DTW
Detroit Tower
FAA Control Tower Detroit, Michigan
Facility Information
| Facility Overview | |
|---|---|
| Identifier | DTW |
| Facility Name | Detroit Tower |
| Airport Name | Detroit Metro Wayne County |
| Type | Tower |
| Level | Level 9
Show historyHide history
• Prior to Aug 2022: Level 11
|
| Core 30 Airport | Yes |
| Airspace & Operations | |
|---|---|
| Hours of Operation | 0000-2359 (always open) |
| Airspace Class | Class B |
| Approach/Departure | D21 |
| Overlying ARTCC | ZOB |
| Airport Diagram | Airport Diagram (PDF) |
| Location & Contact | |
|---|---|
| View on full map → | |
| Address | Detroit Metro Airport Bldg, 801 Detroit, MI 48242 |
| Phone Number | 734-955-5000 |
Salary Information
2026 pay for Detroit Tower, built from the FAA Air Traffic Specialized Pay Plan bands:
| Career Level | Hourly Min. | Hourly Max. | Total Pay Min. | Total Pay Max. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPC | $65.21 | $88.04 | $136,098 | $183,731 |
| D3 | $56.32 | $65.21 | $117,538 | $136,098 |
| D2 | $47.42 | $56.32 | $98,972 | $117,538 |
| AG | $29.64 | $29.64 | $61,849 | $61,849 |
| Total Pay combines Basic Pay, Locality Pay, and the additions listed under Pay Factors, including this facility's 2.4% Controller Incentive Pay (how CIP works). It excludes premium pay for overtime, nights, Sundays, and holidays. | ||||
| Pay Factors | |
|---|---|
| Facility Level | Level 9 |
| Locality Area | Detroit |
| Locality Pay | 29.12% |
| Controller Incentive Pay (CIP) | 2.40% |
| Local Affordability | |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living Index | 100.3 (0.3% above avg) |
| Cost-Adjusted CPC Min | $135,690 |
How this pay is calculated
| Basic Pay (Level 9 CPC band maximum) | $139,698 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (29.12% of Basic Pay for Detroit) | + $40,680 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $180,378 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (2.4% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $3,353 |
| = Total Pay | $183,731 |
| Basic Pay (Level 9 CPC band minimum) | $103,480 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (29.12% of Basic Pay for Detroit) | + $30,134 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $133,614 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (2.4% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $2,484 |
| = Total Pay | $136,098 |
| Basic Pay (Level 9 D3 band maximum) | $103,480 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (29.12% of Basic Pay for Detroit) | + $30,134 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $133,614 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (2.4% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $2,484 |
| = Total Pay | $136,098 |
| Basic Pay (Level 9 D3 band minimum) | $89,369 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (29.12% of Basic Pay for Detroit) | + $26,024 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $115,393 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (2.4% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $2,145 |
| = Total Pay | $117,538 |
| Basic Pay (Level 9 D2 band maximum) | $89,369 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (29.12% of Basic Pay for Detroit) | + $26,024 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $115,393 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (2.4% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $2,145 |
| = Total Pay | $117,538 |
| Basic Pay (Level 9 D2 band minimum) | $75,253 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (29.12% of Basic Pay for Detroit) | + $21,913 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $97,166 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (2.4% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $1,806 |
| = Total Pay | $98,972 |
| Basic Pay (Academy Graduate band, set nationally) | $47,026 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (29.12% of Basic Pay for Detroit) | + $13,694 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $60,720 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (2.4% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $1,129 |
| = Total Pay | $61,849 |
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 (29.12% of Basic Pay for Detroit) | + $13,694 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $60,720 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (2.4% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $1,129 |
| = Total Pay | $61,849 |
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 | 30 CPCs |
| CPC Target (CWP) | 30 CPCs |
| Current Staffing | 100.00% |
|
Projected Staffing
Show componentsHide components
|
98.74% |
| ↳ Est. Trainee Certifications | + 2.1 |
| ↳ Projected Retirements/Losses | - 2.5 |
|
Number of Trainees
Show breakdownHide breakdown
|
3 trainees |
| ↳ CPC-IT 0 (Transfer) | 3 |
| Training Information, August 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Training Time (Avg) | 1.19 years |
| ↳ New Hires | 1.22 years |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 1.19 years |
| Training Success Rate (Avg) | 69% |
| ↳ New Hires | 77% |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 71% |
| Travel Days from Academy | 3 days |
Historical Trends
DTW Staffing Percentages
DTW Personnel Counts
DTW Training Metrics
NCEPT
NCEPT manages controller-requested transfers between FAA facilities. See DTW transfer selections on the Transfer Flow Map.
| Eligibility & Staffing, August 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Staffing Source | Non-Academy Sourced |
| TSL (One Training Time) | 89.65% |
| Gaining Target | 89.65% |
| Possible Gains | 0 |
| Primary Releases Avail. | 1 |
| Secondary Releases Avail. | 0 |
| Transfer Activity | |
|---|---|
| Releases, Past 3 Yrs | 2 |
| ↳ Standard | 2 |
| ↳ Priority/Other | 0 |
| Gains, Past 3 Yrs | 11 |
| Last Standard Release | 1.2 years ago |
Selections by Year, 2016–2026
Demand Trends
NCEPT Priority
Traffic
| July 2025 - June 2026 (12 Months) | |
|---|---|
| Tower Operations | 326,109 operations/yr |
| Average Daily Operations | 893 operations/day |
| Peer Group Median (Lvl 9 Tower) |
367,537 operations/yr |
| Relative Workload | -11.3% vs peer median |