MRI
Merrill Tower
FAA Control Tower Anchorage, Alaska
Facility Information
| Facility Overview | |
|---|---|
| Identifier | MRI |
| Facility Name | Merrill Tower |
| Airport Name | Merrill Fld |
| Type | Tower |
| Level | Level 6 |
| Core 30 Airport | No |
| Airspace & Operations | |
|---|---|
| Hours of Operation | 0700-2200 |
| Airspace Class | Class D |
| Approach/Departure | A11 |
| Overlying ARTCC | ZAN |
| Airport Diagram | Airport Diagram (PDF) |
| Location & Contact | |
|---|---|
| View on full map → | |
| Address | 1950 E 5th Ave Anchorage, AK 99501 |
| Phone Number | 907-271-2698 |
Salary Information
2026 pay for Merrill Tower, built from the FAA Air Traffic Specialized Pay Plan bands:
| Career Level | Hourly Min. | Hourly Max. | Total Pay Min. | Total Pay Max. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPC | $49.19 | $66.41 | $102,662 | $138,590 |
| D3 | $44.43 | $49.19 | $92,732 | $102,662 |
| AG | $30.16 | $30.16 | $62,944 | $62,944 |
| Total Pay combines Basic Pay, Locality Pay, and the additions listed under Pay Factors. It excludes premium pay for overtime, nights, Sundays, and holidays. | ||||
| Pay Factors | |
|---|---|
| Facility Level | Level 6 |
| Locality Area | Alaska |
| Locality Pay | 32.36% |
| Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) | 1.49% (tax-free) |
| Local Affordability | |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living Index | 105.4 (5.4% above avg) |
| Cost-Adjusted CPC Min | $97,384 |
How this pay is calculated
| Basic Pay (Level 6 CPC band maximum) | $103,541 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (32.36% of Basic Pay for Alaska) | + $33,506 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $137,047 |
| + COLA (1.49% of Basic Pay, tax-free) | + $1,543 |
| = Total Pay | $138,590 |
| Basic Pay (Level 6 CPC band minimum) | $76,699 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (32.36% of Basic Pay for Alaska) | + $24,820 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $101,519 |
| + COLA (1.49% of Basic Pay, tax-free) | + $1,143 |
| = Total Pay | $102,662 |
| Basic Pay (Level 6 D3 band maximum) | $76,699 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (32.36% of Basic Pay for Alaska) | + $24,820 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $101,519 |
| + COLA (1.49% of Basic Pay, tax-free) | + $1,143 |
| = Total Pay | $102,662 |
| Basic Pay (Level 6 D3 band minimum) | $69,281 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (32.36% of Basic Pay for Alaska) | + $22,419 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $91,700 |
| + COLA (1.49% of Basic Pay, tax-free) | + $1,032 |
| = Total Pay | $92,732 |
| Basic Pay (Academy Graduate band, set nationally) | $47,026 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (32.36% of Basic Pay for Alaska) | + $15,217 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $62,243 |
| + COLA (1.49% of Basic Pay, tax-free) | + $701 |
| = Total Pay | $62,944 |
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 (32.36% of Basic Pay for Alaska) | + $15,217 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $62,243 |
| + COLA (1.49% of Basic Pay, tax-free) | + $701 |
| = Total Pay | $62,944 |
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.
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 | 8 CPCs |
| CPC Target (CWP) | 12 CPCs |
| Current Staffing | 66.67% |
|
Projected Staffing
Show componentsHide components
|
87.54% |
| ↳ Est. Trainee Certifications | + 3.1 |
| ↳ Projected Retirements/Losses | - 0.6 |
|
Number of Trainees
Show breakdownHide breakdown
|
4 trainees |
| ↳ Academy Graduates | 1 |
| ↳ Developmental 3 | 3 |
| Training Information, August 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Training Time (Avg) | 0.78 years |
| ↳ New Hires | 0.96 years |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 0.47 years |
| Training Success Rate (Avg) | 77% |
| ↳ New Hires | 82% |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 90% |
| Travel Days from Academy | 9 days |
Historical Trends
MRI Staffing Percentages
MRI Personnel Counts
MRI Training Metrics
NCEPT
NCEPT manages controller-requested transfers between FAA facilities. See MRI transfer selections on the Transfer Flow Map.
| Eligibility & Staffing, August 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Staffing Source | Academy Sourced |
| TSL (One Training Time) | 88.33% |
| Gaining Target | 105.00% |
| Possible Gains | 3 |
| Primary Releases Avail. | 0 |
| Secondary Releases Avail. | 0 |
| Transfer Activity | |
|---|---|
| Releases, Past 3 Yrs | 2 |
| ↳ Standard | 2 |
| ↳ Priority/Other | 0 |
| Gains, Past 3 Yrs | 0 |
| Last Standard Release | 1.5 years ago |
Selections by Year, 2016–2026
Demand Trends
NCEPT Priority
Traffic
| July 2025 - June 2026 (12 Months) | |
|---|---|
| Tower Operations | 141,640 operations/yr |
| Average Daily Operations | 388 operations/day |
| Peer Group Median (Lvl 6 Tower) |
139,448 operations/yr |
| Relative Workload | +1.6% vs peer median |