DCA
Washington National Tower
FAA Control Tower Washington, District of Columbia
Facility Information
| Facility Overview | |
|---|---|
| Identifier | DCA |
| Facility Name | Washington National Tower |
| Airport Name | Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl |
| Type | Tower |
| Level | Level 9
Show historyHide history
• Prior to Nov 2018: Level 10
|
| Core 30 Airport | Yes |
| Airspace & Operations | |
|---|---|
| Hours of Operation | 0000-2359 (always open) |
| Airspace Class | Class B |
| Approach/Departure | PCT |
| Overlying ARTCC | ZDC |
| Airport Diagram | Airport Diagram (PDF) |
| Location & Contact | |
|---|---|
| View on full map → | |
| Address | 1 Aviation Circle Washington, DC 20001 |
| Phone Number | 703-413-1530 |
Salary Information
2026 pay for Washington National Tower, built from the FAA Air Traffic Specialized Pay Plan bands:
| Career Level | Hourly Min. | Hourly Max. | Total Pay Min. | Total Pay Max. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPC | $68.05 | $91.86 | $142,016 | $191,722 |
| D3 | $58.77 | $68.05 | $122,650 | $142,016 |
| D2 | $49.49 | $58.77 | $103,276 | $122,650 |
| AG | $30.92 | $30.92 | $64,538 | $64,538 |
| Total Pay combines Basic Pay, Locality Pay, and the additions listed under Pay Factors, including this facility's 3.3% Controller Incentive Pay (how CIP works). It excludes premium pay for overtime, nights, Sundays, and holidays. | ||||
| Pay Factors | |
|---|---|
| Facility Level | Level 9 |
| Locality Area | Washington-Baltimore |
| Locality Pay | 33.94% |
| Controller Incentive Pay (CIP) | 3.30% |
| Local Affordability | |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living Index | 108.9 (8.9% above avg) |
| Cost-Adjusted CPC Min | $130,433 |
How this pay is calculated
| Basic Pay (Level 9 CPC band maximum) | $139,698 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (33.94% of Basic Pay for Washington-Baltimore) | + $47,414 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $187,112 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (3.3% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $4,610 |
| = Total Pay | $191,722 |
| Basic Pay (Level 9 CPC band minimum) | $103,480 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (33.94% of Basic Pay for Washington-Baltimore) | + $35,121 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $138,601 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (3.3% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $3,415 |
| = Total Pay | $142,016 |
| Basic Pay (Level 9 D3 band maximum) | $103,480 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (33.94% of Basic Pay for Washington-Baltimore) | + $35,121 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $138,601 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (3.3% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $3,415 |
| = Total Pay | $142,016 |
| Basic Pay (Level 9 D3 band minimum) | $89,369 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (33.94% of Basic Pay for Washington-Baltimore) | + $30,332 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $119,701 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (3.3% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $2,949 |
| = Total Pay | $122,650 |
| Basic Pay (Level 9 D2 band maximum) | $89,369 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (33.94% of Basic Pay for Washington-Baltimore) | + $30,332 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $119,701 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (3.3% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $2,949 |
| = Total Pay | $122,650 |
| Basic Pay (Level 9 D2 band minimum) | $75,253 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (33.94% of Basic Pay for Washington-Baltimore) | + $25,540 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $100,793 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (3.3% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $2,483 |
| = Total Pay | $103,276 |
| Basic Pay (Academy Graduate band, set nationally) | $47,026 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (33.94% of Basic Pay for Washington-Baltimore) | + $15,960 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $62,986 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (3.3% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $1,552 |
| = Total Pay | $64,538 |
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 (33.94% of Basic Pay for Washington-Baltimore) | + $15,960 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $62,986 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (3.3% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $1,552 |
| = Total Pay | $64,538 |
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 | 25 CPCs |
| CPC Target (CWP) | 30 CPCs |
| Current Staffing | 83.33% |
|
Projected Staffing
Show componentsHide components
|
103.08% |
| ↳ Est. Trainee Certifications | + 8.2 |
| ↳ Projected Retirements/Losses | - 2.3 |
|
Number of Trainees
Show breakdownHide breakdown
|
10 trainees |
| ↳ Academy Graduates | 3 |
| ↳ Developmental 2 | 2 |
| ↳ Developmental 3 | 1 |
| ↳ CPC-IT 2 (Transfer) | 2 |
| ↳ CPC-IT 3 (Transfer) | 2 |
| Training Information, August 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Training Time (Avg) | 1.25 years |
| ↳ New Hires | 1.22 years |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 1.17 years |
| Training Success Rate (Avg) | 82% |
| ↳ New Hires | 77% |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 86% |
| Travel Days from Academy | 3 days |
Historical Trends
DCA Staffing Percentages
DCA Personnel Counts
DCA Training Metrics
NCEPT
NCEPT manages controller-requested transfers between FAA facilities. See DCA transfer selections on the Transfer Flow Map.
| Eligibility & Staffing, August 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Staffing Source | Non-Academy Sourced |
| Incentive Award | $30,000 |
| TSL (One Training Time) | 89.84% |
| Gaining Target | 89.84% |
| Possible Gains | 0 |
| Primary Releases Avail. | 0 |
| Secondary Releases Avail. | 0 |
| Transfer Activity | |
|---|---|
| Releases, Past 3 Yrs | 0 |
| ↳ Standard | 0 |
| ↳ Priority/Other | 0 |
| Gains, Past 3 Yrs | 3 |
| Last Standard Release | None in 3+ years |
Selections by Year, 2016–2026
Demand Trends
NCEPT Priority
Traffic
| July 2025 - June 2026 (12 Months) | |
|---|---|
| Tower Operations | 339,897 operations/yr |
| Average Daily Operations | 931 operations/day |
| Peer Group Median (Lvl 9 Tower) |
367,537 operations/yr |
| Relative Workload | -7.5% vs peer median |