RFD
Rockford Tower
FAA Control Tower and Approach Control Rockford, Illinois
Facility Information
| Facility Overview | |
|---|---|
| Identifier | RFD |
| Facility Name | Rockford Tower |
| Airport Name | Chicago/Rockford Intl |
| Type | Tower and Approach Control |
| Level | Level 6 |
| Core 30 Airport | No |
| Airspace & Operations | |
|---|---|
| Hours of Operation | 0000-2359 (always open) |
| Airspace Class | Class D |
| Overlying ARTCC | ZAU |
| Airport Diagram | Airport Diagram (PDF) |
| Location & Contact | |
|---|---|
| View on full map → | |
| Address | 5701 Falcon Rd Rockford, IL 61109 |
| Phone Number | 815-484-5312 |
Salary Information
2026 pay for Rockford Tower, built from the FAA Air Traffic Specialized Pay Plan bands:
| Career Level | Hourly Min. | Hourly Max. | Total Pay Min. | Total Pay Max. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPC | $48.09 | $64.92 | $100,368 | $135,493 |
| D3 | $43.44 | $48.09 | $90,661 | $100,368 |
| D2 | $38.79 | $43.44 | $80,950 | $90,661 |
| AG | $29.49 | $29.49 | $61,538 | $61,538 |
| Total Pay combines Basic Pay, Locality Pay. It excludes premium pay for overtime, nights, Sundays, and holidays. | ||||
| Pay Factors | |
|---|---|
| Facility Level | Level 6 |
| Locality Area | Chicago |
| Locality Pay | 30.86% |
| Local Affordability | |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living Index | 92.2 (7.8% below avg) |
| Cost-Adjusted CPC Min | $108,918 |
How this pay is calculated
| Basic Pay (Level 6 CPC band maximum) | $103,541 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (30.86% of Basic Pay for Chicago) | + $31,952 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $135,493 |
| = Total Pay | $135,493 |
| Basic Pay (Level 6 CPC band minimum) | $76,699 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (30.86% of Basic Pay for Chicago) | + $23,669 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $100,368 |
| = Total Pay | $100,368 |
| Basic Pay (Level 6 D3 band maximum) | $76,699 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (30.86% of Basic Pay for Chicago) | + $23,669 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $100,368 |
| = Total Pay | $100,368 |
| Basic Pay (Level 6 D3 band minimum) | $69,281 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (30.86% of Basic Pay for Chicago) | + $21,380 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $90,661 |
| = Total Pay | $90,661 |
| Basic Pay (Level 6 D2 band maximum) | $69,281 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (30.86% of Basic Pay for Chicago) | + $21,380 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $90,661 |
| = Total Pay | $90,661 |
| Basic Pay (Level 6 D2 band minimum) | $61,860 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (30.86% of Basic Pay for Chicago) | + $19,090 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $80,950 |
| = Total Pay | $80,950 |
| 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 |
| = Total Pay | $61,538 |
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 |
| = Total Pay | $61,538 |
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 | 23 CPCs |
| CPC Target (CWP) | 22 CPCs |
| Current Staffing | 104.55% |
|
Projected Staffing
Show componentsHide components
|
128.43% |
| ↳ Est. Trainee Certifications | + 7 |
| ↳ Committed Outbounds | - 1 |
| ↳ Projected Retirements/Losses | - 0.7 |
|
Number of Trainees
Show breakdownHide breakdown
|
7 trainees |
| ↳ Academy Graduates | 5 |
| ↳ Developmental 2 | 1 |
| ↳ CPC-IT 2 (Transfer) | 1 |
| Training Information, August 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Training Time (Avg) | 0.99 years |
| ↳ New Hires | 1.4 years |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 0.32 years |
| Training Success Rate (Avg) | 100% |
| ↳ New Hires | 100% |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 100% |
| Travel Days from Academy | 2 days |
Historical Trends
RFD Staffing Percentages
RFD Personnel Counts
RFD Training Metrics
NCEPT
NCEPT manages controller-requested transfers between FAA facilities. See RFD transfer selections on the Transfer Flow Map.
| Eligibility & Staffing, August 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Staffing Source | Academy Sourced |
| TSL (One Training Time) | 89.00% |
| Gaining Target | 98.10% |
| Possible Gains | 0 |
| Primary Releases Avail. | 2 |
| Secondary Releases Avail. | 0 |
| Transfer Activity | |
|---|---|
| Releases, Past 3 Yrs | 2 |
| ↳ Standard | 2 |
| ↳ Priority/Other | 0 |
| Gains, Past 3 Yrs | 1 |
| 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 | 47,407 operations/yr |
| TRACON Operations | 149,328 operations/yr |
| Total Operations | 196,735 operations/yr |
| Average Daily Operations | 539 operations/day |
| Peer Group Median (Lvl 6 Up/Down) |
149,241 operations/yr |
| Relative Workload | +31.8% vs peer median |