nightflyerDFW
New Member
I get paid $13/hr for flight, sim, and ground. It would be more if I worked full time, but it's a part time gig right now.
CFI Pay
- Thread starter DAnbert
- Start date
Thank you all for your replies, this is helpful.
Part of the information I need is what specific schools will pay. For example, I have read that NPA will pay like 15 an hour. I am considering going to ATP but I can't find anywhere that lists what they are willing to pay a CFI while time building.
Part of the information I need is what specific schools will pay. For example, I have read that NPA will pay like 15 an hour. I am considering going to ATP but I can't find anywhere that lists what they are willing to pay a CFI while time building.
wheelsup
Well-Known Member
Keep in mind, even if a school pays more you may make less due to less billable hours. Just like pilot pay, you can't multiply the hourly rate out x 40 hours/week because *most* instructors won't bill 40 hours a week. In the two smaller operations I worked at, the average was somewhere in the area of 20-25 hours/week. Keep in mind, to bill 20-25 hours/week you'd be at the airport 10-12 hours a day 5-6 days a week.
To put that in perspective, when I worked at MAPD, I averaged 149.5 hours/month billable @ $16/hr. I was at the airport 8-10 hours per day. I worked significantly more of the time I was at the airport then the other two jobs I had, in addition to not having to answer phones, talk like a used car salesmen, etc.
Unfortunately, the better paying CFI gigs also generally require dual given, so you have to get some experience first. The old "chicken before the egg" approach
.I *believe* ATP pays it's instructors a flat salary of $1,000/month (pre tax) for working. They can work 0 days or 30 days a month. They do also get a small "bonus" for having someone pass a checkride. I think there is an option where they can pay you $800/month but provide some housing.
Van_Hoolio
Well-Known Member
Please don't be a CFI with that attitude. I understand that not many people want to be a CFI forever, but still. It's a lot more than just a time building experience.
Mike
P.S. ATP pays 1000 per month plus bonuses, minus housing.
wheelsup
Well-Known Member
I didn't really catch that tone; plus let's me honest - the vast majority of us all instructed to build time. That was its primary purpose. If the airlines/freight/corporate were hiring people with fresh commercials (some do I suppose) would there be as many instructors? NO
!frascaflyer
Well-Known Member
:banghead:
There are places that give you housing, food, and $3,000 to $4,000 a month if you work hard. You must not be talking about those.
but nick, you forgot to tell them what a horrible, horrible place that is to work...
FlyEDouglas
New Member
I believe if you choose to reside in ATP's furnished apartments the pay is knocked down to 800/month.
SpiraMirabilis
Possible Subversive
That is correct.
moxiepilot
Well-Known Member
what i posted was the take home pay, ot the student charge. that would be $43 basic, $45 inst, multi, cfi, and $55 cirrus
moxiepilot
Well-Known Member
huh?
to me this is like working for *insert goal of airline, corporate, cargo here* for free. oh, wait. it is for free.
where is lloyd when you need him?
wha wha what? $7/HR? I can make more than that flipping burgers... Minimum wage in Oregon is like $8!
bike21
9-5 Ruins Lives
True dat. Greaper, please don't tell us your school charges the students for ground but doesn't pay you in return?!
bike21
9-5 Ruins Lives
Yep, that is mighty sad.
Gonzo
Well-Known Member
True dat. Greaper, please don't tell us your school charges the students for ground but doesn't pay you in return?!
The aviator for the most part doesn't charge for the ground that the instructors give. The only time the aviator charges for ground is if it's either a VA student which the instructor gets paid or one of the two (instrument and initial instructor) structured ground classes and whoever is teaching the class gets an hourly rate.
You guys should go easy on Greaper he's had it tough as an instructor. He should've been at an airline by now but probably lost four to five months of instructing thanks to the mayor of munchkin land (Joe V).
bike21
9-5 Ruins Lives
I am not trying to come down on the guy, like I said before but just trying to get the facts straight. I am glad the school doesn't take money from students for ground and not repay the CFIs.
