ZLA
Los Angeles ARTCC
FAA En Route Air Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) Palmdale, California
Facility Information
| Facility Overview | |
|---|---|
| Identifier | ZLA |
| Facility Name | Los Angeles ARTCC |
| Type | En Route Center |
| Level | Level 12 |
| Airspace & Operations | |
|---|---|
| Hours of Operation | 0000-2359 (always open) |
| Towers Under This Center | LAS, LAX, MYF, SNA, VNY, LGB, CNO, SAN, SBA, SEE, VGT, BFL, CMA, CRQ, BUR, POC, RAL, ONT, OXR, RNM, EMT, WHP, SMO, TOA, FUL, SDM, SBP, SBD, HND, WJF, PSP, HHR, GCN, SMX, PMD, VCV, IFP Show all 37Show fewer |
| Surface Area | |
| Location & Contact | |
|---|---|
| View on full map → ARTCC boundaries → | |
| Address | 2555 E Ave P Palmdale, CA 93550 |
| Phone Number | 510-745-3000 |
Salary Information
2026 pay for Los Angeles ARTCC, built from the FAA Air Traffic Specialized Pay Plan bands:
| Career Level | Hourly Min. | Hourly Max. | Total Pay Min. | Total Pay Max. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPC | $86.00 | $109.25 | $179,477 | $228,000 |
| D3 | $72.19 | $86.00 | $150,652 | $179,477 |
| D2 | $58.38 | $72.19 | $121,831 | $150,652 |
| D1 | $44.56 | $58.38 | $93,002 | $121,831 |
| AG | $30.75 | $30.75 | $64,176 | $64,176 |
| Total Pay combines Basic Pay, Locality Pay. It excludes premium pay for overtime, nights, Sundays, and holidays. | ||||
| Pay Factors | |
|---|---|
| Facility Level | Level 12 |
| Locality Area | Los Angeles |
| Locality Pay | 36.47% |
| Local Affordability | |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living Index | 113.6 (13.6% above avg) |
| Cost-Adjusted CPC Min | $158,032 |
How this pay is calculated
| Basic Pay (Level 12 CPC band maximum) | $177,543 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (36.47% of Basic Pay for Los Angeles) | + $64,750 |
| − Statutory pay cap (Basic + Locality cannot exceed $228,000) | − $14,293 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $228,000 |
| = Total Pay | $228,000 |
| Basic Pay (Level 12 CPC band minimum) | $131,514 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (36.47% of Basic Pay for Los Angeles) | + $47,963 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $179,477 |
| = Total Pay | $179,477 |
| Basic Pay (Level 12 D3 band maximum) | $131,514 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (36.47% of Basic Pay for Los Angeles) | + $47,963 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $179,477 |
| = Total Pay | $179,477 |
| Basic Pay (Level 12 D3 band minimum) | $110,392 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (36.47% of Basic Pay for Los Angeles) | + $40,260 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $150,652 |
| = Total Pay | $150,652 |
| Basic Pay (Level 12 D2 band maximum) | $110,392 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (36.47% of Basic Pay for Los Angeles) | + $40,260 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $150,652 |
| = Total Pay | $150,652 |
| Basic Pay (Level 12 D2 band minimum) | $89,273 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (36.47% of Basic Pay for Los Angeles) | + $32,558 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $121,831 |
| = Total Pay | $121,831 |
| Basic Pay (Level 12 D1 band maximum) | $89,273 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (36.47% of Basic Pay for Los Angeles) | + $32,558 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $121,831 |
| = Total Pay | $121,831 |
| Basic Pay (Level 12 D1 band minimum) | $68,149 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (36.47% of Basic Pay for Los Angeles) | + $24,853 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $93,002 |
| = Total Pay | $93,002 |
| 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 |
| = Total Pay | $64,176 |
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 |
| = Total Pay | $64,176 |
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.
ATC pay has stalled over the past decade. Marangos & Brown are on a mission to increase pay.
Staffing and Training
| Staffing Information, September 2026 | |
|---|---|
| CPCs on Board | 207 CPCs |
| CPC Target (CWP) | 268 CPCs |
| Current Staffing | 75.37% |
|
Projected Staffing
Show componentsHide components
|
85.26% |
| ↳ Est. Trainee Certifications | + 62.6 |
| ↳ Committed Outbounds | - 1 |
| ↳ Placement List Outbounds | - 1 |
| ↳ Projected Retirements/Losses | - 34.1 |
|
Number of Trainees
Show breakdownHide breakdown
|
91 trainees |
| ↳ Academy Graduates | 40 |
| ↳ Developmental 1 | 13 |
| ↳ Developmental 2 | 20 |
| ↳ Developmental 3 | 16 |
| ↳ CPC-IT 2 (Transfer) | 1 |
| ↳ CPC-IT 3 (Transfer) | 1 |
| Training Information, September 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Training Time (Avg) | 3.03 years |
| ↳ New Hires | 3.14 years |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 2.58 years |
| Training Success Rate (Avg) | 69% |
| ↳ New Hires | 72% |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 57% |
| Travel Days from Academy | 3 days |
Historical Trends
ZLA Staffing Percentages
ZLA Personnel Counts
ZLA Training Metrics
NCEPT
NCEPT manages controller-requested transfers between FAA facilities. See ZLA transfer selections on the Transfer Flow Map.
| Eligibility & Staffing, September 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Staffing Source | Academy Sourced |
| TSL (One Training Time) | 95.82% |
| Gaining Target | 100.82% |
| Possible Gains | 61 |
| Primary Releases Avail. | 0 |
| Secondary Releases Avail. | 0 |
| Secondary (ER to ER) | 0 |
| Transfer Activity | |
|---|---|
| Releases, Past 3 Yrs | 8 |
| ↳ Standard | 1 |
| ↳ Priority/Other | 7 |
| Gains, Past 3 Yrs | 0 |
| Last Standard Release | 0.1 years ago |
Selections by Year, 2016–2026
Demand Trends
NCEPT Priority
Traffic
| August 2025 - July 2026 (12 Months) | |
|---|---|
| En Route Aircraft | 2,503,756 aircraft/yr |
| Average Daily Aircraft | 6,860 aircraft/day |
| Peer Group Median (Lvl 12 Center) |
2,475,199 aircraft/yr |
| Relative Workload | +1.2% vs peer median |