MKE
Milwaukee Tower
FAA Control Tower and Approach Control Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Facility Information
| Facility Overview | |
|---|---|
| Identifier | MKE |
| Facility Name | Milwaukee Tower |
| Airport Name | General Mitchell Intl |
| Type | Tower and Approach Control |
| Level | Level 8
Show historyHide history
• Prior to Mar 2016: Level 9
|
| Core 30 Airport | No |
| Airspace & Operations | |
|---|---|
| Hours of Operation | 0000-2359 (always open) |
| Airspace Class | Class C |
| Overlying ARTCC | ZAU |
| Airport Diagram | Airport Diagram (PDF) |
| Location & Contact | |
|---|---|
| View on full map → | |
| Address | 5330 S Howell Ave Milwaukee, WI 53207 |
| Phone Number | 414-489-2150 |
Salary Information
2026 pay for Milwaukee Tower, built from the FAA Air Traffic Specialized Pay Plan bands:
| Career Level | Hourly Min. | Hourly Max. | Total Pay Min. | Total Pay Max. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPC | $55.97 | $75.55 | $116,801 | $157,681 |
| D3 | $49.00 | $55.97 | $102,264 | $116,801 |
| D2 | $42.03 | $49.00 | $87,725 | $102,264 |
| AG | $28.10 | $28.10 | $58,651 | $58,651 |
| Total Pay combines Basic Pay, Locality Pay, and the additions listed under Pay Factors, including this facility's 2.3% Controller Incentive Pay (how CIP works). It excludes premium pay for overtime, nights, Sundays, and holidays. | ||||
| Pay Factors | |
|---|---|
| Facility Level | Level 8 |
| Locality Area | Milwaukee |
| Locality Pay | 22.42% |
| Controller Incentive Pay (CIP) | 2.30% |
| Local Affordability | |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living Index | 96.9 (3.1% below avg) |
| Cost-Adjusted CPC Min | $120,488 |
How this pay is calculated
| Basic Pay (Level 8 CPC band maximum) | $126,428 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (22.42% of Basic Pay for Milwaukee) | + $28,345 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $154,773 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (2.3% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $2,908 |
| = Total Pay | $157,681 |
| Basic Pay (Level 8 CPC band minimum) | $93,650 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (22.42% of Basic Pay for Milwaukee) | + $20,997 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $114,647 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (2.3% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $2,154 |
| = Total Pay | $116,801 |
| Basic Pay (Level 8 D3 band maximum) | $93,650 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (22.42% of Basic Pay for Milwaukee) | + $20,997 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $114,647 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (2.3% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $2,154 |
| = Total Pay | $116,801 |
| Basic Pay (Level 8 D3 band minimum) | $81,995 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (22.42% of Basic Pay for Milwaukee) | + $18,383 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $100,378 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (2.3% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $1,886 |
| = Total Pay | $102,264 |
| Basic Pay (Level 8 D2 band maximum) | $81,995 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (22.42% of Basic Pay for Milwaukee) | + $18,383 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $100,378 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (2.3% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $1,886 |
| = Total Pay | $102,264 |
| Basic Pay (Level 8 D2 band minimum) | $70,338 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (22.42% of Basic Pay for Milwaukee) | + $15,769 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $86,107 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (2.3% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $1,618 |
| = Total Pay | $87,725 |
| Basic Pay (Academy Graduate band, set nationally) | $47,026 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (22.42% of Basic Pay for Milwaukee) | + $10,543 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $57,569 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (2.3% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $1,082 |
| = Total Pay | $58,651 |
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 (22.42% of Basic Pay for Milwaukee) | + $10,543 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $57,569 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (2.3% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $1,082 |
| = Total Pay | $58,651 |
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) | 35 CPCs |
| Current Staffing | 85.71% |
|
Projected Staffing
Show componentsHide components
|
121.47% |
| ↳ Est. Trainee Certifications | + 15.6 |
| ↳ Projected Retirements/Losses | - 3.1 |
|
Number of Trainees
Show breakdownHide breakdown
|
19 trainees |
| ↳ Academy Graduates | 9 |
| ↳ Developmental 2 | 3 |
| ↳ Developmental 3 | 2 |
| ↳ CPC-IT 0 (Transfer) | 2 |
| ↳ CPC-IT 2 (Transfer) | 3 |
| Training Information, August 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Training Time (Avg) | 1.89 years |
| ↳ New Hires | 2.46 years |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 1.87 years |
| Training Success Rate (Avg) | 82% |
| ↳ New Hires | 71% |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 83% |
| Travel Days from Academy | 2 days |
Historical Trends
MKE Staffing Percentages
MKE Personnel Counts
MKE Training Metrics
NCEPT
NCEPT manages controller-requested transfers between FAA facilities. See MKE transfer selections on the Transfer Flow Map.
| Eligibility & Staffing, August 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Staffing Source | Academy Sourced |
| TSL (One Training Time) | 91.89% |
| Gaining Target | 97.61% |
| Possible Gains | 0 |
| Primary Releases Avail. | 0 |
| Secondary Releases Avail. | 0 |
| Transfer Activity | |
|---|---|
| Releases, Past 3 Yrs | 0 |
| ↳ Standard | 0 |
| ↳ Priority/Other | 0 |
| Gains, Past 3 Yrs | 7 |
| Last Standard Release | None in 3+ years |
Selections by Year, 2016–2026
Demand Trends
NCEPT Priority
Traffic
| July 2025 - June 2026 (12 Months) | |
|---|---|
| Tower Operations | 102,631 operations/yr |
| TRACON Operations | 232,706 operations/yr |
| Total Operations | 335,337 operations/yr |
| Average Daily Operations | 919 operations/day |
| Peer Group Median (Lvl 8 Up/Down) |
335,337 operations/yr |
| Relative Workload | +0.0% vs peer median |