2026 pay for Chicago O'Hare Tower, built from the FAA Air Traffic Specialized Pay Plan bands:
Career Level
Hourly Min.
Hourly Max.
Total Pay Min.
Total Pay Max.
CPC
$88.76
$117.75
$185,250
$245,754
D3
$74.51
$88.76
$155,498
$185,250
D2
$60.25
$74.51
$125,750
$155,498
D1
$46.00
$60.25
$95,994
$125,750
AG
$31.74
$31.74
$66,241
$66,241
Total Pay combines Basic Pay, Locality Pay, and the additions listed under Pay Factors, including this facility's 10% 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 12
Locality Area
Chicago
Locality Pay
30.86%
Controller Incentive Pay (CIP)
10.00%
Local Affordability
Cost of Living Index
103.6 (3.6% above avg)
Cost-Adjusted CPC Min
$178,813
How this pay is calculated
Basic Pay (Level 12 CPC band maximum)
$177,543
+ Locality Pay (30.86% of Basic Pay for Chicago)
+ $54,790
− Statutory pay cap (Basic + Locality cannot exceed $228,000)
− $4,333
= Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3)
$228,000
+ Controller Incentive Pay (10% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure)
+ $17,754
= Total Pay
$245,754
Basic Pay (Level 12 CPC band minimum)
$131,514
+ Locality Pay (30.86% of Basic Pay for Chicago)
+ $40,585
= Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3)
$172,099
+ Controller Incentive Pay (10% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure)
+ $13,151
= Total Pay
$185,250
Basic Pay (Level 12 D3 band maximum)
$131,514
+ Locality Pay (30.86% of Basic Pay for Chicago)
+ $40,585
= Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3)
$172,099
+ Controller Incentive Pay (10% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure)
+ $13,151
= Total Pay
$185,250
Basic Pay (Level 12 D3 band minimum)
$110,392
+ Locality Pay (30.86% of Basic Pay for Chicago)
+ $34,067
= Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3)
$144,459
+ Controller Incentive Pay (10% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure)
+ $11,039
= Total Pay
$155,498
Basic Pay (Level 12 D2 band maximum)
$110,392
+ Locality Pay (30.86% of Basic Pay for Chicago)
+ $34,067
= Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3)
$144,459
+ Controller Incentive Pay (10% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure)
+ $11,039
= Total Pay
$155,498
Basic Pay (Level 12 D2 band minimum)
$89,273
+ Locality Pay (30.86% of Basic Pay for Chicago)
+ $27,550
= Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3)
$116,823
+ Controller Incentive Pay (10% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure)
+ $8,927
= Total Pay
$125,750
Basic Pay (Level 12 D1 band maximum)
$89,273
+ Locality Pay (30.86% of Basic Pay for Chicago)
+ $27,550
= Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3)
$116,823
+ Controller Incentive Pay (10% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure)
+ $8,927
= Total Pay
$125,750
Basic Pay (Level 12 D1 band minimum)
$68,149
+ Locality Pay (30.86% of Basic Pay for Chicago)
+ $21,030
= Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3)
$89,179
+ Controller Incentive Pay (10% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure)
+ $6,815
= Total Pay
$95,994
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 (10% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure)
+ $4,703
= Total Pay
$66,241
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 (10% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure)
+ $4,703
= Total Pay
$66,241
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, July 2026
CPCs on Board
58 CPCs
CPC Target (CWP)
88 CPCs
Current Staffing
65.91%
Projected Staffing
Show componentsHide components
64.05%
↳ Est. Trainee Certifications
+ 5.8
↳ Committed Inbounds
+ 1
↳ Projected Retirements/Losses
- 8.1
Number of Trainees
Show breakdownHide breakdown
10 trainees
↳ CPC-IT 1 (Transfer)
9
↳ CPC-IT 3 (Transfer)
1
Training Information, July 2026
Training Time (Avg)
1.76 years
↳ New Hires
1.88 years
↳ Transfers (CPC-IT)
1.75 years
Training Success Rate (Avg)
58%
↳ New Hires
86%
↳ Transfers (CPC-IT)
56%
Travel Days from Academy
2 days
Historical Trends
ORD Staffing Percentages
ORD Personnel Counts
ORD Training Metrics
NCEPT
NCEPT manages controller-requested transfers between FAA facilities.