GRR
Grand Rapids Tower
FAA Control Tower Grand Rapids, Michigan
Facility Information
| Facility Overview | |
|---|---|
| Identifier | GRR |
| Facility Name | Grand Rapids Tower |
| Airport Name | Gerald R Ford Intl |
| Type | Tower
Show historyHide history
• Prior to Jun 2019: Tower and Approach Control
|
| Level | Level 5
Show historyHide history
• Prior to Jun 2020: Level 7
|
| Core 30 Airport | No |
| Airspace & Operations | |
|---|---|
| Hours of Operation | 0530-2359 |
| Airspace Class | Class C |
| Approach/Departure | AZO |
| Overlying ARTCC | ZAU |
| Airport Diagram | Airport Diagram (PDF) |
| Location & Contact | |
|---|---|
| View on full map → | |
| Address | 5500 44th St SE Grand Rapids, MI 49512 |
| Phone Number | 616-575-1902 |
Salary Information
2026 pay for Grand Rapids Tower, built from the FAA Air Traffic Specialized Pay Plan bands:
| Career Level | Hourly Min. | Hourly Max. | Total Pay Min. | Total Pay Max. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPC | $39.30 | $53.05 | $82,012 | $110,716 |
| D3 | $36.13 | $39.30 | $75,400 | $82,012 |
| AG | $26.62 | $26.62 | $55,566 | $55,566 |
| Total Pay combines Basic Pay, Locality Pay, and the additions listed under Pay Factors, including this facility's 1.1% Controller Incentive Pay (how CIP works). It excludes premium pay for overtime, nights, Sundays, and holidays. | ||||
| Pay Factors | |
|---|---|
| Facility Level | Level 5 |
| Locality Area | Rest of U.S. |
| Locality Pay | 17.06% |
| Controller Incentive Pay (CIP) | 1.10% |
| Local Affordability | |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living Index | 95.6 (4.5% below avg) |
| Cost-Adjusted CPC Min | $85,832 |
How this pay is calculated
| Basic Pay (Level 5 CPC band maximum) | $93,699 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (17.06% of Basic Pay for Rest of U.S.) | + $15,986 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $109,685 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (1.1% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $1,031 |
| = Total Pay | $110,716 |
| Basic Pay (Level 5 CPC band minimum) | $69,408 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (17.06% of Basic Pay for Rest of U.S.) | + $11,841 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $81,249 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (1.1% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $763 |
| = Total Pay | $82,012 |
| Basic Pay (Level 5 D3 band maximum) | $69,408 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (17.06% of Basic Pay for Rest of U.S.) | + $11,841 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $81,249 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (1.1% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $763 |
| = Total Pay | $82,012 |
| Basic Pay (Level 5 D3 band minimum) | $63,812 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (17.06% of Basic Pay for Rest of U.S.) | + $10,886 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $74,698 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (1.1% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $702 |
| = Total Pay | $75,400 |
| Basic Pay (Academy Graduate band, set nationally) | $47,026 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (17.06% of Basic Pay for Rest of U.S.) | + $8,023 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $55,049 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (1.1% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $517 |
| = Total Pay | $55,566 |
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 (17.06% of Basic Pay for Rest of U.S.) | + $8,023 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $55,049 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (1.1% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $517 |
| = Total Pay | $55,566 |
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 | 11 CPCs |
| CPC Target (CWP) | 11 CPCs |
| Current Staffing | 100.00% |
|
Projected Staffing
Show componentsHide components
|
127.43% |
| ↳ Est. Trainee Certifications | + 3.4 |
| ↳ Projected Retirements/Losses | - 0.4 |
|
Number of Trainees
Show breakdownHide breakdown
|
4 trainees |
| ↳ Academy Graduates | 3 |
| ↳ Developmental 3 | 1 |
| Training Information, July 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Training Time (Avg) | 0.7 years |
| ↳ New Hires | 0.77 years |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 0.38 years |
| Training Success Rate (Avg) | 86% |
| ↳ New Hires | 83% |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 89% |
| Travel Days from Academy | 2 days |
Historical Trends
GRR Staffing Percentages
GRR Personnel Counts
GRR Training Metrics
NCEPT
NCEPT manages controller-requested transfers between FAA facilities.
| Eligibility & Staffing, July 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Staffing Source | Academy Sourced |
| TSL (One Training Time) | 87.81% |
| Gaining Target | 105.99% |
| Possible Gains | 0 |
| Primary Releases Avail. | 1 |
| Secondary Releases Avail. | 0 |
| Transfer Activity | |
|---|---|
| Releases, Past 3 Yrs | 4 |
| ↳ Standard | 4 |
| ↳ Priority/Other | 0 |
| Gains, Past 3 Yrs | 0 |
| Last Standard Release | 0.5 years ago |
| ERR Demand History | |
|---|---|
| Priority / Draft Order Mar 2026 |
#194 |
| Inbound ERRs on File Feb 2026 |
1 |
| Employees with Outbound ERRs Feb 2026 |
1 (7.7%) |
Demand Trends
NCEPT Priority
Traffic
| June 2025 - May 2026 (12 Months) | |
|---|---|
| Tower Operations | 82,153 operations/yr |
| Average Daily Operations | 225 operations/day |
| Peer Group Median (Lvl 5 Tower) |
81,594 operations/yr |
| Relative Workload | +0.7% vs peer median |