MDW
Midway Tower
FAA Control Tower Chicago, Illinois
Facility Information
| Facility Overview | |
|---|---|
| Identifier | MDW |
| Facility Name | Midway Tower |
| Airport Name | Chicago Midway Intl |
| Type | Tower |
| Level | Level 8 |
| Core 30 Airport | Yes |
| Airspace & Operations | |
|---|---|
| Hours of Operation | 0000-2359 (always open) |
| Airspace Class | Class C |
| Approach/Departure | C90 |
| Overlying ARTCC | ZAU |
| Airport Diagram | Airport Diagram (PDF) |
| Location & Contact | |
|---|---|
| View on full map → | |
| Address | 6200 S Laramie Ave Chicago, IL 60638 |
| Phone Number | 773-884-3670 |
Salary Information
2026 pay for Midway Tower, built from the FAA Air Traffic Specialized Pay Plan bands:
| Career Level | Hourly Min. | Hourly Max. | Total Pay Min. | Total Pay Max. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPC | $62.31 | $84.12 | $130,043 | $175,558 |
| D3 | $54.56 | $62.31 | $113,858 | $130,043 |
| D2 | $46.80 | $54.56 | $97,671 | $113,858 |
| AG | $31.29 | $31.29 | $65,300 | $65,300 |
| Total Pay combines Basic Pay, Locality Pay, and the additions listed under Pay Factors, including this facility's 8% Controller Incentive Pay (how CIP works). It excludes premium pay for overtime, nights, Sundays, and holidays. | ||||
| Pay Factors | |
|---|---|
| Facility Level | Level 8 |
| Locality Area | Chicago |
| Locality Pay | 30.86% |
| Controller Incentive Pay (CIP) | 8.00% |
| Local Affordability | |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living Index | 103.6 (3.6% above avg) |
| Cost-Adjusted CPC Min | $125,524 |
How this pay is calculated
| Basic Pay (Level 8 CPC band maximum) | $126,428 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (30.86% of Basic Pay for Chicago) | + $39,016 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $165,444 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (8% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $10,114 |
| = Total Pay | $175,558 |
| Basic Pay (Level 8 CPC band minimum) | $93,650 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (30.86% of Basic Pay for Chicago) | + $28,901 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $122,551 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (8% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $7,492 |
| = Total Pay | $130,043 |
| Basic Pay (Level 8 D3 band maximum) | $93,650 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (30.86% of Basic Pay for Chicago) | + $28,901 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $122,551 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (8% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $7,492 |
| = Total Pay | $130,043 |
| Basic Pay (Level 8 D3 band minimum) | $81,995 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (30.86% of Basic Pay for Chicago) | + $25,303 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $107,298 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (8% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $6,560 |
| = Total Pay | $113,858 |
| Basic Pay (Level 8 D2 band maximum) | $81,995 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (30.86% of Basic Pay for Chicago) | + $25,303 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $107,298 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (8% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $6,560 |
| = Total Pay | $113,858 |
| Basic Pay (Level 8 D2 band minimum) | $70,338 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (30.86% of Basic Pay for Chicago) | + $21,706 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $92,044 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (8% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $5,627 |
| = Total Pay | $97,671 |
| 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 (8% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $3,762 |
| = Total Pay | $65,300 |
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 (8% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $3,762 |
| = Total Pay | $65,300 |
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 | 18 CPCs |
| CPC Target (CWP) | 22 CPCs |
| Current Staffing | 81.82% |
|
Projected Staffing
Show componentsHide components
|
111.84% |
| ↳ Est. Trainee Certifications | + 7.8 |
| ↳ Projected Retirements/Losses | - 1.2 |
|
Number of Trainees
Show breakdownHide breakdown
|
9 trainees |
| ↳ Academy Graduates | 2 |
| ↳ Developmental 3 | 5 |
| ↳ CPC-IT 2 (Transfer) | 2 |
| Training Information, August 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Training Time (Avg) | 1.05 years |
| ↳ New Hires | 1.05 years |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 1 years |
| Training Success Rate (Avg) | 87% |
| ↳ New Hires | 81% |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 91% |
| Travel Days from Academy | 2 days |
Historical Trends
MDW Staffing Percentages
MDW Personnel Counts
MDW Training Metrics
NCEPT
NCEPT manages controller-requested transfers between FAA facilities. See MDW transfer selections on the Transfer Flow Map.
| Eligibility & Staffing, August 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Staffing Source | Academy Sourced |
| TSL (One Training Time) | 89.20% |
| Gaining Target | 98.29% |
| Possible Gains | 0 |
| Primary Releases Avail. | 0 |
| Secondary Releases Avail. | 0 |
| Transfer Activity | |
|---|---|
| Releases, Past 3 Yrs | 6 |
| ↳ Standard | 5 |
| ↳ Priority/Other | 1 |
| Gains, Past 3 Yrs | 5 |
| 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 | 215,252 operations/yr |
| Average Daily Operations | 590 operations/day |
| Peer Group Median (Lvl 8 Tower) |
268,654 operations/yr |
| Relative Workload | -19.9% vs peer median |