DSM
Des Moines Tower
FAA Tower and Approach Control at Des Moines International Airport Des Moines, Iowa
Facility Information
| Facility Overview | |
|---|---|
| Identifier | DSM |
| Facility Name | Des Moines Tower |
| Airport | Des Moines International Airport |
| Type | Tower and Approach Control |
| Level | Level 7 |
| Core 30 Airport | No |
| Airspace & Operations | |
|---|---|
| Hours of Operation | 0000-2359 (always open) |
| Airspace Class | Class C |
| Overlying ARTCC | ZMP |
| Other Towers Served | ALO |
| Airport Diagram | Airport Diagram (PDF) |
| Location & Contact | |
|---|---|
| View on full map → | |
| Address | 3000 McKinley Ave Des Moines, IA 50321 |
| Phone Number | 515-974-8010 |
Salary Information
2026 pay for Des Moines Tower, built from the FAA Air Traffic Specialized Pay Plan bands:
| Career Level | Hourly Min. | Hourly Max. | Total Pay Min. | Total Pay Max. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPC | $47.92 | $64.69 | $100,014 | $135,018 |
| D3 | $42.59 | $47.92 | $88,887 | $100,014 |
| D2 | $37.26 | $42.59 | $77,757 | $88,887 |
| AG | $26.59 | $26.59 | $55,495 | $55,495 |
| Total Pay combines Basic Pay, Locality Pay. It excludes premium pay for overtime, nights, Sundays, and holidays. | ||||
| Pay Factors | |
|---|---|
| Facility Level | Level 7 |
| Locality Area | Des Moines |
| Locality Pay | 18.01% |
| Local Affordability | |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living Index | 91.7 (8.3% below avg) |
| Cost-Adjusted CPC Min | $109,067 |
How this pay is calculated
| Basic Pay (Level 7 CPC band maximum) | $114,412 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (18.01% of Basic Pay for Des Moines) | + $20,606 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $135,018 |
| = Total Pay | $135,018 |
| Basic Pay (Level 7 CPC band minimum) | $84,751 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (18.01% of Basic Pay for Des Moines) | + $15,263 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $100,014 |
| = Total Pay | $100,014 |
| Basic Pay (Level 7 D3 band maximum) | $84,751 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (18.01% of Basic Pay for Des Moines) | + $15,263 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $100,014 |
| = Total Pay | $100,014 |
| Basic Pay (Level 7 D3 band minimum) | $75,321 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (18.01% of Basic Pay for Des Moines) | + $13,566 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $88,887 |
| = Total Pay | $88,887 |
| Basic Pay (Level 7 D2 band maximum) | $75,321 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (18.01% of Basic Pay for Des Moines) | + $13,566 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $88,887 |
| = Total Pay | $88,887 |
| Basic Pay (Level 7 D2 band minimum) | $65,890 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (18.01% of Basic Pay for Des Moines) | + $11,867 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $77,757 |
| = Total Pay | $77,757 |
| Basic Pay (Academy Graduate band, set nationally) | $47,026 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (18.01% of Basic Pay for Des Moines) | + $8,469 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $55,495 |
| = Total Pay | $55,495 |
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 (18.01% of Basic Pay for Des Moines) | + $8,469 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $55,495 |
| = Total Pay | $55,495 |
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, November 2026 | |
|---|---|
| CPCs on Board | 20 CPCs |
| CPC Target (CWP) | 20 CPCs |
| Current Staffing | 100.00% |
|
Projected Staffing
Show componentsHide components
|
122.18% |
| ↳ Est. Trainee Certifications | + 8.5 |
| ↳ Committed Outbounds | - 2 |
| ↳ Projected Retirements/Losses | - 2 |
|
Number of Trainees
Show breakdownHide breakdown
|
11 trainees |
| ↳ Academy Graduates | 2 |
| ↳ Developmental 2 | 2 |
| ↳ Developmental 3 | 2 |
| ↳ CPC-IT 0 (Transfer) | 1 |
| ↳ CPC-IT 2 (Transfer) | 2 |
| ↳ CPC-IT 3 (Transfer) | 2 |
| Training Information, November 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Training Time (Avg) | 1.67 years |
| ↳ New Hires | 1.86 years |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 1.03 years |
| Training Success Rate (Avg) | 77% |
| ↳ New Hires | 75% |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 83% |
| Travel Days from Academy | 2 days |
Historical Trends
DSM Staffing Percentages
DSM Personnel Counts
DSM Training Metrics
NCEPT
NCEPT manages controller-requested transfers between FAA facilities. See DSM transfer selections on the Transfer Flow Map.
| Eligibility & Staffing, November 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Staffing Source | Academy Sourced |
| TSL (One Training Time) | 91.99% |
| Gaining Target | 101.99% |
| Possible Gains | 0 |
| Primary Releases Avail. | 0 |
| Secondary Releases Avail. | 0 |
| Transfer Activity | |
|---|---|
| Releases, Past 3 Yrs | 3 |
| ↳ Standard | 3 |
| ↳ Priority/Other | 0 |
| Gains, Past 3 Yrs | 0 |
| Last Standard Release | 0.3 years ago |
| ERR Demand, October 14, 2026 | |
|---|---|
| ERRs on File (Inbound) | 0 |
| ↳ Releasable | 0 |
| Employees with ERRs (Outbound) | 1 |
| ↳ As % of CPCs | 5.0% |
| ↳ Total ERRs (Outbound) | 12 |
ERR Demand Trends
Selections by Year, 2016–2026
Traffic
| October 2025 - September 2026 (12 Months) | |
|---|---|
| Tower Operations | 108,267 operations/yr |
| TRACON Operations | 126,523 operations/yr |
| Total Operations | 234,790 operations/yr |
| Average Daily Operations | 643 operations/day |
| Peer Group Median (Lvl 7 Up/Down) |
202,466 operations/yr |
| Relative Workload | +16.0% vs peer median |