PAE
Paine Tower
FAA Control Tower Everett, Washington
Facility Information
| Facility Overview | |
|---|---|
| Identifier | PAE |
| Facility Name | Paine Tower |
| Airport Name | Seattle Paine Fld Intl |
| Type | Tower |
| Level | Level 6 |
| Core 30 Airport | No |
| Airspace & Operations | |
|---|---|
| Hours of Operation | 0700-2100 |
| Airspace Class | Class D |
| Approach/Departure | S46 |
| Overlying ARTCC | ZSE |
| Airport Diagram | Airport Diagram (PDF) |
| Location & Contact | |
|---|---|
| View on full map → | |
| Address | 3310 100th St SW Everett, WA 98204 |
| Phone Number | 425-923-1400 |
Salary Information
2026 pay for Paine Tower, built from the FAA Air Traffic Specialized Pay Plan bands:
| Career Level | Hourly Min. | Hourly Max. | Total Pay Min. | Total Pay Max. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPC | $49.49 | $66.81 | $103,291 | $139,439 |
| D3 | $44.71 | $49.49 | $93,300 | $103,291 |
| AG | $30.34 | $30.34 | $63,330 | $63,330 |
| Total Pay combines Basic Pay, Locality Pay, and the additions listed under Pay Factors, including this facility's 3.1% Controller Incentive Pay (how CIP works). It excludes premium pay for overtime, nights, Sundays, and holidays. | ||||
| Pay Factors | |
|---|---|
| Facility Level | Level 6 |
| Locality Area | Seattle |
| Locality Pay | 31.57% |
| Controller Incentive Pay (CIP) | 3.10% |
| Local Affordability | |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living Index | 111.1 (11.1% above avg) |
| Cost-Adjusted CPC Min | $92,946 |
How this pay is calculated
| Basic Pay (Level 6 CPC band maximum) | $103,541 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (31.57% of Basic Pay for Seattle) | + $32,688 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $136,229 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (3.1% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $3,210 |
| = Total Pay | $139,439 |
| Basic Pay (Level 6 CPC band minimum) | $76,699 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (31.57% of Basic Pay for Seattle) | + $24,214 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $100,913 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (3.1% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $2,378 |
| = Total Pay | $103,291 |
| Basic Pay (Level 6 D3 band maximum) | $76,699 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (31.57% of Basic Pay for Seattle) | + $24,214 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $100,913 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (3.1% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $2,378 |
| = Total Pay | $103,291 |
| Basic Pay (Level 6 D3 band minimum) | $69,281 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (31.57% of Basic Pay for Seattle) | + $21,871 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $91,152 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (3.1% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $2,148 |
| = Total Pay | $93,300 |
| Basic Pay (Academy Graduate band, set nationally) | $47,026 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (31.57% of Basic Pay for Seattle) | + $14,846 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $61,872 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (3.1% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $1,458 |
| = Total Pay | $63,330 |
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 (31.57% of Basic Pay for Seattle) | + $14,846 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $61,872 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (3.1% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $1,458 |
| = Total Pay | $63,330 |
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 | 13 CPCs |
| CPC Target (CWP) | 10 CPCs |
| Current Staffing | 130.00% |
|
Projected Staffing
Show componentsHide components
|
140.60% |
| ↳ Est. Trainee Certifications | + 2.7 |
| ↳ Committed Outbounds | - 1 |
| ↳ Projected Retirements/Losses | - 0.6 |
|
Number of Trainees
Show breakdownHide breakdown
|
3 trainees |
| ↳ Academy Graduates | 2 |
| ↳ CPC-IT 0 (Transfer) | 1 |
| Training Information, August 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Training Time (Avg) | 0.8 years |
| ↳ New Hires | 0.88 years |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 0.63 years |
| Training Success Rate (Avg) | 89% |
| ↳ New Hires | 84% |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 100% |
| Travel Days from Academy | 5 days |
Historical Trends
PAE Staffing Percentages
PAE Personnel Counts
PAE Training Metrics
NCEPT
NCEPT manages controller-requested transfers between FAA facilities. See PAE transfer selections on the Transfer Flow Map.
| Eligibility & Staffing, August 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Staffing Source | Academy Sourced |
| TSL (One Training Time) | 88.39% |
| Gaining Target | 108.39% |
| Possible Gains | 0 |
| Primary Releases Avail. | 3 |
| Secondary Releases Avail. | 2 |
| Transfer Activity | |
|---|---|
| Releases, Past 3 Yrs | 6 |
| ↳ Standard | 6 |
| ↳ Priority/Other | 0 |
| Gains, Past 3 Yrs | 1 |
| Last Standard Release | 0.2 years ago |
Selections by Year, 2016–2026
Demand Trends
NCEPT Priority
Traffic
| July 2025 - June 2026 (12 Months) | |
|---|---|
| Tower Operations | 164,186 operations/yr |
| Average Daily Operations | 450 operations/day |
| Peer Group Median (Lvl 6 Tower) |
139,448 operations/yr |
| Relative Workload | +17.7% vs peer median |