TUS
Tucson Tower
FAA Control Tower Tucson, Arizona
Facility Information
| Facility Overview | |
|---|---|
| Identifier | TUS |
| Facility Name | Tucson Tower |
| Airport Name | Tucson Intl |
| Type | Tower |
| Level | Level 6
Show historyHide history
• Prior to Apr 2020: Level 7
|
| Core 30 Airport | No |
| Airspace & Operations | |
|---|---|
| Hours of Operation | 0000-2359 (always open) |
| Airspace Class | Class C |
| Approach/Departure | U90 |
| Overlying ARTCC | ZAB |
| Airport Diagram | Airport Diagram (PDF) |
| Location & Contact | |
|---|---|
| View on full map → | |
| Address | 1870 E Aero Park Blvd Tucson, AZ 85756 |
| Phone Number | 520-670-5810 |
Salary Information
2026 pay for Tucson Tower, built from the FAA Air Traffic Specialized Pay Plan bands:
| Career Level | Hourly Min. | Hourly Max. | Total Pay Min. | Total Pay Max. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPC | $44.46 | $60.02 | $92,790 | $125,263 |
| D3 | $40.16 | $44.46 | $83,816 | $92,790 |
| AG | $27.26 | $27.26 | $56,891 | $56,891 |
| Total Pay combines Basic Pay, Locality Pay, and the additions listed under Pay Factors, including this facility's 1.7% Controller Incentive Pay (how CIP works). It excludes premium pay for overtime, nights, Sundays, and holidays. | ||||
| Pay Factors | |
|---|---|
| Facility Level | Level 6 |
| Locality Area | Tucson |
| Locality Pay | 19.28% |
| Controller Incentive Pay (CIP) | 1.70% |
| Local Affordability | |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living Index | 96.9 (3.1% below avg) |
| Cost-Adjusted CPC Min | $95,758 |
How this pay is calculated
| Basic Pay (Level 6 CPC band maximum) | $103,541 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (19.28% of Basic Pay for Tucson) | + $19,962 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $123,503 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (1.7% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $1,760 |
| = Total Pay | $125,263 |
| Basic Pay (Level 6 CPC band minimum) | $76,699 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (19.28% of Basic Pay for Tucson) | + $14,787 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $91,486 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (1.7% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $1,304 |
| = Total Pay | $92,790 |
| Basic Pay (Level 6 D3 band maximum) | $76,699 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (19.28% of Basic Pay for Tucson) | + $14,787 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $91,486 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (1.7% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $1,304 |
| = Total Pay | $92,790 |
| Basic Pay (Level 6 D3 band minimum) | $69,281 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (19.28% of Basic Pay for Tucson) | + $13,357 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $82,638 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (1.7% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $1,178 |
| = Total Pay | $83,816 |
| Basic Pay (Academy Graduate band, set nationally) | $47,026 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (19.28% of Basic Pay for Tucson) | + $9,066 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $56,092 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (1.7% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $799 |
| = Total Pay | $56,891 |
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 (19.28% of Basic Pay for Tucson) | + $9,066 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $56,092 |
| + Controller Incentive Pay (1.7% of Basic Pay, not of the locality-adjusted figure) | + $799 |
| = Total Pay | $56,891 |
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 | 15 CPCs |
| CPC Target (CWP) | 15 CPCs |
| Current Staffing | 100.00% |
|
Projected Staffing
Show componentsHide components
|
134.60% |
| ↳ Est. Trainee Certifications | + 5.2 |
| ↳ Committed Inbounds | + 1 |
| ↳ Projected Retirements/Losses | - 0.8 |
|
Number of Trainees
Show breakdownHide breakdown
|
7 trainees |
| ↳ Academy Graduates | 5 |
| ↳ Developmental 3 | 1 |
| ↳ CPC-IT 0 (Transfer) | 1 |
| Training Information, August 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Training Time (Avg) | 1.27 years |
| ↳ New Hires | 1.6 years |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 0.65 years |
| Training Success Rate (Avg) | 74% |
| ↳ New Hires | 70% |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 85% |
| Travel Days from Academy | 2 days |
Historical Trends
TUS Staffing Percentages
TUS Personnel Counts
TUS Training Metrics
NCEPT
NCEPT manages controller-requested transfers between FAA facilities. See TUS transfer selections on the Transfer Flow Map.
| Eligibility & Staffing, August 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Staffing Source | Academy Sourced |
| TSL (One Training Time) | 89.90% |
| Gaining Target | 103.24% |
| Possible Gains | 0 |
| Primary Releases Avail. | 1 |
| Secondary Releases Avail. | 0 |
| Transfer Activity | |
|---|---|
| Releases, Past 3 Yrs | 3 |
| ↳ Standard | 2 |
| ↳ Priority/Other | 1 |
| Gains, Past 3 Yrs | 2 |
| Last Standard Release | 10 days ago |
Selections by Year, 2016–2026
Demand Trends
NCEPT Priority
Traffic
| July 2025 - June 2026 (12 Months) | |
|---|---|
| Tower Operations | 130,155 operations/yr |
| Average Daily Operations | 357 operations/day |
| Peer Group Median (Lvl 6 Tower) |
139,448 operations/yr |
| Relative Workload | -6.7% vs peer median |