Flight Instructors
Overview
Introduction
Flight instructors are pilots who use their experience, knowledge, joy of flying, and ability to explain complex subjects to teach students how to fly aircraft. Flight instructors provide classroom as well as hands-on flying instruction to their students. Topics covered include aerodynamics, navigation, instrument reading, aircraft control techniques, and federal aviation regulations. They teach at flight schools, for airlines, in the military, or work as self-employed instructors.
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
Flight instructors earnings vary based on factors such as the size and type of employer, the type of aircraft used, and the amount of experience the instructor has. According to Salary.com, flight instructors earned median annual salaries of $114,095 in October 2024. Salaries ranged from less than $96,517 to $141,526 or more. Fifty percent of flight instructors earned between $104,894 and $128,...
Work Environment
Flight instructors work in classrooms and in aircraft, and they must be comfortable working with computers, machines, and people. In order to accommodate their students schedules, many instructors hold classes in the evenings or on weekends. FAA rules limit the number of hours per day that a flight instructor can spend giving in-flight instruction; however, instructors can spend as much time as...
Outlook
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) predicts that employment of aircraft pilots will grow about as fast as the average for all careers from 2023 through 2033, with jobs being added in various industries, including support activities for air transportation. Demand will grow for instructors in the U.S. and in emerging markets as a result of an expected pilot shortage in the coming years. An estima...
