RIC
Richmond Tower
FAA Air Traffic Control Tower at Richmond International Airport Richmond, Virginia
Facility Information
| Facility Overview | |
|---|---|
| Identifier | RIC |
| Facility Name | Richmond Tower |
| Airport | Richmond International Airport |
| Type | Tower |
| Level | Level 6 |
| Core 30 Airport | No |
| Airspace & Operations | |
|---|---|
| Hours of Operation | 0000-2359 (always open) |
| Airspace Class | Class C |
| Approach/Departure | PCT |
| Overlying ARTCC | ZDC |
| Airport Diagram | Airport Diagram (PDF) |
| Location & Contact | |
|---|---|
| View on full map → | |
| Address | 5701 Gulfstream Rd Richmond, VA 23250 |
| Phone Number | 804-226-6520 |
Salary Information
2026 pay for Richmond Tower, built from the FAA Air Traffic Specialized Pay Plan bands:
| Career Level | Hourly Min. | Hourly Max. | Total Pay Min. | Total Pay Max. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPC | $44.94 | $60.67 | $93,787 | $126,610 |
| D3 | $40.59 | $44.94 | $84,716 | $93,787 |
| AG | $27.55 | $27.55 | $57,503 | $57,503 |
| 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 | Richmond |
| Locality Pay | 22.28% |
| Local Affordability | |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living Index | 97.9 (2.1% below avg) |
| Cost-Adjusted CPC Min | $95,838 |
How this pay is calculated
| Basic Pay (Level 6 CPC band maximum) | $103,541 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (22.28% of Basic Pay for Richmond) | + $23,069 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $126,610 |
| = Total Pay | $126,610 |
| Basic Pay (Level 6 CPC band minimum) | $76,699 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (22.28% of Basic Pay for Richmond) | + $17,088 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $93,787 |
| = Total Pay | $93,787 |
| Basic Pay (Level 6 D3 band maximum) | $76,699 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (22.28% of Basic Pay for Richmond) | + $17,088 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $93,787 |
| = Total Pay | $93,787 |
| Basic Pay (Level 6 D3 band minimum) | $69,281 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (22.28% of Basic Pay for Richmond) | + $15,435 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $84,716 |
| = Total Pay | $84,716 |
| Basic Pay (Academy Graduate band, set nationally) | $47,026 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (22.28% of Basic Pay for Richmond) | + $10,477 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $57,503 |
| = Total Pay | $57,503 |
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 (22.28% of Basic Pay for Richmond) | + $10,477 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $57,503 |
| = Total Pay | $57,503 |
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, September 2026 | |
|---|---|
| CPCs on Board | 15 CPCs |
| CPC Target (CWP) | 15 CPCs |
| Current Staffing | 100.00% |
|
Projected Staffing
Show componentsHide components
|
135.26% |
| ↳ Est. Trainee Certifications | + 7.4 |
| ↳ Committed Outbounds | - 1 |
| ↳ Projected Retirements/Losses | - 1.1 |
|
Number of Trainees
Show breakdownHide breakdown
|
8 trainees |
| ↳ Academy Graduates | 6 |
| ↳ Developmental 3 | 1 |
| ↳ CPC-IT 0 (Transfer) | 1 |
| Training Information, September 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Training Time (Avg) | 0.75 years |
| ↳ New Hires | 0.99 years |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 0.31 years |
| Training Success Rate (Avg) | 92% |
| ↳ New Hires | 88% |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 100% |
| Travel Days from Academy | 3 days |
Historical Trends
RIC Staffing Percentages
RIC Personnel Counts
RIC Training Metrics
NCEPT
NCEPT manages controller-requested transfers between FAA facilities. See RIC transfer selections on the Transfer Flow Map.
| Eligibility & Staffing, September 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Staffing Source | Academy Sourced |
| TSL (One Training Time) | 88.50% |
| Gaining Target | 101.83% |
| Possible Gains | 0 |
| Primary Releases Avail. | 1 |
| Secondary Releases Avail. | 0 |
| Transfer Activity | |
|---|---|
| Releases, Past 3 Yrs | 8 |
| ↳ Standard | 8 |
| ↳ 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
| August 2025 - July 2026 (12 Months) | |
|---|---|
| Tower Operations | 110,505 operations/yr |
| Average Daily Operations | 303 operations/day |
| Peer Group Median (Lvl 6 Tower) |
139,884 operations/yr |
| Relative Workload | -21.0% vs peer median |