CLT
Charlotte Tower
FAA Control Tower and Approach Control Charlotte, North Carolina
Facility Information
| Facility Overview | |
|---|---|
| Identifier | CLT |
| Facility Name | Charlotte Tower |
| Airport Name | Charlotte/Douglas Intl |
| Type | Tower and Approach Control |
| Level | Level 12 |
| Core 30 Airport | Yes |
| Airspace & Operations | |
|---|---|
| Hours of Operation | 0000-2359 (always open) |
| Airspace Class | Class B |
| Overlying ARTCC | ZTL |
| Airport Diagram | Airport Diagram (PDF) |
| Location & Contact | |
|---|---|
| View on full map → | |
| Address | 4939 Hangar Rd Charlotte, NC 28208 |
| Phone Number | 704-359-1000 |
Salary Information
2026 pay for Charlotte Tower, built from the FAA Air Traffic Specialized Pay Plan bands:
| Career Level | Hourly Min. | Hourly Max. | Total Pay Min. | Total Pay Max. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPC | $75.41 | $101.80 | $157,382 | $212,466 |
| D3 | $63.30 | $75.41 | $132,106 | $157,382 |
| D2 | $51.19 | $63.30 | $106,833 | $132,106 |
| D1 | $39.08 | $51.19 | $81,553 | $106,833 |
| AG | $26.97 | $26.97 | $56,276 | $56,276 |
| Total Pay combines Basic Pay, Locality Pay. It excludes premium pay for overtime, nights, Sundays, and holidays. | ||||
| Pay Factors | |
|---|---|
| Facility Level | Level 12 |
| Locality Area | Charlotte |
| Locality Pay | 19.67% |
| Local Affordability | |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living Index | 97.4 (2.7% below avg) |
| Cost-Adjusted CPC Min | $161,666 |
How this pay is calculated
| Basic Pay (Level 12 CPC band maximum) | $177,543 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (19.67% of Basic Pay for Charlotte) | + $34,923 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $212,466 |
| = Total Pay | $212,466 |
| Basic Pay (Level 12 CPC band minimum) | $131,514 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (19.67% of Basic Pay for Charlotte) | + $25,868 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $157,382 |
| = Total Pay | $157,382 |
| Basic Pay (Level 12 D3 band maximum) | $131,514 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (19.67% of Basic Pay for Charlotte) | + $25,868 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $157,382 |
| = Total Pay | $157,382 |
| Basic Pay (Level 12 D3 band minimum) | $110,392 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (19.67% of Basic Pay for Charlotte) | + $21,714 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $132,106 |
| = Total Pay | $132,106 |
| Basic Pay (Level 12 D2 band maximum) | $110,392 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (19.67% of Basic Pay for Charlotte) | + $21,714 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $132,106 |
| = Total Pay | $132,106 |
| Basic Pay (Level 12 D2 band minimum) | $89,273 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (19.67% of Basic Pay for Charlotte) | + $17,560 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $106,833 |
| = Total Pay | $106,833 |
| Basic Pay (Level 12 D1 band maximum) | $89,273 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (19.67% of Basic Pay for Charlotte) | + $17,560 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $106,833 |
| = Total Pay | $106,833 |
| Basic Pay (Level 12 D1 band minimum) | $68,149 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (19.67% of Basic Pay for Charlotte) | + $13,404 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $81,553 |
| = Total Pay | $81,553 |
| Basic Pay (Academy Graduate band, set nationally) | $47,026 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (19.67% of Basic Pay for Charlotte) | + $9,250 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $56,276 |
| = Total Pay | $56,276 |
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 (19.67% of Basic Pay for Charlotte) | + $9,250 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $56,276 |
| = Total Pay | $56,276 |
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 | 80 CPCs |
| CPC Target (CWP) | 85 CPCs |
| Current Staffing | 88.24% |
|
Projected Staffing
Show componentsHide components
|
96.19% |
| ↳ Est. Trainee Certifications | + 11.5 |
| ↳ Committed Inbounds | + 1 |
| ↳ Temporary Inbounds | + 4 |
| ↳ Projected Retirements/Losses | - 9.6 |
|
Number of Trainees
Show breakdownHide breakdown
|
13 trainees |
| ↳ CPC-IT 0 (Transfer) | 9 |
| ↳ CPC-IT 1 (Transfer) | 3 |
| ↳ CPC-IT 2 (Transfer) | 1 |
| Training Information, August 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Training Time (Avg) | 1.65 years |
| ↳ New Hires | 2.46 years |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 1.62 years |
| Training Success Rate (Avg) | 89% |
| ↳ New Hires | 71% |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 88% |
| Travel Days from Academy | 3 days |
Historical Trends
CLT Staffing Percentages
CLT Personnel Counts
CLT Training Metrics
NCEPT
NCEPT manages controller-requested transfers between FAA facilities. See CLT transfer selections on the Transfer Flow Map.
| Eligibility & Staffing, August 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Staffing Source | Non-Academy Sourced |
| Incentive Award | $30,000 |
| TSL (One Training Time) | 91.12% |
| Gaining Target | 91.12% |
| Possible Gains | 1 |
| Primary Releases Avail. | 0 |
| Secondary Releases Avail. | 0 |
| Transfer Activity | |
|---|---|
| Releases, Past 3 Yrs | 3 |
| ↳ Standard | 3 |
| ↳ Priority/Other | 0 |
| Gains, Past 3 Yrs | 18 |
| Last Standard Release | 1 year ago |
Selections by Year, 2016–2026
Demand Trends
NCEPT Priority
Traffic
| July 2025 - June 2026 (12 Months) | |
|---|---|
| Tower Operations | 558,556 operations/yr |
| TRACON Operations | 661,635 operations/yr |
| Total Operations | 1,220,191 operations/yr |
| Average Daily Operations | 3,343 operations/day |
| Peer Group Median (Lvl 12 Up/Down) |
1,477,620 operations/yr |
| Relative Workload | -17.4% vs peer median |