CFI pay

[RefugePilot]

How do they get around paying CFIs so little?

My last pay check was for less than $400 for 2 weeks. The arrangement at the flight school I work at is: You have to work full time, which means at least five 8+ hour/days a week. For this we are paid $200/mo. On top of that we are paid hourly, for whatever time we fly.

I know the routine, you pay your dues and you may get the good students and other perks for putting up with the abuse, then move on as soon as you can. Is there a loophole that allows flight schools legally to pay their employess less than minimum wage? Someone mentioned "professional status", like doctors during residency being paid $24k and expected to work 80 hours a week. If I could make $24k it would not be so bad, I wont make half that at this pace.

Is there a legal loophole that allows this indentured servitude or is it just a matter of putting up with it to get your time?

Thanks for letting me rant

 

[stupidwork]

Your not alone... It has to be ilegal, but I dont think any one wants to risk there career on trying to find out if it is. I Think this has to be one of the main topics of conversation in CFI crew rooms around the country.

SUMMER IS COMING SOON!!!!!

 

[greygoose]

How do they get around paying CFIs so little?

My last pay check was for less than $400 for 2 weeks. The arrangement at the flight school I work at is: You have to work full time, which means at least five 8+ hour/days a week. For this we are paid $200/mo. On top of that we are paid hourly, for whatever time we fly.

I know the routine, you pay your dues and you may get the good students and other perks for putting up with the abuse, then move on as soon as you can. Is there a loophole that allows flight schools legally to pay their employess less than minimum wage? Someone mentioned "professional status", like doctors during residency being paid $24k and expected to work 80 hours a week. If I could make $24k it would not be so bad, I wont make half that at this pace.

Is there a legal loophole that allows this indentured servitude or is it just a matter of putting up with it to get your time?

Thanks for letting me rant

Just wait until you give in and go fly for a regional.

 

[stupidwork]

quote=buffettck]It's not illegal. You knew the terms up front and voluntarily agreed or entered into a contract to instruct. Is anyone held at gun point to instruct? Either you grit it out or walk away tomorrow...

As for the other poster that gets paid $200/month AFTER the hourly instruction rate... Be VERY appreciative of that. Try going to a school, like DCA... Ya get nutin' aside from the horrible $10/hr.

The reason for the crap CFI pay is simply because there are too many CFI's out there. Too many people willing to instruct for a sorry ass wage to get to an airline that pays a sorry ass wage. These flight schools are simply pumping out too much product for the available jobs... Supply versus demand. Basic economics.[/quote]

I knew what i signed up for ...I love my job.....but that dosn't mean I have to like what I get paid. Dont be such an A$$. Sounds like you need to grit it out or walk away.

 

[gkrangers]

Just look around till you find something decent...but make sure you take how much work you get into account.

I'll make 19/hr this summer, but I'm not expecting much work being a fresh CFI and it being a small flight school. But atleast there is no desk work or answering phones requires of me, which is nice...theres a few good places out there to work.

 

[Steve]

Just look around till you find something decent...but make sure you take how much work you get into account.

I'll make 19/hr this summer, but I'm not expecting much work being a fresh CFI and it being a small flight school. But atleast there is no desk work or answering phones requires of me, which is nice...theres a few good places out there to work.

will you be at 47N this summer? you can pm me.

 

[fatdumbandhappy]

How do they get around paying CFIs so little?

My last pay check was for less than $400 for 2 weeks. The arrangement at the flight school I work at is: You have to work full time, which means at least five 8+ hour/days a week. For this we are paid $200/mo. On top of that we are paid hourly, for whatever time we fly.

I know the routine, you pay your dues and you may get the good students and other perks for putting up with the abuse, then move on as soon as you can. Is there a loophole that allows flight schools legally to pay their employess less than minimum wage? Someone mentioned "professional status", like doctors during residency being paid $24k and expected to work 80 hours a week. If I could make $24k it would not be so bad, I wont make half that at this pace.

Is there a legal loophole that allows this indentured servitude or is it just a matter of putting up with it to get your time?

Thanks for letting me rant

With 1700tt there are some good salaried CFI positions out there, try IFTA in Bakersfield CA., I think they are hiring, with your tt why don't you go cargo if you find the right place you'll make more than 400/twoweeks.
best of luck

 

[drinkduff77]

Yeah, why are you still teaching if you have 1700 hrs? Unless you want to make a career out of instructing, go apply at airnet or something and make $1300/2 weeks.

-'duff

 

[labbats]

How do they get around paying CFIs so little?

My last pay check was for less than $400 for 2 weeks. The arrangement at the flight school I work at is: You have to work full time, which means at least five 8+ hour/days a week. For this we are paid $200/mo. On top of that we are paid hourly, for whatever time we fly.

I know the routine, you pay your dues and you may get the good students and other perks for putting up with the abuse, then move on as soon as you can. Is there a loophole that allows flight schools legally to pay their employess less than minimum wage? Someone mentioned "professional status", like doctors during residency being paid $24k and expected to work 80 hours a week. If I could make $24k it would not be so bad, I wont make half that at this pace.

Is there a legal loophole that allows this indentured servitude or is it just a matter of putting up with it to get your time?

Thanks for letting me rant

This place isn't run by a guy named Ralph is it? I think I know where you are. If so, leave. You won't miss it.

I've had old students and friends move on to different types of CFI jobs, and there are some really good ones out there. But if you're in the northern half of the US, it seems to be lousy. Yet, in California, Arizona and Florida I know of some CFIs that won't even put in applications to the regionals because of the 50% pay cut they'd have to endure.

 

[pgcfii2002]

Much like the regionals, flight instructing is just a stepping stone and therefore will offer pathetically low wages. How else are you going to get 1500TT???