I am more frustrated with aviation and the lack of standards (think pay) we face. From how CFIs at Purdue get paid, to Greaper not getting paid for his time, to first year FOs making nothing all the way to senior Captains/FOs getting pensions and pay cut.
No, I don't have the answer to our woes but when I do, I will be sure to share with ya'll
Oh, aside from the public paying what a ticket should cost and corporations caring more about their employees than shareholders.
I am more frustrated with aviation and the lack of standards (think pay) we face. From how CFIs at Purdue get paid, to Greaper not getting paid for his time, to first year FOs making nothing all the way to senior Captains/FOs getting pensions and pay cut.
No, I don't have the answer to our woes but when I do, I will be sure to share with ya'll
Oh, aside from the public paying what a ticket should cost and corporations caring more about their employees than shareholders. Chris_Ford
Well-Known Member
Yep, and people salivate at the chance to instruct here.
The kool-ade must be loverly.
greaper007
Well-Known Member
I am not trying to come down on the guy, like I said before but just trying to get the facts straight. I am glad the school doesn't take money from students for ground and not repay the CFIs.
I am more frustrated with aviation and the lack of standards (think pay) we face. From how CFIs at Purdue get paid, to Greaper not getting paid for his time, to first year FOs making nothing all the way to senior Captains/FOs getting pensions and pay cut.
No, I don't have the answer to our woes but when I do, I will be sure to share with ya'll
Thanks for the props Ernie (the mayor of munchkin land, a very apt description). Also everyone here wants to offer their condolences for your rabbit.
Bike: Aviation is a big poop sandwich and everyone has to take a bite, at least at the bottom. I agree with you but I'm not sure what the solution is. Hopefully airline pay will raise with the next round of contract negotiations. The unfortunate thing about this industry is the "cool" factor. It can sucker people in at the bottom just because it seems like a cool thing to do. Sort of like the military (don't ask me how I know), then you actually start doing the job and you realize. It's just a job.
I still have to say that I went in aviation for the money and the schedule. I've been watching my Dad work 3-4 days a week and making six figures since 1986. Granted he took a gamble and went to Southwest when it was still a young company. However, I still think there’s hope for all of us out there. Even if we only go as far as a regional, there’s the potential of making $80,000-$100,000.
P.S. I dig your avatar. I’m currently a bicycle lover without a bike (see above salary discussion for reason why). My Trek that I’d had for 10 years bit the dust a year and a half ago.
bike21
9-5 Ruins Lives
Word up. It is certainly just a job and I have scrambled my way up the ladder too. Granted I am no where near the top, but we all need to make sacrifices along the way heh? Let us keep our fingers crossed and work hard to get to better times for you, me, peeps of JC and the entire industry! :nana2:
Ok, enough of that for now...bikes rock! Let me know if I can help you get a good deal down the road. I have a lot of connections in the bike industry still and know of a few good websites to look for deals
wheelsup
Well-Known Member
In a couple months, you will be working at a company that pays reduced (as if they weren't reduced enough already!) rates during training, provides no housing during training, started an alter-ego company with the intention of busting the ALPA union at TSA, and offers one of the lowest payrates and QOL in the US for the type of equipment and yet you call your fellow CFI's suckers?
LOL.
Allison, Good to see another new PDX'er here. drop me a message. The rest of you, thank you.
While I plan on using the CFI thing for time building, I didn't mean for it to sound like that is all. I actually have thought about the other options and am most interested in CFI'ing. I feel the teaching other people will help to improve myself as a pilot more than the other options. I may be wrong, and many times am, but that is how I feel.
While I plan on using the CFI thing for time building, I didn't mean for it to sound like that is all. I actually have thought about the other options and am most interested in CFI'ing. I feel the teaching other people will help to improve myself as a pilot more than the other options. I may be wrong, and many times am, but that is how I feel.