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???

 

[stupidwork]

I was just trying to offer some words of encouregment to a fellow CFI.
My company pays pretty well compard to most, but still not what I would say is fair compared to how hard i workded to get here.

PS. I was kidding when i said it had to be illegal.... quit being so serious.

 

[AAflyer]

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

Refuge Pilot,

You obviously have experience, and advanced certificates. Charge a premium. Market your experience and charge a premium. I charge $50 an hour for single engine and $60 an hour for multi-engine. Freelance. I also flat rate $35 an hour ground. I will not charge for briefs and de-briefs if the are less than 30 minutes.

I market my services toward the lawyer, doctor, and private aircraft owner clientele. I have had no problem finding business.

Good Luck,
AA

 

[RefugePilot]

Ready to give my 2 weeks

I had a flight school in New Orleans, guess what happened to it.

I was so busy with it I could not come into any multi time and I was hoping to get some here. But it would be a while before I will be in line for multi students. I am thinking its time to go back to waiting tables and teaching on the side. Much better money and schedule. I would really like to get some MEI time under my belt, but sick of sitting on the couch waiting for my turn. I really dont need any more single engine fixed gear time.

Lets see how the job search goes these days off.

 

[SBD]

My suggestion to you Refugee is to marry a sugar momma like I did. With what I'm getting paid ($10/hr) no one can survive without some other source of income. I feel like a real man when I bring home my $350 check, and the wife shows me her check for $1500. It's all good though, she knows that eventually it will get better.

 

[mddg3581]

Buffets always serious jk.. Stupid work I feel your pain. Quit whining cause you know you changed. Wheres that job you get paid hourly at? It could be worse right? My job pays well when the weathers good and the IFR is not a vitual ice box. I will agree with Buffet- beats the DCA pay. I love flight instructing but could deal without having to be at work when theres no possibility of it due to weather.

 

[mddg3581]

Had a check for 32$$$$$$$$ in a two week period. Had another for like 60$. At least the weather is breaking. I work with a great group of guys though which helps so overall Im happy putting in my dues. Hence the Ramen Noodle logo.

 

[fatdumbandhappy]

Had a check for 32$$$$$$$$ in a two week period. Had another for like 60$. At least the weather is breaking. I work with a great group of guys though which helps so overall Im happy putting in my dues. Hence the Ramen Noodle logo.

Dam, you can afford Ramen, I get my freeze dried noodles in black and white packaging labeled Noodles, and it doesn’t come with the packet of spice, LOL

 

[mddg3581]

Thankfully I actually like ramen noodles. Unthankfully I came to the realization last month that I qualified for gov aid. Not knocking people who get it though.

 

[RefugePilot]

My suggestion to you Refugee is to marry a sugar momma like I did. With what I'm getting paid ($10/hr) no one can survive without some other source of income. I feel like a real man when I bring home my $350 check, and the wife shows me her check for $1500. It's all good though, she knows that eventually it will get better.

My girlfriend (we live together) makes good money, and helps out, but we still struggle under the burden of trying to support my flying habit.

If I was flying the schools twin and making crap for pay it would be a different story. Flying a Tomahawk, or Warrior, is a waste of my time. The school has 4 other types of airplane I need to pay to get some time in before I can instruct in them. I even had to pay for 4 hours of Tomahawk to have the pleasure of teaching in it.

If I have to pay for flight time, I might as well enjoy it and do something fun with it. If I work part time in a restaurant I can pursue some freelance flight instruction on the side. Try to beg my way into a twin, then split some multi time with someone a few months from now if I can't figure out another way to get it in the mean time.

 

[SBD]

"The school has 4 other types of airplane I need to pay to get some time in before I can instruct in them."

What type of crap is that? I think that is bunch of bull to make someone pay for flight if they are going to instruct in that aircraft. At the part 61 school I instructed prior to $10/hr heaven, any aircraft you needed to instruct in you just did a quick checkout on the school's dime.