CFI opportunities

[Bamaaviator]

I'm thinking of sending out my resume in the near future once I have my ratings finished to some flight schools that are paired up with colleges/universities. In particular, I'm interested in some of the mid sized to smaller schools (even community colleges). I am NOT interested in working for Embry riddle, ATP, and many of the large academies. I am however considering places like flight safety for one. But generally I want to stay away from bigger name brand flight schools.

A few questions about this. First, do many of the aviation colleges and universities hire outside instructors? Or do they usually prefer to hire instructors who have trained in their program as students?

Second, if they do hire outside cfi's, do they prefer people with some experience teaching? Or will they take fresh cfi's?

Third, what do university aviation programs usually pay their cfi's? Is it enough to live off of without qualifying for food stamps? Is it realistic to expect more than $30,000 a year from some schools? Or is that a stretch? I ask this because I have a wife and a kid, so having an income that is semi-decent is extremely important to me. I'm not closed off to the idea of working at a large mom and pop shop. But I would assume there's slightly more job security at a university aviation program teaching. Any insight?

 

[Request]

In today's job market I don't think you have to worry that much about job security. CFI's are very hard to find. You should have no problem finding a job just about anywhere you want to live, I have heard stories about new CFI's getting hired the first day they start looking for a job! While I don't know what the average pay is we are a small school (mostly an aircraft management company) and out CFI's make about 35K per year to start. I believe I saw a post for a school in AZ (Phoenix maybe) that paid 55K to start. I wouldn't over think the type of school you teach for too much, our last CFI was hired and less than six months later upgraded to one of the Jets and I hear stories like that from lots of operators. 1,000 hours total time is a big number in the charter world (for ARG/US & Wyvern ratings) so depending on what your goals are after teaching I would plan to only have to stay 1 year or less at the flight school so i would worry more about liking the people your working with than what type school you are teaching at. For what it's worth, teaching at a local FBO you will meet and work with older more successful people. The experience of working with those people and the networking can be very helpful later in your career. Bottom line is no really right or wrong paths but it's a great time to be entering the industry.

 

[Bamaaviator]

Thanks request! I will definitely take that advice into consideration. Been trying to keep my options open with everything, I've been wanting to move out of the area I currently live in once I complete the ratings. The school I currently rent from is ok, the instructor I work with is a great guy, very professional. But the wife and I are looking to get out of this city and move somewhere, mostly to escape family problems/Drama that have been chronic and ongoing. We think a start somewhere new would be great for us. Do you think that orange site is good for looking at various CFI jobs that are posted? Is that where you heard about that Arizona job?

 

[Jordan93]

Pretty much every school could use another CFI. As a cfi you'll probably make around 20-45K depending on how much you fly. Some larger academies will give you a salary but most schools you'll get paid for what you fly and the ground you do with your student. You also might want to consider working at the school you are doing your ratings at. I got my instrument to CFI with the same school and the chief CFI was my instructor. About a month before I finished my CFI he asked if I wanted to work at the flight school. Good luck on your job search!