2026 pay for Denver Tower, built from the FAA Air Traffic Specialized Pay Plan bands:
Career Level
Hourly Min.
Hourly Max.
Total Pay Min.
Total Pay Max.
CPC
$84.26
$111.97
$175,860
$233,681
D3
$70.73
$84.26
$147,617
$175,860
D2
$57.20
$70.73
$119,377
$147,617
D1
$43.66
$57.20
$91,129
$119,377
AG
$30.13
$30.13
$62,883
$62,883
Total Pay combines Basic Pay, Locality Pay, and the additions listed under Pay Factors, including this facility's 3.2% Controller Incentive Pay (how CIP works). It excludes premium pay for overtime, nights, Sundays, and holidays.
The maximum above tops the $228,000 federal pay cap because the cap only applies to Basic Pay plus Locality Pay. Differentials such as CIP are paid on top of the cap.
Pay Factors
Facility Level
Level 12
Locality Area
Denver
Locality Pay
30.52%
Controller Incentive Pay (CIP)
3.20%
Local Affordability
Cost of Living Index
105.8 (5.8% above avg)
Cost-Adjusted CPC Min
$166,251
How this pay is calculated
Basic Pay (Level 12 CPC band maximum)
$177,543
+ Locality Pay (30.52% of Basic Pay for Denver)
+ $54,186
− Statutory pay cap (Basic + Locality cannot exceed $228,000)
− $3,729
= Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3)
$228,000
+ Controller Incentive Pay (3.2% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure)
+ $5,681
= Total Pay
$233,681
Basic Pay (Level 12 CPC band minimum)
$131,514
+ Locality Pay (30.52% of Basic Pay for Denver)
+ $40,138
= Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3)
$171,652
+ Controller Incentive Pay (3.2% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure)
+ $4,208
= Total Pay
$175,860
Basic Pay (Level 12 D3 band maximum)
$131,514
+ Locality Pay (30.52% of Basic Pay for Denver)
+ $40,138
= Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3)
$171,652
+ Controller Incentive Pay (3.2% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure)
+ $4,208
= Total Pay
$175,860
Basic Pay (Level 12 D3 band minimum)
$110,392
+ Locality Pay (30.52% of Basic Pay for Denver)
+ $33,692
= Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3)
$144,084
+ Controller Incentive Pay (3.2% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure)
+ $3,533
= Total Pay
$147,617
Basic Pay (Level 12 D2 band maximum)
$110,392
+ Locality Pay (30.52% of Basic Pay for Denver)
+ $33,692
= Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3)
$144,084
+ Controller Incentive Pay (3.2% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure)
+ $3,533
= Total Pay
$147,617
Basic Pay (Level 12 D2 band minimum)
$89,273
+ Locality Pay (30.52% of Basic Pay for Denver)
+ $27,247
= Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3)
$116,520
+ Controller Incentive Pay (3.2% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure)
+ $2,857
= Total Pay
$119,377
Basic Pay (Level 12 D1 band maximum)
$89,273
+ Locality Pay (30.52% of Basic Pay for Denver)
+ $27,247
= Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3)
$116,520
+ Controller Incentive Pay (3.2% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure)
+ $2,857
= Total Pay
$119,377
Basic Pay (Level 12 D1 band minimum)
$68,149
+ Locality Pay (30.52% of Basic Pay for Denver)
+ $20,799
= Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3)
$88,948
+ Controller Incentive Pay (3.2% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure)
+ $2,181
= Total Pay
$91,129
Basic Pay (Academy Graduate band, set nationally)
$47,026
+ Locality Pay (30.52% of Basic Pay for Denver)
+ $14,352
= Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3)
$61,378
+ Controller Incentive Pay (3.2% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure)
+ $1,505
= Total Pay
$62,883
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 (30.52% of Basic Pay for Denver)
+ $14,352
= Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3)
$61,378
+ Controller Incentive Pay (3.2% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure)
+ $1,505
= Total Pay
$62,883
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, July 2026
CPCs on Board
34 CPCs
CPC Target (CWP)
47 CPCs
Current Staffing
70.21%
Projected Staffing
Show componentsHide components
83.74%
↳ Est. Trainee Certifications
+ 7
↳ Committed Inbounds
+ 1
↳ Temporary Inbounds
+ 1
↳ Projected Retirements/Losses
- 2.5
Number of Trainees
Show breakdownHide breakdown
8 trainees
↳ CPC-IT 0 (Transfer)
1
↳ CPC-IT 1 (Transfer)
4
↳ CPC-IT 2 (Transfer)
3
Training Information, July 2026
Training Time (Avg)
0.97 years
↳ New Hires
1.88 years
↳ Transfers (CPC-IT)
0.95 years
Training Success Rate (Avg)
88%
↳ New Hires
86%
↳ Transfers (CPC-IT)
89%
Travel Days from Academy
2 days
Historical Trends
DEN Staffing Percentages
DEN Personnel Counts
DEN Training Metrics
NCEPT
NCEPT manages controller-requested transfers between FAA facilities.