How to hire a flight instructor

How to hire a flight instructor, step by step

Here's a step-by-step flight instructor hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a flight instructor job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new flight instructor
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a flight instructor do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your flight instructor job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a flight instructor for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a flight instructor to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a flight instructor that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of flight instructors.

   Type of Flight Instructor	Description	Hourly rate
   Flight Instructor	Career and technical education teachers instruct students in various technical and vocational subjects, such as auto repair, healthcare, and culinary arts. They teach academic and technical content to provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary to enter an occupation.	$15-38
   Adjunct Faculty	Adjunct faculty is the collective term for adjunct professors or lecturers. The adjunct faculty teaches students based on the limited-term of their contract... Show more	$21-73
   Teacher-In-Training	A teacher-in-training is a teaching professional who offers technical teaching assistance to teachers in developing effective behavior management and instructional strategies to support student learning. The teacher must collaborate with principals while employing diverse techniques to increase the effectiveness of student learning... Show more	$11-26

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Aircraft Systems
   • Syllabus
   • CFI
   • Flight Operations
   • Training Programs
   • PowerPoint
   • Safety Program
   • Instructor Pilot
   • Helicopter
   • Combat
   • Emergency Procedures
   • Mission Planning
   • MEI
   • PIC

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage the daily maintenance efforts for 9 P-3C aircraft to meet short and long range flight tasking.
   • Manage and monitor all flight systems and electrical in-flight avionics of various commercial aircraft equipment types.
   • Conduct training using, CBT, stand-up lectures, PowerPoint, Wicat 2D FMS, and FTD trainers.
   • Diagnose, troubleshoot malfunctions and perform extensive maintenance operational checks on all systems.
   • Create and maintain training records for USAF students.
   • Maintain relationships with both local DPE's and FBO managers.

   More flight instructor duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your flight instructor job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A flight instructor salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a flight instructor in South Dakota may be lower than in California, and an entry-level flight instructor usually earns less than a senior-level flight instructor. Additionally, a flight instructor with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average flight instructor salary

   $51,324yearly

   $24.68 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level flight instructor salary

   $32,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

   Average flight instructor salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$77,485	$37
   2	Massachusetts	$71,152	$34
   3	Minnesota	$60,011	$29
   4	Mississippi	$56,852	$27
   5	Iowa	$55,913	$27
   6	Alabama	$52,834	$25
   7	Texas	$52,660	$25
   8	Virginia	$51,899	$25
   9	North Dakota	$51,527	$25
   10	Indiana	$50,411	$24
   11	Kentucky	$50,386	$24
   12	Florida	$49,876	$24
   13	Colorado	$46,253	$22
   14	Louisiana	$45,111	$22
   15	Ohio	$44,633	$21
   16	Kansas	$44,321	$21
   17	Illinois	$42,602	$20
   18	Arizona	$41,181	$20

   Average flight instructor salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Cirrus Aircraft	$113,336	$54.49	3
   2	Bell Flight	$83,005	$39.91
   3	General Atomics	$74,646	$35.89	8
   4	AVIA HOLDINGS	$73,339	$35.26
   5	Textron	$67,482	$32.44	17
   6	Boeing	$64,395	$30.96	19
   7	Airbus	$63,627	$30.59	8
   8	Lockheed Martin	$62,542	$30.07	42
   9	L3Harris	$61,742	$29.68	4
   10	Central Washington University	$61,621	$29.63	1
   11	Marine Military Academy	$60,414	$29.05
   12	Republic Airways Holdings	$60,268	$28.98	27
   13	University of Nebraska at Omaha	$60,010	$28.85	7
   14	ExpressJet Airlines	$59,583	$28.65
   15	SkyWest Airlines	$58,590	$28.17	4
   16	Spirit Airlines	$57,932	$27.85
   17	Leidos	$57,891	$27.83	37
   18	California Baptist University	$57,433	$27.61	1
   19	Hawthorne Global Aviation Services	$57,389	$27.59
   20	Central Texas College	$57,259	$27.53

4. Writing a flight instructor job description

   A flight instructor job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a flight instructor job description:

