide components	120.76%
↳ Est. Trainee Certifications	+ 6.9
↳ Committed Outbounds	- 3
↳ Placement List Outbounds	- 1
↳ Projected Retirements/Losses	- 1.5
Number of Trainees Show breakdownHide breakdown	8 trainees
↳ Academy Graduates	3
↳ Developmental 2	5

Training Information, August 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

NCEPT manages controller-requested transfers between FAA facilities. See BUF transfer selections on the Transfer Flow Map.

Eligibility & Staffing, August 2026
Staffing Source	Academy Sourced
TSL (One Training Time)	90.54%
Gaining Target	98.24%
Possible Gains	0
Primary Releases Avail.	3
Secondary Releases Avail.	0