LAX
Los Angeles Tower
FAA Air Traffic Control Tower at Los Angeles International Airport Westchester, California
Facility Information
| Facility Overview | |
|---|---|
| Identifier | LAX |
| Facility Name | Los Angeles Tower |
| Airport | Los Angeles International Airport |
| Type | Tower |
| Level | Level 11
Show historyHide history
• Prior to Aug 2023: Level 12
• Prior to Mar 2016: Level 11 |
| Core 30 Airport | Yes |
| Airspace & Operations | |
|---|---|
| Hours of Operation | 0000-2359 (always open) |
| Airspace Class | Class B |
| Approach/Departure | SCT |
| Overlying ARTCC | ZLA |
| Airport Diagram | Airport Diagram (PDF) |
| Location & Contact | |
|---|---|
| View on full map → | |
| Address | 245 World Way Westchester, CA 90045 |
| Phone Number | 310-342-4900 |
Salary Information
2026 pay for Los Angeles Tower, built from the FAA Air Traffic Specialized Pay Plan bands:
| Career Level | Hourly Min. | Hourly Max. | Total Pay Min. | Total Pay Max. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPC | $86.76 | $115.81 | $181,070 | $241,696 |
| D3 | $73.22 | $86.76 | $152,801 | $181,070 |
| D2 | $59.67 | $73.22 | $124,530 | $152,801 |
| D1 | $46.12 | $59.67 | $96,256 | $124,530 |
| AG | $32.58 | $32.58 | $67,985 | $67,985 |
| Total Pay combines Basic Pay, Locality Pay, and the additions listed under Pay Factors, including this facility's 8.1% 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 11 |
| Locality Area | Los Angeles |
| Locality Pay | 36.47% |
| Controller Incentive Pay (CIP) | 8.10% |
| Local Affordability | |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living Index | 113.6 (13.6% above avg) |
| Cost-Adjusted CPC Min | $159,435 |
| Every facility ranked by cost-adjusted pay → | |
How this pay is calculated
| Basic Pay (Level 11 CPC band maximum) | $169,087 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (36.47% of Basic Pay for Los Angeles) | + $61,665 |
| − Statutory pay cap (Basic + Locality cannot exceed $228,000) | − $2,752 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $228,000 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (8.1% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $13,696 |
| = Total Pay | $241,696 |
| Basic Pay (Level 11 CPC band minimum) | $125,247 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (36.47% of Basic Pay for Los Angeles) | + $45,678 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $170,925 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (8.1% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $10,145 |
| = Total Pay | $181,070 |
| Basic Pay (Level 11 D3 band maximum) | $125,247 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (36.47% of Basic Pay for Los Angeles) | + $45,678 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $170,925 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (8.1% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $10,145 |
| = Total Pay | $181,070 |
| Basic Pay (Level 11 D3 band minimum) | $105,694 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (36.47% of Basic Pay for Los Angeles) | + $38,546 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $144,240 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (8.1% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $8,561 |
| = Total Pay | $152,801 |
| Basic Pay (Level 11 D2 band maximum) | $105,694 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (36.47% of Basic Pay for Los Angeles) | + $38,546 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $144,240 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (8.1% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $8,561 |
| = Total Pay | $152,801 |
| Basic Pay (Level 11 D2 band minimum) | $86,138 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (36.47% of Basic Pay for Los Angeles) | + $31,415 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $117,553 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (8.1% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $6,977 |
| = Total Pay | $124,530 |
| Basic Pay (Level 11 D1 band maximum) | $86,138 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (36.47% of Basic Pay for Los Angeles) | + $31,415 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $117,553 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (8.1% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $6,977 |
| = Total Pay | $124,530 |
| Basic Pay (Level 11 D1 band minimum) | $66,581 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (36.47% of Basic Pay for Los Angeles) | + $24,282 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $90,863 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (8.1% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $5,393 |
| = Total Pay | $96,256 |
| Basic Pay (Academy Graduate band, set nationally) | $47,026 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (36.47% of Basic Pay for Los Angeles) | + $17,150 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $64,176 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (8.1% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $3,809 |
| = Total Pay | $67,985 |
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 (36.47% of Basic Pay for Los Angeles) | + $17,150 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $64,176 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (8.1% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $3,809 |
| = Total Pay | $67,985 |
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, September 2026 | |
|---|---|
| CPCs on Board | 37 CPCs |
| CPC Target (CWP) | 45 CPCs |
| Current Staffing | 82.22% |
|
Projected Staffing
Show componentsHide components
|
91.30% |
| ↳ Est. Trainee Certifications | + 8 |
| ↳ Committed Inbounds | + 2 |
| ↳ Placement List Inbounds | + 1 |
| ↳ Projected Retirements/Losses | - 5.6 |
|
Number of Trainees
Show breakdownHide breakdown
|
14 trainees |
| ↳ CPC-IT 0 (Transfer) | 2 |
| ↳ CPC-IT 1 (Transfer) | 7 |
| ↳ CPC-IT 2 (Transfer) | 4 |
| ↳ CPC-IT 3 (Transfer) | 1 |
| Training Information, September 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Training Time (Avg) | 1.99 years |
| ↳ New Hires | 2.1 years |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 1.99 years |
| Training Success Rate (Avg) | 57% |
| ↳ New Hires | 67% |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 57% |
| Travel Days from Academy | 3 days |
Historical Trends
LAX Staffing Percentages
LAX Personnel Counts
LAX Training Metrics
NCEPT
NCEPT manages controller-requested transfers between FAA facilities. See LAX transfer selections on the Transfer Flow Map.
| Eligibility & Staffing, September 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Staffing Source | Non-Academy Sourced |
| Incentive Award | $30,000 |
| ↳ Geographical Incentive | + $10,000 |
| TSL (One Training Time) | 92.48% |
| Gaining Target | 92.48% |
| Possible Gains | 1 |
| Primary Releases Avail. | 0 |
| Secondary Releases Avail. | 0 |
| Transfer Activity | |
|---|---|
| Releases, Past 3 Yrs | 1 |
| ↳ Standard | 0 |
| ↳ Priority/Other | 1 |
| Gains, Past 3 Yrs | 19 |
| Last Standard Release | None in 3+ years |
Selections by Year, 2016–2026
Demand Trends
NCEPT Priority
Traffic
| August 2025 - July 2026 (12 Months) | |
|---|---|
| Tower Operations | 582,371 operations/yr |
| Average Daily Operations | 1,596 operations/day |
| Peer Group Median (Lvl 11 Tower) |
496,825 operations/yr |
| Relative Workload | +17.2% vs peer median |