PTK
Pontiac Tower
FAA Control Tower Waterford, Michigan
Facility Information
| Facility Overview | |
|---|---|
| Identifier | PTK |
| Facility Name | Pontiac Tower |
| Airport Name | Oakland County Intl |
| Type | Tower |
| Level | Level 6
Show historyHide history
• Prior to Jun 2016: Level 5
|
| Core 30 Airport | No |
| Airspace & Operations | |
|---|---|
| Hours of Operation | 0600-2359 |
| Airspace Class | Class D |
| Approach/Departure | D21 |
| Overlying ARTCC | ZOB |
| Airport Diagram | Airport Diagram (PDF) |
| Location & Contact | |
|---|---|
| View on full map → | |
| Address | 6510 Highland Rd Waterford, MI 48327 |
| Phone Number | 248-886-8500 |
Salary Information
2026 pay for Pontiac Tower, built from the FAA Air Traffic Specialized Pay Plan bands:
| Career Level | Hourly Min. | Hourly Max. | Total Pay Min. | Total Pay Max. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPC | $48.19 | $65.05 | $100,567 | $135,763 |
| D3 | $43.53 | $48.19 | $90,841 | $100,567 |
| AG | $29.55 | $29.55 | $61,661 | $61,661 |
| Total Pay combines Basic Pay, Locality Pay, and the additions listed under Pay Factors, including this facility's 2% Controller Incentive Pay (how CIP works). It excludes premium pay for overtime, nights, Sundays, and holidays. | ||||
| Pay Factors | |
|---|---|
| Facility Level | Level 6 |
| Locality Area | Detroit |
| Locality Pay | 29.12% |
| Controller Incentive Pay (CIP) | 2.00% |
| Local Affordability | |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living Index | 100.3 (0.3% above avg) |
| Cost-Adjusted CPC Min | $100,266 |
How this pay is calculated
| Basic Pay (Level 6 CPC band maximum) | $103,541 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (29.12% of Basic Pay for Detroit) | + $30,151 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $133,692 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (2% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $2,071 |
| = Total Pay | $135,763 |
| Basic Pay (Level 6 CPC band minimum) | $76,699 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (29.12% of Basic Pay for Detroit) | + $22,334 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $99,033 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (2% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $1,534 |
| = Total Pay | $100,567 |
| Basic Pay (Level 6 D3 band maximum) | $76,699 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (29.12% of Basic Pay for Detroit) | + $22,334 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $99,033 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (2% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $1,534 |
| = Total Pay | $100,567 |
| Basic Pay (Level 6 D3 band minimum) | $69,281 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (29.12% of Basic Pay for Detroit) | + $20,174 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $89,455 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (2% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $1,386 |
| = Total Pay | $90,841 |
| Basic Pay (Academy Graduate band, set nationally) | $47,026 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (29.12% of Basic Pay for Detroit) | + $13,694 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $60,720 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (2% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $941 |
| = Total Pay | $61,661 |
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 (29.12% of Basic Pay for Detroit) | + $13,694 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $60,720 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (2% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $941 |
| = Total Pay | $61,661 |
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) | 11 CPCs |
| Current Staffing | 109.09% |
|
Projected Staffing
Show componentsHide components
|
122.15% |
| ↳ Est. Trainee Certifications | + 4.3 |
| ↳ Committed Outbounds | - 2 |
| ↳ Projected Retirements/Losses | - 0.8 |
|
Number of Trainees
Show breakdownHide breakdown
|
5 trainees |
| ↳ Academy Graduates | 3 |
| ↳ Developmental 3 | 1 |
| ↳ CPC-IT 0 (Transfer) | 1 |
| Training Information, August 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Training Time (Avg) | 1.16 years |
| ↳ New Hires | 1.2 years |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 0.47 years |
| Training Success Rate (Avg) | 85% |
| ↳ New Hires | 86% |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 90% |
| Travel Days from Academy | 3 days |
Historical Trends
PTK Staffing Percentages
PTK Personnel Counts
PTK Training Metrics
NCEPT
NCEPT manages controller-requested transfers between FAA facilities. See PTK transfer selections on the Transfer Flow Map.
| Eligibility & Staffing, August 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Staffing Source | Academy Sourced |
| TSL (One Training Time) | 89.55% |
| Gaining Target | 107.73% |
| Possible Gains | 0 |
| Primary Releases Avail. | 0 |
| Secondary Releases Avail. | 0 |
| Transfer Activity | |
|---|---|
| Releases, Past 3 Yrs | 6 |
| ↳ Standard | 6 |
| ↳ Priority/Other | 0 |
| Gains, Past 3 Yrs | 0 |
| Last Standard Release | 0.1 years ago |
Selections by Year, 2016–2026
Demand Trends
NCEPT Priority
Traffic
| July 2025 - June 2026 (12 Months) | |
|---|---|
| Tower Operations | 151,509 operations/yr |
| Average Daily Operations | 415 operations/day |
| Peer Group Median (Lvl 6 Tower) |
139,448 operations/yr |
| Relative Workload | +8.6% vs peer median |