CDW
Caldwell Tower
FAA Control Tower Fairfield, New Jersey
Facility Information
| Facility Overview | |
|---|---|
| Identifier | CDW |
| Facility Name | Caldwell Tower |
| Airport Name | Essex County |
| Type | Tower |
| Level | Level 6
Show historyHide history
• Prior to Jan 2023: Level 5
|
| Core 30 Airport | No |
| Airspace & Operations | |
|---|---|
| Hours of Operation | 0700-2300 |
| Airspace Class | Class D |
| Approach/Departure | PHL |
| Overlying ARTCC | ZNY |
| Airport Diagram | Airport Diagram (PDF) |
| Location & Contact | |
|---|---|
| View on full map → | |
| Address | 31 Wright Way #1 Fairfield, NJ 07004 |
| Phone Number | 973-575-6448 |
Salary Information
2026 pay for Caldwell Tower, built from the FAA Air Traffic Specialized Pay Plan bands:
| Career Level | Hourly Min. | Hourly Max. | Total Pay Min. | Total Pay Max. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPC | $54.37 | $73.40 | $113,476 | $153,189 |
| D3 | $49.11 | $54.37 | $102,501 | $113,476 |
| AG | $33.34 | $33.34 | $69,575 | $69,575 |
| Total Pay combines Basic Pay, Locality Pay, and the additions listed under Pay Factors, including this facility's 10% Controller Incentive Pay (how CIP works). It excludes premium pay for overtime, nights, Sundays, and holidays. | ||||
| Pay Factors | |
|---|---|
| Facility Level | Level 6 |
| Locality Area | New York |
| Locality Pay | 37.95% |
| Controller Incentive Pay (CIP) | 10.00% |
| Local Affordability | |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living Index | 112.6 (12.6% above avg) |
| Cost-Adjusted CPC Min | $100,814 |
How this pay is calculated
| Basic Pay (Level 6 CPC band maximum) | $103,541 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (37.95% of Basic Pay for New York) | + $39,294 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $142,835 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (10% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $10,354 |
| = Total Pay | $153,189 |
| Basic Pay (Level 6 CPC band minimum) | $76,699 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (37.95% of Basic Pay for New York) | + $29,107 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $105,806 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (10% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $7,670 |
| = Total Pay | $113,476 |
| Basic Pay (Level 6 D3 band maximum) | $76,699 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (37.95% of Basic Pay for New York) | + $29,107 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $105,806 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (10% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $7,670 |
| = Total Pay | $113,476 |
| Basic Pay (Level 6 D3 band minimum) | $69,281 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (37.95% of Basic Pay for New York) | + $26,292 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $95,573 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (10% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $6,928 |
| = Total Pay | $102,501 |
| Basic Pay (Academy Graduate band, set nationally) | $47,026 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (37.95% of Basic Pay for New York) | + $17,846 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $64,872 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (10% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $4,703 |
| = Total Pay | $69,575 |
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 (37.95% of Basic Pay for New York) | + $17,846 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $64,872 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (10% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $4,703 |
| = Total Pay | $69,575 |
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, August 2026 | |
|---|---|
| CPCs on Board | 12 CPCs |
| CPC Target (CWP) | 11 CPCs |
| Current Staffing | 109.09% |
|
Projected Staffing
Show componentsHide components
|
137.33% |
| ↳ Est. Trainee Certifications | + 2.8 |
| ↳ Committed Inbounds | + 1 |
| ↳ Projected Retirements/Losses | - 0.6 |
|
Number of Trainees
Show breakdownHide breakdown
|
3 trainees |
| ↳ Academy Graduates | 2 |
| ↳ Developmental 3 | 1 |
| Training Information, August 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Training Time (Avg) | 0.92 years |
| ↳ New Hires | 1.07 years |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 0.47 years |
| Training Success Rate (Avg) | 93% |
| ↳ New Hires | 91% |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 90% |
| Travel Days from Academy | 4 days |
Historical Trends
CDW Staffing Percentages
CDW Personnel Counts
CDW Training Metrics
NCEPT
NCEPT manages controller-requested transfers between FAA facilities. See CDW transfer selections on the Transfer Flow Map.
| Eligibility & Staffing, August 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Staffing Source | Academy Sourced |
| TSL (One Training Time) | 88.78% |
| Gaining Target | 106.96% |
| Possible Gains | 0 |
| Primary Releases Avail. | 2 |
| Secondary Releases Avail. | 1 |
| Transfer Activity | |
|---|---|
| Releases, Past 3 Yrs | 9 |
| ↳ Standard | 8 |
| ↳ Priority/Other | 1 |
| Gains, Past 3 Yrs | 0 |
| Last Standard Release | 2 days ago |
Selections by Year, 2016–2026
Demand Trends
NCEPT Priority
Traffic
| July 2025 - June 2026 (12 Months) | |
|---|---|
| Tower Operations | 176,318 operations/yr |
| Average Daily Operations | 483 operations/day |
| Peer Group Median (Lvl 6 Tower) |
139,448 operations/yr |
| Relative Workload | +26.4% vs peer median |