STS
Sonoma Tower
FAA Control Tower Santa Rosa, California
Facility Information
| Facility Overview | |
|---|---|
| Identifier | STS |
| Facility Name | Sonoma Tower |
| Airport Name | Charles M Schulz/Sonoma County |
| Type | Tower |
| Level | Level 5 |
| Core 30 Airport | No |
| Airspace & Operations | |
|---|---|
| Hours of Operation | 0700-2000 |
| Airspace Class | Class D |
| Approach/Departure | ZOA |
| Overlying ARTCC | ZOA |
| Airport Diagram | Airport Diagram (PDF) |
| Location & Contact | |
|---|---|
| View on full map → | |
| Address | 2245 Airport Blvd Santa Rosa, CA 95403 |
| Phone Number | 707-546-4294 |
Salary Information
2026 pay for Sonoma Tower, built from the FAA Air Traffic Specialized Pay Plan bands:
| Career Level | Hourly Min. | Hourly Max. | Total Pay Min. | Total Pay Max. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPC | $51.99 | $70.19 | $108,513 | $146,490 |
| D3 | $47.80 | $51.99 | $99,763 | $108,513 |
| AG | $35.23 | $35.23 | $73,521 | $73,521 |
| 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 | San Francisco |
| Locality Pay | 46.34% |
| Controller Incentive Pay (CIP) | 10.00% |
| Local Affordability | |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living Index | 107.8 (7.8% above avg) |
| Cost-Adjusted CPC Min | $100,680 |
How this pay is calculated
| Basic Pay (Level 5 CPC band maximum) | $93,699 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (46.34% of Basic Pay for San Francisco) | + $43,421 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $137,120 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (10% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $9,370 |
| = Total Pay | $146,490 |
| Basic Pay (Level 5 CPC band minimum) | $69,408 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (46.34% of Basic Pay for San Francisco) | + $32,164 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $101,572 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (10% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $6,941 |
| = Total Pay | $108,513 |
| Basic Pay (Level 5 D3 band maximum) | $69,408 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (46.34% of Basic Pay for San Francisco) | + $32,164 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $101,572 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (10% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $6,941 |
| = Total Pay | $108,513 |
| Basic Pay (Level 5 D3 band minimum) | $63,812 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (46.34% of Basic Pay for San Francisco) | + $29,570 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $93,382 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (10% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $6,381 |
| = Total Pay | $99,763 |
| Basic Pay (Academy Graduate band, set nationally) | $47,026 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (46.34% of Basic Pay for San Francisco) | + $21,792 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $68,818 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (10% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $4,703 |
| = Total Pay | $73,521 |
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 (46.34% of Basic Pay for San Francisco) | + $21,792 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $68,818 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (10% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $4,703 |
| = Total Pay | $73,521 |
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 | 5 CPCs |
| CPC Target (CWP) | 11 CPCs |
| Current Staffing | 45.45% |
|
Projected Staffing
Show componentsHide components
|
83.04% |
| ↳ Est. Trainee Certifications | + 4.4 |
| ↳ Projected Retirements/Losses | - 0.2 |
|
Number of Trainees
Show breakdownHide breakdown
|
7 trainees |
| ↳ Academy Graduates | 5 |
| ↳ Developmental 3 | 2 |
| Training Information, July 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Training Time (Avg) | 1.03 years |
| ↳ New Hires | 1.17 years |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 0.38 years |
| Training Success Rate (Avg) | 63% |
| ↳ New Hires | 59% |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 89% |
| Travel Days from Academy | 4 days |
Historical Trends
STS Staffing Percentages
STS Personnel Counts
STS 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 | 5 |
| Primary Releases Avail. | 0 |
| Secondary Releases Avail. | 0 |
| Transfer Activity | |
|---|---|
| Releases, Past 3 Yrs | 2 |
| ↳ Standard | 2 |
| ↳ Priority/Other | 0 |
| Gains, Past 3 Yrs | 0 |
| Last Standard Release | 1.8 years ago |
| ERR Demand History | |
|---|---|
| Priority / Draft Order Mar 2026 |
#57 |
| Inbound ERRs on File Feb 2026 |
1 |
| Employees with Outbound ERRs Feb 2026 |
1 (16.7%) |
Demand Trends
NCEPT Priority
Traffic
| June 2025 - May 2026 (12 Months) | |
|---|---|
| Tower Operations | 78,979 operations/yr |
| Average Daily Operations | 216 operations/day |
| Peer Group Median (Lvl 5 Tower) |
81,594 operations/yr |
| Relative Workload | -3.2% vs peer median |