What are you getting paid as a CFI?

Status
Not open for further replies.
born2aviate

born2aviate

Well-Known Member
I'm trying to figure out what the average pay for a CFI is these days. I recently received offers from places that said starting pay was 12/hr, and others had pay starting at 20-23/hr.

What are you getting?
 
I get $15/hr for flight time, $10/hr for ground... I think it goes without saying that I'm definitely not in it for the money.:)
 
When I was working by the hour I was paid $20 hr. for flight/ground.

As a salaried CFI in PHX I got paid about 30,000-35,000 depending on bonuses.
 
When I started as a CFI/CFII in 2004, I was being paid $22/hour. After my MEI it was $25. For Progress Checks or Pre-Checkrides as a Check Airman it was $35/hour. Once I became the Assistant Chief Flight Instructor it moved up to $40/hour.

Right now I'm doing part time instructing in a G1000 182Turbo for an instrument student and getting $50/hr.
 
$22/hour for flight and ground. Which is a dollar more than I am making as a regional FO! But I have other benefits now, like medical, so I'm still ahead.
 
There seems to be a pretty wide range. I'm currently making $18 per hour for flight and ground. If we hit 20 hours + in a week it changes to $23. $50 sounds nice. But heck, I've built about 900 hours of duel given in a year and a half so I can't complain!
 
I'm getting $20/hr flight/ground. That's also as an employee rather than contract (a lot of flight schools seem to like playing the contract game).
 
msmspilot said:
I'm getting $20/hr flight/ground. That's also as an employee rather than contract (a lot of flight schools seem to like playing the contract game).
Click to expand...

The contract game can work to your advantage with deductions that would not be allowed a regular employee. It depends on a alot of factors which depend on your circumstances.
 
I got 10 peanuts /hr, plus a bonus of 15 pistachios every time I passed a student on the first try.

:sarcasm:

Actually.. for the 141 outfit I worked for (2007-2009), we started off at $12/hr. Went to $14/hr after 250 hours of instruction. Then $16/hr after 500 hours of instruction. Same wages for ground. That's pretty much where we topped out at. Check instructors didn't even get extra. Our Assistant Chief's also worked for the university so they were salary and taught a few classes. We were also hired by the university so we were part-time state employees. Still didn't get any bennies though.. o well.
 
A couple of more questions:

What are your flight schools billing customers at?

141 or 61?

Employee or contract?

Is anybody else working freelance?
 
peanuts.jpg
 
Its widely varied depending on the type of school and geographical location.

I heard (but not verified) that KSMO American flyers charged $78/hr flight instruction. I'd imagine the CFI's are paid near $20 something.

Hope this helps Josh!
 
Wastegate said:
If that is for aircraft and instructor then you need to tip at the end of every flight. If it is for just dual instruction only you're just getting hosed.
Click to expand...

It's dual only aircraft costs $140 wet. Hosed a bit maybe but the outfit is decent and CFI top notch. Will keep till private this way.
 
I got paid $15 and change in 2006. After a certain amount of dual given (750?) it jumped to something like $18/hr. Very poor wage, but at least it was at a time the airlines were hiring like crazy (and you could go from making peanuts to pistachios).
 
Codyjp said:
What are your flight schools billing customers at?

141 or 61?

Employee or contract?
Click to expand...

We charge $54/hour for instruction.

Part 61.

Employee.

Myself and one other instructor are paid on a hybrid salary/hourly system. I make ~$30k/year and the other instructor probably makes ~$20k. But that instructor is not a CFII or MEI and doesn't have much experience, so they're of limited use to the company. The third, part time instructor is paid strictly hourly at $20/hour for flight or ground.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top