PWK
Palwaukee Tower
FAA Control Tower Wheeling, Illinois
Facility Information
| Facility Overview | |
|---|---|
| Identifier | PWK |
| Facility Name | Palwaukee Tower |
| Airport Name | Chicago Exec |
| Type | Tower |
| Level | Level 5 |
| Core 30 Airport | No |
| Airspace & Operations | |
|---|---|
| Hours of Operation | 0600-2200 MON-FRI; 0700-2200 SAT-SUN |
| Airspace Class | Class D |
| Approach/Departure | C90 |
| Overlying ARTCC | ZAU |
| Airport Diagram | Airport Diagram (PDF) |
| Location & Contact | |
|---|---|
| View on full map → | |
| Address | 1060 S Milwaukee Ave Wheeling, IL 60090 |
| Phone Number | 847-229-6000 |
Salary Information
2026 pay for Palwaukee Tower, built from the FAA Air Traffic Specialized Pay Plan bands:
| Career Level | Hourly Min. | Hourly Max. | Total Pay Min. | Total Pay Max. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPC | $46.85 | $63.24 | $97,768 | $131,985 |
| D3 | $43.07 | $46.85 | $89,885 | $97,768 |
| 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. | ||||
| Pay Factors | |
|---|---|
| Facility Level | Level 5 |
| 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 | $94,370 |
How this pay is calculated
| Basic Pay (Level 5 CPC band maximum) | $93,699 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (30.86% of Basic Pay for Chicago) | + $28,916 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $122,615 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (10% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $9,370 |
| = Total Pay | $131,985 |
| Basic Pay (Level 5 CPC band minimum) | $69,408 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (30.86% of Basic Pay for Chicago) | + $21,419 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $90,827 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (10% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $6,941 |
| = Total Pay | $97,768 |
| Basic Pay (Level 5 D3 band maximum) | $69,408 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (30.86% of Basic Pay for Chicago) | + $21,419 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $90,827 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (10% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $6,941 |
| = Total Pay | $97,768 |
| Basic Pay (Level 5 D3 band minimum) | $63,812 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (30.86% of Basic Pay for Chicago) | + $19,692 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $83,504 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (10% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $6,381 |
| = Total Pay | $89,885 |
| 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 | 11 CPCs |
| CPC Target (CWP) | 10 CPCs |
| Current Staffing | 110.00% |
|
Projected Staffing
Show componentsHide components
|
141.49% |
| ↳ Est. Trainee Certifications | + 5 |
| ↳ Placement List Outbounds | - 1 |
| ↳ Projected Retirements/Losses | - 0.9 |
|
Number of Trainees
Show breakdownHide breakdown
|
5 trainees |
| ↳ Academy Graduates | 2 |
| ↳ Developmental 3 | 1 |
| ↳ CPC-IT 0 (Transfer) | 1 |
| ↳ CPC-IT 3 (Transfer) | 1 |
| Training Information, July 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Training Time (Avg) | 0.74 years |
| ↳ New Hires | 0.97 years |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 0.48 years |
| Training Success Rate (Avg) | 100% |
| ↳ New Hires | 100% |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 100% |
| Travel Days from Academy | 2 days |
Historical Trends
PWK Staffing Percentages
PWK Personnel Counts
PWK Training Metrics
NCEPT
NCEPT manages controller-requested transfers between FAA facilities.
| Eligibility & Staffing, July 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Staffing Source | Academy Sourced |
| TSL (One Training Time) | 87.93% |
| Gaining Target | 107.93% |
| Possible Gains | 0 |
| Primary Releases Avail. | 1 |
| Secondary Releases Avail. | 0 |
| Transfer Activity | |
|---|---|
| Releases, Past 3 Yrs | 6 |
| ↳ Standard | 6 |
| ↳ Priority/Other | 0 |
| Gains, Past 3 Yrs | 0 |
| Last Standard Release | 0.5 years ago |
| ERR Demand History | |
|---|---|
| Priority / Draft Order Mar 2026 |
#301 |
| Inbound ERRs on File Feb 2026 |
0 |
| Employees with Outbound ERRs Feb 2026 |
1 (7.7%) |
Demand Trends
NCEPT Priority
Traffic
| June 2025 - May 2026 (12 Months) | |
|---|---|
| Tower Operations | 106,459 operations/yr |
| Average Daily Operations | 292 operations/day |
| Peer Group Median (Lvl 5 Tower) |
81,594 operations/yr |
| Relative Workload | +30.5% vs peer median |