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Certified flight instructor salary
Average certified flight instructor salary
$54,283
Understanding the Certified Flight Instructor Salary
The average salary for a Certified Flight Instructor is reported at $54,283 per year, translating to about $26 per hour. Salary can vary based on factors including geographic location, years of experience, and the type of flight school where instructors are employed. In states like California and Texas, salaries tend to be higher due to increased demand for flight training and a larger number of flight operations.
Top States for Certified Flight Instructors
In addition to California and Texas, states such as Florida and New York also offer competitive salaries for Certified Flight Instructors. Major cities, including Los Angeles and New York City, provide the highest compensation, reflecting the higher cost of living and demand for skilled instructors in urban areas.
Career Advancement Opportunities
Certified Flight Instructors can enhance their earnings by gaining additional certifications or by working in specialized training programs. Opportunities to teach advanced flight techniques or instruct in aviation colleges can lead to higher-paying positions within the industry.
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Where can a Certified Flight Instructor earn more?
Average certified flight instructor salary by state
The average certified flight instructor salary in Massachusetts, Washington, and Alaska are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average certified flight instructor salary states are Nevada, Kansas, and Illinois.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for certified flight instructors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $63,968 | $30.75 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $67,108 | $32.26 |
| 3 | Alaska | $69,260 | $33.30 |
| 4 | Texas | $64,832 | $31.17 |
| 5 | New York | $64,790 | $31.15 |
| 6 | Colorado | $66,605 | $32.02 |
| 7 | California | $68,583 | $32.97 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $76,401 | $36.73 |
| 9 | Washington | $73,917 | $35.54 |
| 10 | Mississippi | $58,405 | $28.08 |
| 11 | North Dakota | $61,464 | $29.55 |
| 12 | Delaware | $59,202 | $28.46 |
| 13 | Iowa | $60,339 | $29.01 |
| 14 | Vermont | $59,707 | $28.71 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $62,963 | $30.27 |
| 16 | Kentucky | $54,075 | $26.00 |
| 17 | Wyoming | $54,216 | $26.07 |
| 18 | Minnesota | $60,923 | $29.29 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $57,365 | $27.58 |
| 20 | Michigan | $56,161 | $27.00 |
| 21 | Indiana | $54,039 | $25.98 |
| 22 | Alabama | $54,421 | $26.16 |
| 23 | District of Columbia | $63,990 | $30.76 |
| 24 | Nebraska | $56,997 | $27.40 |
| 25 | Arizona | $55,196 | $26.54 |
| 26 | Utah | $54,707 | $26.30 |
| 27 | South Dakota | $50,983 | $24.51 |
| 28 | Tennessee | $54,449 | $26.18 |
| 29 | Rhode Island | $56,750 | $27.28 |
| 30 | Hawaii | $55,888 | $26.87 |
| 31 | Georgia | $51,184 | $24.61 |
| 32 | Maine | $56,374 | $27.10 |
| 33 | Connecticut | $57,535 | $27.66 |
| 34 | Arkansas | $51,661 | $24.84 |
| 35 | Florida | $53,871 | $25.90 |
| 36 | West Virginia | $52,846 | $25.41 |
| 37 | Missouri | $51,046 | $24.54 |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $48,409 | $23.27 |
| 39 | Virginia | $49,475 | $23.79 |
| 40 | Maryland | $51,258 | $24.64 |
| 41 | New Mexico | $50,647 | $24.35 |
| 42 | Ohio | $50,766 | $24.41 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $46,366 | $22.29 |
| 44 | Nevada | $47,934 | $23.05 |
| 45 | North Carolina | $49,349 | $23.73 |
| 46 | Illinois | $47,395 | $22.79 |
| 47 | Pennsylvania | $49,756 | $23.92 |
| 48 | Montana | $48,874 | $23.50 |
| 49 | Kansas | $47,664 | $22.92 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $43,375 | $20.85 |
| 51 | Idaho | $43,657 | $20.99 |
Highest paying cities for certified flight instructors
The highest-paying cities for certified flight instructors are Plymouth, MA, Redding, CA, and Anchorage, AK.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Plymouth, MA | $76,589 | $36.82 |
| 2 | Redding, CA | $72,051 | $34.64 |
| 3 | Anchorage, AK | $69,995 | $33.65 |
| 4 | Loveland, CO | $66,754 | $32.09 |
| 5 | Bend, OR | $63,234 | $30.40 |
| 6 | Madison, WI | $62,629 | $30.11 |
| 7 | Grand Forks, ND | $61,831 | $29.73 |
| 8 | Duluth, MN | $61,725 | $29.68 |
| 9 | Dubuque, IA | $60,999 | $29.33 |
| 10 | Prescott, AZ | $55,618 | $26.74 |
| 11 | Panama City, FL | $54,980 | $26.43 |
| 12 | Gallatin, TN | $54,872 | $26.38 |
| 13 | Logan, UT | $54,709 | $26.30 |
| 14 | Valparaiso, IN | $54,526 | $26.21 |
| 15 | Huntington, WV | $51,936 | $24.97 |
| 16 | Peachtree City, GA | $51,227 | $24.63 |
