TCM
McChord Fld (Joint Base Lewis-McChord)
Air Force ATCT Tacoma, Washington
Facility Information
| Facility Overview | |
|---|---|
| Identifier | TCM |
| Facility Name | McChord Fld (Joint Base Lewis-McChord) |
| Type | ATCT |
| Military Branch | Air Force |
| Tower Operated By | U.S. Air Force (62d OSS) Military & DoD civilian controllers |
| Airspace & Operations | |
|---|---|
| Hours of Operation | 24 |
| Airspace Class | Class D |
| Approach/Departure | S46 |
| Overlying ARTCC | ZSE |
| Airport Diagram | Airport Diagram (PDF) |
| Location & Contact | |
|---|---|
| View on full map → | |
| Location | Tacoma, WA |
| Cost of Living Index | 111.1 (11.1% above avg) |
Controller Pay
| DoD Civilian Pay (GS-2152) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 10 |
| GS-9 | $71,181 | $92,541 |
| GS-10 hired here | $78,386 | $101,897 |
| GS-11 hired here | $86,123 | $111,966 |
| GS-12 | $103,225 | $134,195 |
| GS-13 | $122,749 | $159,575 |
Official federal pay rates for this location (OPM, January 2026). New hires usually start at the lower grades.
| Military Controller Pay | ||
|---|---|---|
| Grade | Years of Service | Monthly Basic Pay |
| E-3 | over 2 yrs | $3,015 |
| E-4 | over 3 yrs | $3,482 |
| E-5 | over 6 yrs | $4,110 |
| E-6 | over 10 yrs | $4,760 |
| E-7 | over 14 yrs | $5,835 |
Plus tax-free housing and food allowances; some ATC assignments add $75–$450/mo special duty pay.