MIC
Crystal Tower
FAA Control Tower Crystal, Minnesota
Facility Information
| Facility Overview | |
|---|---|
| Identifier | MIC |
| Facility Name | Crystal Tower |
| Airport Name | Crystal |
| Type | Tower |
| Level | Level 4 |
| Core 30 Airport | No |
| Airspace & Operations | |
|---|---|
| Hours of Operation | 0700-2200 MAY-SEP; 0700-2100 OCT-APR |
| Airspace Class | Class D |
| Approach/Departure | M98 |
| Overlying ARTCC | ZMP |
| Airport Diagram | Airport Diagram (PDF) |
| Location & Contact | |
|---|---|
| View on full map → | |
| Address | 5800 Crystal Airport Rd Crystal, MN 55429 |
| Phone Number | 763-537-9161 |
Salary Information
2026 pay for Crystal Tower, built from the FAA Air Traffic Specialized Pay Plan bands:
| Career Level | Hourly Min. | Hourly Max. | Total Pay Min. | Total Pay Max. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPC | $39.04 | $52.70 | $81,468 | $109,978 |
| D3 | $36.78 | $39.04 | $76,766 | $81,468 |
| AG | $30.02 | $30.02 | $62,647 | $62,647 |
| Total Pay combines Basic Pay, Locality Pay, and the additions listed under Pay Factors, including this facility's 5.6% Controller Incentive Pay (how CIP works). It excludes premium pay for overtime, nights, Sundays, and holidays. | ||||
| Pay Factors | |
|---|---|
| Facility Level | Level 4 |
| Locality Area | Minneapolis |
| Locality Pay | 27.62% |
| Controller Incentive Pay (CIP) | 5.60% |
| Local Affordability | |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living Index | 104.8 (4.8% above avg) |
| Cost-Adjusted CPC Min | $77,721 |
How this pay is calculated
| Basic Pay (Level 4 CPC band maximum) | $82,554 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (27.62% of Basic Pay for Minneapolis) | + $22,801 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $105,355 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (5.6% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $4,623 |
| = Total Pay | $109,978 |
| Basic Pay (Level 4 CPC band minimum) | $61,153 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (27.62% of Basic Pay for Minneapolis) | + $16,890 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $78,043 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (5.6% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $3,425 |
| = Total Pay | $81,468 |
| Basic Pay (Level 4 D3 band maximum) | $61,153 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (27.62% of Basic Pay for Minneapolis) | + $16,890 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $78,043 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (5.6% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $3,425 |
| = Total Pay | $81,468 |
| Basic Pay (Level 4 D3 band minimum) | $57,623 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (27.62% of Basic Pay for Minneapolis) | + $15,916 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $73,539 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (5.6% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $3,227 |
| = Total Pay | $76,766 |
| Basic Pay (Academy Graduate band, set nationally) | $47,026 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (27.62% of Basic Pay for Minneapolis) | + $12,988 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $60,014 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (5.6% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $2,633 |
| = Total Pay | $62,647 |
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 (27.62% of Basic Pay for Minneapolis) | + $12,988 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $60,014 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (5.6% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $2,633 |
| = Total Pay | $62,647 |
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 | 12 CPCs |
| CPC Target (CWP) | 10 CPCs |
| Current Staffing | 120.00% |
|
Projected Staffing
Show componentsHide components
|
136.99% |
| ↳ Est. Trainee Certifications | + 1.9 |
| ↳ Projected Retirements/Losses | - 0.2 |
|
Number of Trainees
Show breakdownHide breakdown
|
2 trainees |
| ↳ Developmental 3 | 2 |
| Training Information, August 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Training Time (Avg) | 0.4 years |
| ↳ New Hires | 0.58 years |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 0.13 years |
| Training Success Rate (Avg) | 96% |
| ↳ New Hires | 94% |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 100% |
| Travel Days from Academy | 3 days |
Historical Trends
MIC Staffing Percentages
MIC Personnel Counts
MIC Training Metrics
NCEPT
NCEPT manages controller-requested transfers between FAA facilities. See MIC transfer selections on the Transfer Flow Map.
| Eligibility & Staffing, August 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Staffing Source | Academy Sourced |
| TSL (One Training Time) | 87.11% |
| Gaining Target | 107.11% |
| Possible Gains | 0 |
| Primary Releases Avail. | 3 |
| Secondary Releases Avail. | 2 |
| Transfer Activity | |
|---|---|
| Releases, Past 3 Yrs | 7 |
| ↳ Standard | 7 |
| ↳ Priority/Other | 0 |
| Gains, Past 3 Yrs | 0 |
| Last Standard Release | 3 days ago |
Selections by Year, 2016–2026
Demand Trends
NCEPT Priority
Traffic
| July 2025 - June 2026 (12 Months) | |
|---|---|
| Tower Operations | 44,679 operations/yr |
| Average Daily Operations | 122 operations/day |
| Peer Group Median (Lvl 4 Tower) |
43,692 operations/yr |
| Relative Workload | +2.3% vs peer median |