I'm about to finish up commercial single soon. I'm deciding if I should get my CFI now or when someone's actually hiring CFIs (save money now, fresh memory). Second, how does the CFI pay work? For example, I'm paying $35/ hour for my CFI. Does he keep the whole $35, or does the flight school decide how much the CFI keeps? Does he pay some kind of tax on the money?

Thanks,

Tony

 

Get the rating now while you're current and sharp, Tony. You don't know when or where someone is going to want to hire a CFI. If you ain't one, you won't be hired. Work in your multi and CFII as your budget (hah -a pilot following a budget - fat chance! ) allows.

If the student writes one check to the flight school, the school is going to keep some (or most) of the CFI charge. The instructor will either get a W-2 or 1099 depending on how he's employed there. It'd be taxable, plus FICA (or self-employment tax on the 1099).

 

When I was teaching, my flight school charged 45 an hour for instruction. We kept 25 of it. It worked out to about 21.50 per hour after taxes. Wasn't bad really since I did it part time, I could work 10 hours over the weekend and have enough beer money for the month and cover gas when it was 4.35 a gallon for super.

 

Different schools have different situations.
I instructed at a small mom and pop FBO and they charged $30 an hour and I got $12-$14.
Then I went to an academy type run by an airline and I got $15-$17.
In between those two jobs I freelanced and got $30-$40.
So it all depends, look carefully at the terms of employment you are offered and question what looks like B.S. to you.
Good luck.

 

Indeed it depends on where and how you work as a CFI.

When I was growing up through the ratings, the CFI I had for solo owned his airplanes and charged about $50/hr for a 10-hour block of time (C-150 rates back in the day, well, not that far back. His C172 was $75/hr for a 10-hour block I believe, but it broke so I settled with the C150).

After soloing in California during the summer, I continued my PVT at Benson, AZ where the FBO owned the aircraft and I paid my CFI and the aircraft seperately. I believe my CFI had to give $5/hr to the FBO for insurance, the rest he kept. I believe he charged me a total of $25/hr (he was an older gentleman who truly enjoyed fliying and wasn't looking to time build or make flying his sole source of revenue, he owned a gas station at the time.)

Then I continued my ratings at ERAU-PRC, where I now am CFI-ing. I am paid $16.08/hr of contact time plus $100 per two-week pay period to count for the time I spend working while not in contact with a student. $16.08 is starting pay for a CFI with less than 750hr dual given and at least a Bachelor's degree. Students currently pay the school $51/hr for me. However, if I gain at least 50 hours of contact time in a pay period, I get a 15% raise. For at least 60 hours of contact time in a pay period, I'll get a 25% raise. So, as long as I have students and can get them on the schedule, it works out to be not that bad of pay, especially whilest living with two other roommates. When I got my W-2's, considering the total amount of contact time for what I grossed, it came out to $20-21/hr before taxes.

 

Oh, and by the way, get that CFI! Had I not have done it, I'd be out of a job right now, or still working at Sears.

 

Get your CFI and go to a school where you want to teach and might have a chance on getting on with them, even if it is part time. When you go there tell them you want to work on your CFI-I. This will let them see and get to know you. This is a big help since most flight schools like to hire in house. Try to get on no matter what, even if it is part time, can always get a job bagging groceries to make the bills. This is what I did and after a few months of living on PB and Js I had enough students that I didnt need to work at the local grocery store.

Try to stand out when doing you CFI-I and be really knowledgeable so they will want to hire you even more.

 

I am going to have to agree that getting my CFI was the best thing I ever did. I got hired into a job where all I needed was a commercial single. However, I am now doing a side job of part time flight instructing making 100% of the flight instructor fee. Got to ride in a King Air C90 all weekend to get my 5 hours PIC then gave a flight check for someone. I'm living a frickin dream and I owe it all to getting my flight instructor certificates.

 

start working on your cfi now.

there will be more openings by the time you finish it.

get the double i shortly after.

 

we get paid???