CFI pay...

[TEXAN AVIATOR]

I'm about two months away from my receiving my CFI certifications. Can anyone give me a general idea of how much money I will be making as a CFI? I'm sure I'll need a part time job waiting tables too, just wanted to get an idea.

Regards,
TA

 

[TEXAN AVIATOR]

NOT ENOUGH

Could you be more specific please?

 

[jumppilot03]

From what I have seen some places pay as little as $11 per hour, some as much as $30. I think it depends on the cost of living where you are going to be working, SoCal as opposed to Midland.

 

[Flic1]

Hope you don't have a car payment or rent. I only made $12/hr a few years ago(rates may be a little more now). I didn't break $10,000 instructing and have the tax record to show it. Did some other flying on the side which helped but made it a long day. Worked 7 days/week and was at the airport for about 14-15 hrs a day...

 

[328jetdriver]

Boy I'm glad those days are over. Don't get me wrong it was a fun job for the first year. Pay is very inconsistent, some days I spent 12-15 hours at the airport and got paid a mighty 1.4 hours. (making $16/hr). Now that sux. Paid my dues there, now I'm having fun at my new job. Well worth it. Good luck to you.

 

[MarineGrunt]

I'm pretty worried about it too. I have a CFI job starting in May and my pay is still under negotiation. I was doing some budgeting and I'll need at least 2k per month to survive (have a wife and son). There's NO WAY I will be able to get by without a second job.

I have seen some places pay up to 30k a year, but that was a while ago. I wish I could remember where it was!!!

 

[Northern Lights]

My first year of "full time" instruction I made a whopping $7700!

I had 4 other roommates at the time so living expenses were fairly low.

Good luck!

 

[generaltso]

I make $20/hr for flying and ground.

 

[TEXAN AVIATOR]

I make $20/hr for flying and ground.

Who employs you?

 

[COOPERVANE]

CFI Pay

I make $23/hr. for flight & ground time in the ATL area, and it may go up to $24-25 soon. The pay seems to be about the same all over this area. Students are billed $35/hr.
If I instruct in the owners plane I get the whole $35. We have a great owner of our flight school who is also an instructor himself. We all work 5-6 days a week and bill 70-80 hrs a month. I feel very fortunate to have a job, much less one that makes a little money.

If you have a hard time getting a job, then concentrate on aquiring some students first. Use flyers, set up a booth at the mall, make presentations to local business clubs etc..THEN go back to the FBO of your choice and negotiate for a job. If you show up on their doorstep with 6 or 7 students they WILL hire you!!

Good luck

 

[a-v-8er]

$12/hr for ground and flight in Florida. No pre/post flight briefings. If you freelance you can make much more per hour, but then you'll have a lot more to do looking for potential clients and arranging things on the side. At least I get students assigned to me since I work for a larger school which is nice in these times. Average income per month varies a lot, but on average I'd say $700-800. Some months closer to $1,000 and occasionally as low as $500. Be prepared to spend some days at the airport where you're at work for over 12 hours and still make next to nothing. Other days you might get a bit more lucky and almost make a living... It helps to have a second job, but that also means you'll only be able to fly part-time which might be the only thing available for CFI's right now anyways... Either way, good luck!

 

[B1900DFO]

25$ per hour flight and ground. I would recommend trying to get involved with a flight club or a small part 61 flight school. From what I've seen these types of operations let the instructors keep whatever they charge. The flip side is that you have to put in a couple months of hanging out at the flight school to get a healthy student load because you are usually running your own show. Also try not to give your ground instruction away for free, it's easy to do. Often the big, impressive FBO's pay little to instructors and require you to put in extra hours answering phones, etc. However they generally have a steady stream of motivated students and more in the way of multi-engine and high performance aircraft. Some even pay well. It's hit or miss. Good luck!

 

[Hovernut]

Made a paltry 14 grand for teaching one year at Comair Academy, which is a bit more than the average due to extra classroom instruction and special projects. Independant CFIs will definately make more, given the same hours!

 

[Flying Illini]

Independant CFI's will always make the most money. If you are affiliated with a flight school you will not make as much. At the Univ. of Illinois Institute of Aviation you make $23,000 a year. I am currenlty employed here and I have 2 other part time jobs. Being a CFI is even worse than being an teacher in a school. Don't have false hopes of being able to live luxuriously with that CFI certificate.

Good luck!

 

[weeks]

I've been reelin in 24 an hour. Made almost 30K last year in the Phoenix area.

 

[172driver]

Made a paltry 14 grand for teaching one year at Comair Academy, which is a bit more than the average due to extra classroom instruction and special projects. Independant CFIs will definately make more, given the same hours!

Jeez...can i get a loan? I'd say that's definitely about double the average. I made $7000 two years straight.

 

[Toy Soldier]

CFI pay

Everyone is right about "not making much" thru flight schools. I started freelancing right off the bat and charged $25/hr until I got some experience. I then went to $35/hr, flight or ground. I recently got my Master CFI designation thru NAFI and my ATP and now charge $45/hr, flight or ground.

Yes, you will have to find students, but I find doctors, lawyers, and other professionals that are financially able to train consistently and this helps keep bread on the table.

You will need to build a reputation, network, and DEFINITELY be selective with your student base if you want steady income. I do interview potential students and if I get a "feel" that they will be less than consistent, then I send them to the local flight schools! No offense......

There is a good book out there titled "The Savi CFI". It is a great book and will give you good ideas. You can also find a "niche" and specialize in that. I am personally getting away from primary students and doing BFR's, IPC's, and organized ground schools and seminars.

Like I said, I charge $45/hr flight AND ground and I am turning students away! Be professional, continue to learn and study, and charge what you think that your time, liability, and quality of instruction are worth. If someone doesn't want to pay for quality training, then I don't want them as a student.



I hope this helps. Good luck!

 

[Kaman]

Hello,
I make a $7.50/hr. base, and $18.00/hr for flight/ground instructing. The base covers the gounrd time I spend answering the phone, cleaning up around the place, assisting the mechanics, assorted line duties, etc...Basically, you name it, I do it! However, I am very fortunate to have a flying job and don't really mind my additional duties. The people that own/run the place are very familiy oriented too.


Regards,

ex-Navy Rotorhead

 

[LearLove]

It depends.....

For an hourly rate you looking at anywhere from 10 to say 25 an hour. This mostly depends on location. In the Northeast where I instruct part time the average is say 18 an hour. The rest will depend on how much you can work/fly. The good news is that you are comming into the good time of the year for instructing/GA flying with the spring right around the corrner and summer/fall to follow.

Yes you will most likely need a part time job. Try bartending or another nite job that gives you days weekends free. You will need weekends as this is when most working people sked the bulk of their lessions. As far a nights go you will only need 2 free nights a week to cover your students night flying needs. Another good night job is security guard stuff at like a corp office. Very laid back so you'll be rested for thoes 6 am flights.

Your best bet may be to get a deal like Kaman has where he get a small hourly wage for "being around" regular flight pay for CFIing.

Hope this helps. Good luck it will be the best time of your life, really.

 

[Goffer]

I get $17/hr. bumped up to $19hr. when I get the good old CFII.
Just got hierd, and have a very few stundent, but average about 24-30 hrs a week. will be much better next semester.