80knts

Hello all, I have been searching the forum for recent information about CFI salaries. I can't seem to find anything recent however, so I figured I would start this new thread to get some information and hopefully help others gather information about what pay will be like.

If you guys don't mind, would you be willing to post the hourly pay at your school for flight instructors? Also how many hours do most instructors average per month? I greatly appreciate any information you guys would like to share as well as advice for someone interested in becoming a CFI. Thanks!

Csy Mon

When I was teaching in 1981 it was $10.00 in Florida, small FBO, small country airport. In today's money $27.40.
What is the going rate today..?

StandEmUp

Large part 141 school- i'd say 2/3 foreign students. Not as bad to instruct as made to be IMPO, some pretty sharp individuals.
$13/hr part time CFI no "ii" - up to $25.75/hr if you have the criteria met to instruct CFI and have one on the schedule. Various pay levels in between in the high teens/low twenties range depending on certificates and experience. Decent salaried positions if you choose to stick around. Good Health/Vision/Dental once full time.

limited to 50 hours a week, 8 flight hours/day, 12 duty hours/day. Easily get 100 flight hours per month if you so choose. Short on instructors, with the restricted ATP CFI's last about 8 months-1 year after graduating; some are at a regional a month after graduation.

Tippy

I worked for a 141 community college was making in the $32/hr range, great medical/dental, however would only average about 50 hrs a month of flying.

geosync

I know of a couple of CFIs at a very busy part 61 flying club in California that have been doing quite well. Of course they have CFI, II, MEI, tailwheel, so they basically take all comers, 6 days a week. Their current rate is $55-60/hr at 50 hours a week, and they'll take maybe 2 weeks of vacation a year. So it's one HELL of a grind, but they're doing well. I know this is true because I've been threatening to get my CFI and have been checking their club schedule regularly for the past 2 years to see how well they're doing. I finally asked them about it and they said "yeah we're doing ok and we could use the help". And we're talking career instructors, people who love flying bugsmashers with some charter work here and there, they have no desire to go the airline route. Now, I do think this is an exception, not the norm, but with the right mix of factors- student flow, good airplanes, all your instructor ratings, you can do pretty well.

Yoda2

All very true, plus you can easily take some 3 day weekends here and there. Also true is that many of those students would not even consider the $20 or even $30 an hour instructor. Many of these students, accomplished and successful, figure you get what you pay for, hence your rate determining your worth in their view. Many students wonder why the rate isn't even higher. Typically these type students want and expect top notch instruction and are willing to pay for it. However anyone thinking of working with the type of client/student that pays these rates better be very good at what they do and make the students success a top priority. I would also caution that it would normally take a couple thousand hours of instruction, a Gold Seal CFI, and having built a superior reputation to think of attempting this. BTW, some of these instructors charge $100 an hour and don't have a great deal of difficulty getting it. This same deal applies to other pilot compensation as well. A friend just hired a pilot for her King Air. She got it down to two guys. One wanted $350 a day, the other wanted $450 a day plus expenses. She went with the higher... She said "If things start going bad, I want the 450 guy!"

hittman31

I know of a place in SoCal. $45/hr, steady flow of students, and great planes. The guy is my go to instructor and needs some instructors to work for him. Truly a great gig.

Flying Ninja

Don't settle for less than $40/hour.

PRS Guitars

Agreed...

And make sure you're paid the same rate for all ground time as well, brief/debrief, preflight supervision, ground school, etc.

I've been out of the game for 14 years, but was charging $40 to $50 per hour, handshake to handshake when I quit (KAPA in Denver). A C172 rented for well under $100/hrs wet then as well.