SEE
Gillespie Tower
FAA Control Tower El Cajon, California
Facility Information
| Facility Overview | |
|---|---|
| Identifier | SEE |
| Facility Name | Gillespie Tower |
| Airport Name | Gillespie Fld |
| Type | Tower |
| Level | Level 7 |
| Core 30 Airport | No |
| Airspace & Operations | |
|---|---|
| Hours of Operation | 0700-2100 |
| Airspace Class | Class D |
| Approach/Departure | SCT |
| Overlying ARTCC | ZLA |
| Airport Diagram | Airport Diagram (PDF) |
| Location & Contact | |
|---|---|
| View on full map → | |
| Address | 2001 N Marshall Ave El Cajon, CA 92020 |
| Phone Number | 619-448-1449 |
Salary Information
2026 pay for Gillespie Tower, built from the FAA Air Traffic Specialized Pay Plan bands:
| Career Level | Hourly Min. | Hourly Max. | Total Pay Min. | Total Pay Max. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPC | $57.19 | $77.20 | $119,346 | $161,115 |
| D3 | $50.82 | $57.19 | $106,068 | $119,346 |
| AG | $31.73 | $31.73 | $66,222 | $66,222 |
| Total Pay combines Basic Pay, Locality Pay, and the additions listed under Pay Factors, including this facility's 7.1% Controller Incentive Pay (how CIP works). It excludes premium pay for overtime, nights, Sundays, and holidays. | ||||
| Pay Factors | |
|---|---|
| Facility Level | Level 7 |
| Locality Area | San Diego |
| Locality Pay | 33.72% |
| Controller Incentive Pay (CIP) | 7.10% |
| Local Affordability | |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living Index | 111.9 (11.9% above avg) |
| Cost-Adjusted CPC Min | $106,664 |
How this pay is calculated
| Basic Pay (Level 7 CPC band maximum) | $114,412 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (33.72% of Basic Pay for San Diego) | + $38,580 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $152,992 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (7.1% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $8,123 |
| = Total Pay | $161,115 |
| Basic Pay (Level 7 CPC band minimum) | $84,751 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (33.72% of Basic Pay for San Diego) | + $28,578 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $113,329 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (7.1% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $6,017 |
| = Total Pay | $119,346 |
| Basic Pay (Level 7 D3 band maximum) | $84,751 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (33.72% of Basic Pay for San Diego) | + $28,578 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $113,329 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (7.1% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $6,017 |
| = Total Pay | $119,346 |
| Basic Pay (Level 7 D3 band minimum) | $75,321 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (33.72% of Basic Pay for San Diego) | + $25,399 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $100,720 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (7.1% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $5,348 |
| = Total Pay | $106,068 |
| Basic Pay (Academy Graduate band, set nationally) | $47,026 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (33.72% of Basic Pay for San Diego) | + $15,857 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $62,883 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (7.1% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $3,339 |
| = Total Pay | $66,222 |
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 (33.72% of Basic Pay for San Diego) | + $15,857 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $62,883 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (7.1% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $3,339 |
| = Total Pay | $66,222 |
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 | 14 CPCs |
| CPC Target (CWP) | 11 CPCs |
| Current Staffing | 127.27% |
|
Projected Staffing
Show componentsHide components
|
144.33% |
| ↳ Est. Trainee Certifications | + 3.4 |
| ↳ Committed Inbounds | + 1 |
| ↳ Committed Outbounds | - 1 |
| ↳ Placement List Outbounds | - 1 |
| ↳ Projected Retirements/Losses | - 0.4 |
|
Number of Trainees
Show breakdownHide breakdown
|
4 trainees |
| ↳ Academy Graduates | 3 |
| ↳ CPC-IT 0 (Transfer) | 1 |
| Training Information, August 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Training Time (Avg) | 0.76 years |
| ↳ New Hires | 0.87 years |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 0.51 years |
| Training Success Rate (Avg) | 85% |
| ↳ New Hires | 83% |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 91% |
| Travel Days from Academy | 3 days |
Historical Trends
SEE Staffing Percentages
SEE Personnel Counts
SEE Training Metrics
NCEPT
NCEPT manages controller-requested transfers between FAA facilities. See SEE transfer selections on the Transfer Flow Map.
| Eligibility & Staffing, August 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Staffing Source | Academy Sourced |
| TSL (One Training Time) | 88.27% |
| Gaining Target | 106.45% |
| Possible Gains | 0 |
| Primary Releases Avail. | 2 |
| Secondary Releases Avail. | 1 |
| Transfer Activity | |
|---|---|
| Releases, Past 3 Yrs | 11 |
| ↳ Standard | 11 |
| ↳ 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 | 228,449 operations/yr |
| Average Daily Operations | 626 operations/day |
| Peer Group Median (Lvl 7 Tower) |
180,577 operations/yr |
| Relative Workload | +26.5% vs peer median |