CRQ
Palomar Tower
FAA Air Traffic Control Tower at Mc Clellan-Palomar Airport Carlsbad, California
Facility Information
| Facility Overview | |
|---|---|
| Identifier | CRQ |
| Facility Name | Palomar Tower |
| Airport | Mc Clellan-Palomar Airport |
| Type | Tower |
| Level | Level 6 |
| Core 30 Airport | No |
| Airspace & Operations | |
|---|---|
| Hours of Operation | 0700-2200 |
| Airspace Class | Class D |
| Approach/Departure | SCT |
| Overlying ARTCC | ZLA |
| Airport Diagram | Airport Diagram (PDF) |
| Location & Contact | |
|---|---|
| View on full map → | |
| Address | 2200 Palomar Airport Rd Carlsbad, CA 92010 |
| Phone Number | 760-438-4969 |
Salary Information
2026 pay for Palomar Tower, built from the FAA Air Traffic Specialized Pay Plan bands:
| Career Level | Hourly Min. | Hourly Max. | Total Pay Min. | Total Pay Max. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPC | $51.75 | $69.86 | $108,008 | $145,806 |
| D3 | $46.75 | $51.75 | $97,561 | $108,008 |
| AG | $31.73 | $31.73 | $66,222 | $66,222 |
| Total Pay combines Basic Pay, Locality Pay, and the additions listed under Pay Factors, including this facility's 7.1% Controller Incentive Pay (how CIP works). It excludes premium pay for overtime, nights, Sundays, and holidays. | ||||
| Pay Factors | |
|---|---|
| Facility Level | Level 6 |
| Locality Area | San Diego |
| Locality Pay | 33.72% |
| Controller Incentive Pay (CIP) | 7.10% |
| Local Affordability | |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living Index | 111.9 (11.9% above avg) |
| Cost-Adjusted CPC Min | $96,530 |
How this pay is calculated
| Basic Pay (Level 6 CPC band maximum) | $103,541 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (33.72% of Basic Pay for San Diego) | + $34,914 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $138,455 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (7.1% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $7,351 |
| = Total Pay | $145,806 |
| Basic Pay (Level 6 CPC band minimum) | $76,699 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (33.72% of Basic Pay for San Diego) | + $25,863 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $102,562 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (7.1% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $5,446 |
| = Total Pay | $108,008 |
| Basic Pay (Level 6 D3 band maximum) | $76,699 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (33.72% of Basic Pay for San Diego) | + $25,863 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $102,562 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (7.1% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $5,446 |
| = Total Pay | $108,008 |
| Basic Pay (Level 6 D3 band minimum) | $69,281 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (33.72% of Basic Pay for San Diego) | + $23,361 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $92,642 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (7.1% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $4,919 |
| = Total Pay | $97,561 |
| Basic Pay (Academy Graduate band, set nationally) | $47,026 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (33.72% of Basic Pay for San Diego) | + $15,857 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $62,883 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (7.1% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $3,339 |
| = Total Pay | $66,222 |
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 (33.72% of Basic Pay for San Diego) | + $15,857 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $62,883 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (7.1% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $3,339 |
| = Total Pay | $66,222 |
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, September 2026 | |
|---|---|
| CPCs on Board | 14 CPCs |
| CPC Target (CWP) | 11 CPCs |
| Current Staffing | 127.27% |
|
Projected Staffing
Show componentsHide components
|
146.64% |
| ↳ Est. Trainee Certifications | + 2.6 |
| ↳ Projected Retirements/Losses | - 0.5 |
|
Number of Trainees
Show breakdownHide breakdown
|
3 trainees |
| ↳ Academy Graduates | 2 |
| ↳ CPC-IT 0 (Transfer) | 1 |
| Training Information, September 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Training Time (Avg) | 0.56 years |
| ↳ New Hires | 0.87 years |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 0.34 years |
| Training Success Rate (Avg) | 86% |
| ↳ New Hires | 80% |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 92% |
| Travel Days from Academy | 3 days |
Historical Trends
CRQ Staffing Percentages
CRQ Personnel Counts
CRQ Training Metrics
NCEPT
NCEPT manages controller-requested transfers between FAA facilities. See CRQ transfer selections on the Transfer Flow Map.
| Eligibility & Staffing, September 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Staffing Source | Academy Sourced |
| TSL (One Training Time) | 87.89% |
| Gaining Target | 106.07% |
| Possible Gains | 0 |
| Primary Releases Avail. | 4 |
| Secondary Releases Avail. | 4 |
| Transfer Activity | |
|---|---|
| Releases, Past 3 Yrs | 5 |
| ↳ Standard | 5 |
| ↳ Priority/Other | 0 |
| Gains, Past 3 Yrs | 0 |
| Last Standard Release | 0.6 years ago |
Selections by Year, 2016–2026
Demand Trends
NCEPT Priority
Traffic
| August 2025 - July 2026 (12 Months) | |
|---|---|
| Tower Operations | 180,448 operations/yr |
| Average Daily Operations | 494 operations/day |
| Peer Group Median (Lvl 6 Tower) |
139,884 operations/yr |
| Relative Workload | +29.0% vs peer median |