Career Flight Instructor Yearly Pay

[superjet]

I was just wondering if anybody would care to share what a seasoned CFI,CFII,MEI might make in an average year. I am thinking about going that route. I have wondered what these really busy career instructors are making.

 

[BLing]

Even if you did make enough money to survive, you would have to work so hard that you would burn out in a hurry. I have had 8 days off (Thanks to Thanksgiving and Christmas) in the 3 months that I have been teaching. I make almost as much as a first year FO at a regional. I am telling you, it ist worth making it your fulltime job. My average day at the airport is about 12 hrs. I am only putting up with this to go to an airline soon. Being a CFI is great, but to survive doing it, you have to let it dictate your life. I dont suggest that. Do something else and teach on a part time basis for fun and as a small but extra source of income. Maybe there are some great flight schools out there that pay well and let you work like a normal human being. I just dont know of any.

 

[Pilot Doc]

How many hours a year do you think you can instruct?
How much do you think you can charge?

Work 5 days a week, 50 weeks a year, 4 hrs a day = 1000 hrs/year
$50/hr as an independent instructor = $50k/yr.

With no benefits and the extra 7.65% self-employed FICA tax, that's probably equivalent to $40K/yr as an employee.

 

[Lead Sled]

How many hours a year do you think you can instruct?
How much do you think you can charge?

Work 5 days a week, 50 weeks a year, 4 hrs a day = 1000 hrs/year
$50/hr as an independent instructor = $50k/yr.

With no benefits and the extra 7.65% self-employed FICA tax, that's probably equivalent to $40K/yr as an employee.

There are ways around this. Superjet has (according to his information) over 10K hours. I'd recommend that you investgate career opportunities at the various training centers like FlightSafety.

'Sled

 

[weekendwarrior]

How many hours a year do you think you can instruct?
How much do you think you can charge?

Work 5 days a week, 50 weeks a year, 4 hrs a day = 1000 hrs/year
$50/hr as an independent instructor = $50k/yr.

With no benefits and the extra 7.65% self-employed FICA tax, that's probably equivalent to $40K/yr as an employee.

If someone has ever made $50K/year as a flight instructor, I'd like to shake their hand. It just doesn't happen that way. You don't always get 4 hours/day (especially if you are independant). Working for a flight school is the easiest way to get the hours, but the pay will be lower. Since it usually is not a career choice for someone, the lower pay isn't that big of a deal if you eat PB n J sandwiches for 8 mos to a year.

 

[ChiFlyer]

If I were to go in that direction I would want to be in a Part 141 program in a university setting. I don't have too much experience with instructing in part 61 yet but after training at a university I've seen from others that it's much easier to make a "living" that also include benefits and job security.

 

[falcon20driver]

Used to be a school in Goodyear AZ that taught Germans how to fly using Bonanzas, I think they paid there career CFIs well.

 

[WhiteCloud]

There's a reason why the ranks of active CFI's are filled with young people or those fairly new to aviation or part timers who have other jobs or retirees. In general it's not a viable way to earn a full time living. Exceptions are the salaried employees (not self employed contractors) at large 141 schools or universities. Why not give it a try though. It might take a few years of experience to get into a full time salaried position. Just don't get stuck in a low paid contractor situation and call it a "career".

 

[Pilot Doc]

If someone has ever made $50K/year as a flight instructor, I'd like to shake their hand. It just doesn't happen that way. You don't always get 4 hours/day (especially if you are independant).

I agree. I meant my example to show a 99th to 99.5th percentile job that still has an unattractive salary. I suspect there are some people who have pulled this off - but you need a year-round niche serving a national base of price-insensitive clients. I bet the guy who runs the warbird school in NM does OK. But I do have a hard time imagining anyone being able to make a living as an instructor without acquiring special skills/connections in another job first.

 

[Caveman]

"Exceptions are the salaried employees (not self employed contractors) at large 141 schools or universities."

I was fortunate enough to land one of these jobs at a small 141 school. It paid about the same as a 5th year RJ Captain.

 

[zafpak]

Is there anyone who involes in Operations Controllers refresher training instructions ?

 

[11thHour]

A local college here pays its full time instructors 25k a year, not bad for an instructor as the other places will net you about 9k a year busting yer a$$. Problem is there's quite a list waiting to be hired there. Definitely check out the university flight schools.

 

[EDUC8-or]

Before the airline gig I taught 4th grade and did some CFI stuff on the side. Some of my customers lived at Spruce Creek in Daytona and they would pay me 50 bucks an hour to teach in their airplane and they would pay for my checkouts as well. I would bust my buttocks all summer and make about $1000 bucks a week at Spruce Creek and I pulled in $35 an hour at my flight school as a check airman. I was fortunate to have the salary and health bennies from teaching kids to be patient and wait for some $$ before jumping on just any ol' CFI gig. Some of my buddies worked at some other FBO's/141 schools in Daytona and made about 10 bucks an hour and didn't have a whole lot of students.

As you work your way up the flight school food chain you'll make a name for yourself and make more $$.

 

[Panda]

I know a former Navy Pilot who now makes a living instructing in turbine aircraft for owner/operators; typical aircraft such as the King Air, etc. The gist of the job is something akin to what a course of instruction a Flight Safety or a Panam Academy would offer for insurance purposes. He, however, works independently and has a strong working relationship with the aircraft insurance companies.

I bet that he is earning in excess of $75k per year. Something to think about. Best of luck.

 

[aviator1978]

Before you quit your current job, try working pt as a free-lance instructor. Build up a base. Go to the local GA airports, put up a flyer, and talk to various flying clubs and fractional owners. I know a few free-lance instructors that get $50-75/hour in bonanza's, baron's, and other HP aircraft. The owners of these planes do not want instructors with 200 dual in 172's. They are willing to pay for your experience. The work is few and far between, but establish a good name, and others will be calling.

good luck

 

[satpak77]

Before you quit your current job, try working pt as a free-lance instructor. Build up a base. Go to the local GA airports, put up a flyer, and talk to various flying clubs and fractional owners. I know a few free-lance instructors that get $50-75/hour in bonanza's, baron's, and other HP aircraft. The owners of these planes do not want instructors with 200 dual in 172's. They are willing to pay for your experience. The work is few and far between, but establish a good name, and others will be calling.

good luck

I second that....I used to know a 50ish year old guy, ex military, flew commuters, ATP/CFII, blah blah blah, who did contract pilot services around Austin and San Antonio area back in early 90's and I think he was pulling in like 60-70K a year. He would PIC Barons and Golden Eagles every few days, and ride copilot on local King Airs and Citations. He worked via cell-phone and worked when he wanted to, declining trips when he didnt feel like flying

The local law firm who owns a P-Baron does not want 22 year old peach fuzz CFI flying it around, nor does the insurance company. They WILL pay decent bucks to get a insurable, experienced pilot on a day to day, contract basis. Same law firm may NOT have the capability to hire a full time salaried pilot....

in any business, if you provide what the customer wants, and you build a niche, you will do well