Average flight instructor pay

mojo6911 said:
The boss also has to pay the bills and it may or may not be profitable.
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Exactly.

I'm fairly close to the owner of my flight school and when he told me what he pays on insurance on just a single aircraft (of the many in his fleet, maybe 8 or 10) I was astounded (hint, it's over 3000 a month for a single engine simple)

the lease for the building isn't free. tiedown isn't free, in fact: Nothing is free.

They have to make money somehow.
 
elmetal said:
(hint, it's over 3000 a month for a single engine simple)
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3,000 * 12...36,000 a year for one plane? What is it, a 737? :)

Apologies for the crack, but it sounds like he is either getting ripped off or lying to you. Now, 3,000 quarterly, or 12,000 a year; that might be what he/you ment? At least that is around the range I've been quoted for tailwheel singles (except I was looking at a no rental policies, just instruction). Still seems steep for the typical 172, depending on the hull value though.
 
shdw said:
3,000 * 12...36,000 a year for one plane? What is it, a 737? :)

Apologies for the crack, but it sounds like he is either getting ripped off or lying to you. Now, 3,000 quarterly, or 12,000 a year; that might be what he/you ment? At least that is around the range I've been quoted for tailwheel singles (except I was looking at a no rental policies, just instruction). Still seems steep for the typical 172, depending on the hull value though.
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It might be quarterly, but I know he insures hull value in full and it's a training aircraft which definitely gets higher insurance premiums.

It may be quarterly, but it's definitely a heck of a lot more than it would cost to insure one just for personal use

(Also most of the planes in that fleet are $90k+ hull so that's a factor)


either way, having a place to rent a plane and instructors and everything isn't free, that's why the instructor rate doesn't all go to the instructor.
 
Now, 3,000 quarterly, or 12,000 a year; that might be what he/you ment? At least that is around the range I've been quoted for tailwheel singles (except I was looking at a no rental policies, just instruction). Still seems steep for the typical 172, depending on the hull value though.
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What tailwheel singles where you looking at? I got a quote for a citabra and a champ for dual instruction only and no rental. The citabra was like $5500 a year. The champ was just over $3000 a year. Pretty steep still when you consider the fact I was qutoed $800 for the champ just as a personal airplane. I never went through with buying one but I was seriously considering it at one time.
 
Right now - $36

I get paid directly so I keep $36. If the student pays through the school, I get $32. Something about having to hold for taxes or something. I have yet to have a student pay through the school, so I don't really know.

In years past at different schools it was $35/$25, $35/$22, and at DWC $ whole lot (i think it was like $60ish)/ $11.50 (ouch)
 
Grabo172 said:
Right now - $36

I get paid directly so I keep $36. If the student pays through the school, I get $32. Something about having to hold for taxes or something. I have yet to have a student pay through the school, so I don't really know.

In years past at different schools it was $35/$25, $35/$22, and at DWC $ whole lot (i think it was like $60ish)/ $11.50 (ouch)
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Geez I wish instructor rates were so low over here (and I wish the instructor got that much out of it as well!) I think around here it's something like 45/20 or 45/25
 
montanapilot said:
Hey CFI's just wanted to do a little survey around the US about pay.

What does your school charge the students? and what goes in your pocket?


Thanks
Kelly
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Students-42
Instructors-14-18 depending on hours billed
Senior Instructors-20/hr no matter hours billed
 
ATN_Pilot said:
Does anyone mind posting actual rates? I'm a bit curious to compare to what I used to make. Ten years ago, I made only $12/hr. I'm hoping it's come up a bit.
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As an employee at a school $18-$25 with the schools typically charging students $50-$75 for my services. As an independent, I was charging $10-$20 with airplane privileges for F&F, or $80-$125 for everyone else. After about the first three years of teaching my student distribution shifted from almost all airline kiddies at schools with 172s and BE76s to almost all my own students in over 100 types of airplanes. Most days, and every year, I was maxing out flight time. Was the best flying income I ever earned. Currently schools in my area (a very different demo from where I used to teach) are charging $35-$50 with the instructors making $18-$22.
 
KL1781 said:
$20/hr. school charges $50/hr. Being a cfi is not profitable. Being the boss...
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You gotta remember, however, the boss has YOU to deal with along with overhead, insurance, busted airplanes, insurance, the FAA, marketing and advertising to find students, maintenance, fees, taxes, other guys like YOU, and insurance. ;) Before you go all nitro on me, let me explain that I fall squarely into the category of other guys like YOU. :)
 
ATN_Pilot said:
Does anyone mind posting actual rates? I'm a bit curious to compare to what I used to make. Ten years ago, I made only $12/hr. I'm hoping it's come up a bit.
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Around $28/hour is typical here, maybe a bit more. $50-60 billed to the student. You can charge $50-70 to an owner in their plane generally, but that assumes they are looking for your experience in type in the first place. I charge $20/hr in gliders, but that is to cover my gas getting out to the field more that getting paid. The demand now, even being in Florida, is actually the strongest I have seen in my life.
 
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