SMO
Santa Monica Tower
FAA Control Tower Santa Monica, California
Facility Information
| Facility Overview | |
|---|---|
| Identifier | SMO |
| Facility Name | Santa Monica Tower |
| Airport Name | Santa Monica Muni |
| Type | Tower |
| Level | Level 5
Show historyHide history
• Prior to Aug 2016: Level 6
|
| 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 | 3300 Donald Douglas Loop N Santa Monica, CA 90405 |
| Phone Number | 310-398-1525 |
Salary Information
2026 pay for Santa Monica Tower, built from the FAA Air Traffic Specialized Pay Plan bands:
| Career Level | Hourly Min. | Hourly Max. | Total Pay Min. | Total Pay Max. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPC | $48.71 | $65.76 | $101,662 | $137,242 |
| D3 | $44.78 | $48.71 | $93,465 | $101,662 |
| AG | $33.00 | $33.00 | $68,879 | $68,879 |
| 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 | Los Angeles |
| Locality Pay | 36.47% |
| Controller Incentive Pay (CIP) | 10.00% |
| Local Affordability | |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living Index | 113.6 (13.6% above avg) |
| Cost-Adjusted CPC Min | $89,515 |
How this pay is calculated
| Basic Pay (Level 5 CPC band maximum) | $93,699 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (36.47% of Basic Pay for Los Angeles) | + $34,173 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $127,872 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (10% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $9,370 |
| = Total Pay | $137,242 |
| Basic Pay (Level 5 CPC band minimum) | $69,408 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (36.47% of Basic Pay for Los Angeles) | + $25,313 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $94,721 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (10% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $6,941 |
| = Total Pay | $101,662 |
| Basic Pay (Level 5 D3 band maximum) | $69,408 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (36.47% of Basic Pay for Los Angeles) | + $25,313 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $94,721 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (10% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $6,941 |
| = Total Pay | $101,662 |
| Basic Pay (Level 5 D3 band minimum) | $63,812 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (36.47% of Basic Pay for Los Angeles) | + $23,272 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $87,084 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (10% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $6,381 |
| = Total Pay | $93,465 |
| Basic Pay (Academy Graduate band, set nationally) | $47,026 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (36.47% of Basic Pay for Los Angeles) | + $17,150 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $64,176 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (10% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $4,703 |
| = Total Pay | $68,879 |
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 (36.47% of Basic Pay for Los Angeles) | + $17,150 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $64,176 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (10% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $4,703 |
| = Total Pay | $68,879 |
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 | 12 CPCs |
| CPC Target (CWP) | 11 CPCs |
| Current Staffing | 109.09% |
|
Projected Staffing
Show componentsHide components
|
132.98% |
| ↳ Est. Trainee Certifications | + 4.1 |
| ↳ Committed Outbounds | - 1 |
| ↳ Projected Retirements/Losses | - 0.5 |
|
Number of Trainees
Show breakdownHide breakdown
|
5 trainees |
| ↳ Academy Graduates | 1 |
| ↳ Developmental 3 | 3 |
| ↳ CPC-IT 3 (Transfer) | 1 |
| Training Information, July 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Training Time (Avg) | 1.03 years |
| ↳ New Hires | 1.16 years |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 0.38 years |
| Training Success Rate (Avg) | 82% |
| ↳ New Hires | 83% |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 89% |
| Travel Days from Academy | 3 days |
Historical Trends
SMO Staffing Percentages
SMO Personnel Counts
SMO Training Metrics
NCEPT
NCEPT manages controller-requested transfers between FAA facilities.
| Eligibility & Staffing, July 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Staffing Source | Academy Sourced |
| TSL (One Training Time) | 88.87% |
| Gaining Target | 107.05% |
| Possible Gains | 0 |
| Primary Releases Avail. | 1 |
| Secondary Releases Avail. | 0 |
| Transfer Activity | |
|---|---|
| Releases, Past 3 Yrs | 11 |
| ↳ Standard | 11 |
| ↳ Priority/Other | 0 |
| Gains, Past 3 Yrs | 0 |
| Last Standard Release | Recently |
| ERR Demand History | |
|---|---|
| Priority / Draft Order Mar 2026 |
#195 |
| Inbound ERRs on File Feb 2026 |
0 |
| Employees with Outbound ERRs Feb 2026 |
8 (57.1%) |
Demand Trends
NCEPT Priority
Traffic
| June 2025 - May 2026 (12 Months) | |
|---|---|
| Tower Operations | 100,505 operations/yr |
| Average Daily Operations | 275 operations/day |
| Peer Group Median (Lvl 5 Tower) |
81,594 operations/yr |
| Relative Workload | +23.2% vs peer median |