DPA
Dupage Tower
FAA Control Tower West Chicago, Illinois
Facility Information
| Facility Overview | |
|---|---|
| Identifier | DPA |
| Facility Name | Dupage Tower |
| Airport Name | Dupage |
| Type | Tower |
| Level | Level 6
Show historyHide history
• Prior to May 2020: Level 5
|
| Core 30 Airport | No |
| Airspace & Operations | |
|---|---|
| Hours of Operation | 0000-2359 (always open) |
| Airspace Class | Class D |
| Approach/Departure | C90 |
| Overlying ARTCC | ZAU |
| Airport Diagram | Airport Diagram (PDF) |
| Location & Contact | |
|---|---|
| View on full map → | |
| Address | 2710 International Dr West Chicago, IL 60185 |
| Phone Number | 630-587-7800 |
Salary Information
2026 pay for Dupage Tower, built from the FAA Air Traffic Specialized Pay Plan bands:
| Career Level | Hourly Min. | Hourly Max. | Total Pay Min. | Total Pay Max. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPC | $50.15 | $67.70 | $104,663 | $141,291 |
| D3 | $45.30 | $50.15 | $94,541 | $104,663 |
| AG | $30.75 | $30.75 | $64,171 | $64,171 |
| Total Pay combines Basic Pay, Locality Pay, and the additions listed under Pay Factors, including this facility's 5.6% Controller Incentive Pay (how CIP works). It excludes premium pay for overtime, nights, Sundays, and holidays. | ||||
| Pay Factors | |
|---|---|
| Facility Level | Level 6 |
| Locality Area | Chicago |
| Locality Pay | 30.86% |
| Controller Incentive Pay (CIP) | 5.60% |
| Local Affordability | |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living Index | 103.6 (3.6% above avg) |
| Cost-Adjusted CPC Min | $101,026 |
How this pay is calculated
| Basic Pay (Level 6 CPC band maximum) | $103,541 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (30.86% of Basic Pay for Chicago) | + $31,952 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $135,493 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (5.6% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $5,798 |
| = Total Pay | $141,291 |
| Basic Pay (Level 6 CPC band minimum) | $76,699 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (30.86% of Basic Pay for Chicago) | + $23,669 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $100,368 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (5.6% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $4,295 |
| = Total Pay | $104,663 |
| Basic Pay (Level 6 D3 band maximum) | $76,699 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (30.86% of Basic Pay for Chicago) | + $23,669 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $100,368 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (5.6% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $4,295 |
| = Total Pay | $104,663 |
| Basic Pay (Level 6 D3 band minimum) | $69,281 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (30.86% of Basic Pay for Chicago) | + $21,380 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $90,661 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (5.6% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $3,880 |
| = Total Pay | $94,541 |
| Basic Pay (Academy Graduate band, set nationally) | $47,026 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (30.86% of Basic Pay for Chicago) | + $14,512 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $61,538 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (5.6% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $2,633 |
| = Total Pay | $64,171 |
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 (30.86% of Basic Pay for Chicago) | + $14,512 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $61,538 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (5.6% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $2,633 |
| = Total Pay | $64,171 |
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 | 19 CPCs |
| CPC Target (CWP) | 13 CPCs |
| Current Staffing | 146.15% |
|
Projected Staffing
Show componentsHide components
|
155.56% |
| ↳ Est. Trainee Certifications | + 0.9 |
| ↳ Committed Inbounds | + 1 |
| ↳ Projected Retirements/Losses | - 0.7 |
|
Number of Trainees
Show breakdownHide breakdown
|
1 trainees |
| ↳ Developmental 3 | 1 |
| Training Information, August 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Training Time (Avg) | 0.79 years |
| ↳ New Hires | 0.91 years |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 0.39 years |
| Training Success Rate (Avg) | 94% |
| ↳ New Hires | 92% |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 100% |
| Travel Days from Academy | 2 days |
Historical Trends
DPA Staffing Percentages
DPA Personnel Counts
DPA Training Metrics
NCEPT
NCEPT manages controller-requested transfers between FAA facilities. See DPA transfer selections on the Transfer Flow Map.
| Eligibility & Staffing, August 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Staffing Source | Academy Sourced |
| TSL (One Training Time) | 88.36% |
| Gaining Target | 103.75% |
| Possible Gains | 0 |
| Primary Releases Avail. | 7 |
| Secondary Releases Avail. | 6 |
| Transfer Activity | |
|---|---|
| Releases, Past 3 Yrs | 10 |
| ↳ Standard | 10 |
| ↳ Priority/Other | 0 |
| Gains, Past 3 Yrs | 0 |
| Last Standard Release | 1.5 years ago |
Selections by Year, 2016–2026
Demand Trends
NCEPT Priority
Traffic
| July 2025 - June 2026 (12 Months) | |
|---|---|
| Tower Operations | 162,911 operations/yr |
| Average Daily Operations | 446 operations/day |
| Peer Group Median (Lvl 6 Tower) |
139,448 operations/yr |
| Relative Workload | +16.8% vs peer median |