| 17 | Columbus, OH | $50,311 | $24.19 |
| 18 | Salina, KS | $47,650 | $22.91 |
| 19 | Quincy, IL | $46,121 | $22.17 |
| 20 | New Orleans, LA | $46,090 | $22.16 |
Certified flight instructor salary details
A certified flight instructor's salary ranges from $34,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $84,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a certified flight instructor's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $84,000 | $7,000 | $40 |
| 75th Percentile | $68,000 | $5,667 | $33 |
| Average | $54,283 | $4,524 | $26 |
| 25th Percentile | $43,000 | $3,583 | $21 |
| 10th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
Highest paying certified flight instructor jobs
The highest paying types of certified flight instructors are adjunct faculty, instructional supervisor, and technical instructor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher-In-Training | $37,214 | $3,101 | $17.89 | 132,725 |
| Adjunct Faculty | $83,069 | $6,922 | $39.94 | 26,791 |
| Instructor, Adjunct Faculty | $52,225 | $4,352 | $25.11 | 37,739 |
| Instructor, Faculty | $57,553 | $4,796 | $27.67 | 38,774 |
| Instructor | $53,426 | $4,452 | $25.69 | 39,273 |
| Laboratory Instructor | $49,931 | $4,161 | $24.01 | 63,100 |
Top companies hiring certified flight instructors now:
Which companies pay certified flight instructors the most?
Certified flight instructor salaries at Beta and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average certified flight instructor salary at companies like California Aeronautical University and Bridgewater State University are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beta | $61,092 | $29.37 |
| 2 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University | $58,447 | $28.10 |
| 3 | California Aeronautical University | $58,377 | $28.07 |
| 4 | Bridgewater State University | $58,003 | $27.89 |
| 5 | Republic Airways Holdings | $57,184 | $27.49 |
| 6 | L3Harris | $56,562 | $27.19 |
| 7 | Minnesota State Fair | $56,010 | $26.93 |
| 8 | Aviator Holdings LLC | $54,876 | $26.38 |
| 9 | New Horizons Village | $54,714 | $26.30 |
| 10 | Wisconsin Aviation | $54,628 | $26.26 |
| 11 | Eagle Creek Aviation Services | $54,602 | $26.25 |
| 12 | Andrews University | $54,584 | $26.24 |
| 13 | University of North Dakota | $53,463 | $25.70 |
| 14 | Island Air | $52,333 | $25.16 |
| 15 | Central Oregon Community College | $51,496 | $24.76 |
| 16 | University of Alaska | $50,909 | $24.48 |
| 17 | Lufthansa | $49,242 | $23.67 |
| 18 | Aims Community College | $46,279 | $22.25 |
| 19 | University of Dubuque | $46,027 | $22.13 |
| 20 | Kansas State University | $43,441 | $20.89 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Certified flight instructor salary trends
The average certified flight instructor salary has risen by $6,666 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average certified flight instructor earned $47,617 annually, but today, they earn $54,283 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for certified flight instructors over the last decade.
Compare certified flight instructor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average certified flight instructor salary over time
Compare certified flight instructor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Certified flight instructor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $54,300 | $26.10 | +1.8% |
| 2024 | $53,300 | $25.63 | +2.7% |
| 2023 | $51,800 | $24.92 | +2.9% |
| 2022 | $50,400 | $24.21 | +1.8% |
| 2021 | $49,400 | $23.77 | +2.3% |
Recently added certified flight instructor salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of North Dakota | Temporary-Certified Flight Instructor | Grand Forks, ND | 06/05/2025 | $31,305 |
| Kansas State University | Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) | Salina, KS | 05/13/2025 | $37,566 |
| University of Alaska System | Preceptor Adjunct: Certified Flight Instructor, Levels I-III | Anchorage, AK | 04/30/2025 | $75,132 |
| Aims Community College | Certified Flight Instructor | Loveland, CO | 04/26/2025 | $108,232 |
| University of Alaska System | Preceptor Adjunct: Certified Flight Instructor, Levels I-III | Anchorage, AK | 03/31/2025 | $75,132 |
| Aims Community College | Certified Flight Instructor | Loveland, CO | 03/28/2025 | $108,232 |
| Auburn University | Student Certified Flight Instructor | Auburn, AL | 03/06/2025 | $58,436 |
| University of North Dakota | Temporary-Certified Flight Instructor | Grand Forks, ND | 02/24/2025 | $31,305 |
| Lewis U | Certified Flight Instructor | Hope, ME | 02/19/2025 | $30,000 |
| Bridgew | Certified Flight Instructor | Rowe, MA | 02/17/2025 | $54,262 |
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