   Flight instructor job description example

   Title:
   OSO IVA Flight Controller and Instructor (Supporting NASA at Johnson Space Center)
   
   This position is on the Integrated Mission Operations Contract (IMOC II) which provides flight control and training support to the International Space Station (ISS) Operations within the NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) Flight Operations Directorate (FOD for IVA Operations, in-flight maintenance and crew systems support. Duties will require successfully completing a training and skill certification process. The individual will attain Mission Control Center Console position and additional certifications required to train astronauts, cosmonauts, flight controllers, and other NASA and International Partner mission operations personnel. Specific duties associated with flight control positions include maintaining a safe environment for astronauts onboard ISS to work and live; monitoring of real-time status and performance of ISS systems; controlling ISS system operations from mission control; reporting status and anomalies to mission managers; determining mission impacts and implementing corrective actions; test and verification of operational products and analysis; integrating requirements with other systems and organizations; and the development and maintenance of operations products such as crew procedures, flight rules, console procedures, and technical references. Individuals in this position may interface directly with the NASA customer, subcontractors, ISS program personnel, International Partners, and commercial vendors. Certified flight controllers may work evenings and weekend shifts. As a certified Instructor the individual will support shifts as needed, develop training materials, participate in the conduct of simulations, and instruct crew and mission operations utilizing a variety of media and facilities.
   
   Duties will require successfully completing a training and skill certification process. Typically, the candidate will first train and become certified for a Mission Control Center console position. The individual may subsequently attain additional certifications required to train astronauts, cosmonauts, flight controllers, and other NASA and International Partner mission operations personnel on ISS systems content. Specific duties associated with flight control positions include maintaining a safe environment for astronauts onboard ISS to work and live; monitoring of real-time status and performance of ISS systems; controlling ISS system operations from mission control; reporting status and anomalies to mission managers; determining mission impacts and implementing corrective actions; test and verification of operational products and analysis; integrating requirements with other systems and organizations; and the development and maintenance of operations products such as flight rules, console procedures, and technical references.
   
   This position will require the candidate to support or lead technical analyses relating to spacecraft systems or operations. Individuals in this position may interface directly with the NASA customer, subcontractors, ISS program personnel, International Partners, and commercial vendors.
   Certified flight controllers may work evenings and weekend shifts including complex and noncomplex operations. As a certified Instructor the individual will support shifts as needed, develop training materials, participate in the conduct of simulations, and instruct crew and mission operations utilizing a variety of media and facilities.
   Required Work and Skills Experience:
   Bachelor's of Science Degree in Engineering (ABET), Physics, Mathematics or other technically related area.4+ years of related experience Knowledge of engineering principles and the ability to apply them to real-time operations is essential.Excellent communication (verbal and written), interpersonal, leadership, teamwork, technical, and administrative skills are mandatory.Candidate must have a demonstrated ability to plan, lead, and coordinate a wide range of tasks. Candidate must demonstrate the ability to progress through flight controller and instructor certifications.Candidate must be able to apply technical knowledge and operations concepts to exercise effective decision making and initiative in a real-time and fast-paced operational environment.Candidate should be a self-starter who excels in a dynamic environment that requires him/her to work effectively both alone or as part of a team.Works under general supervision within a framework of established policies and procedures on tasks of moderate difficulty requiring the use of some independent judgment Assist in the development of operational standards and the review and analysis of project requirements to help identify operational improvement needs Assist in the development of operational standards and the review and analysis of project requirements to help identify operational improvement needs Required to prepare a variety of technical presentations and reports that are clear and concise Candidate is required to pass a standard flight controller physical examination and pass security clearances.Shift work (nights, weekends, and holidays) is required.Candidate must be able to support infrequent travel domestically or internationally.Russian, Japanese, or European language skills are a plus. Successful candidates must be a US Citizen and be able to apply for and successfully receive and maintain security clearance per eligibility requirements. This position requires successful completion of a government background check before commencement of employment.
   
   In compliance with the U.S. federal government's vaccine mandate, only candidates who are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 or have a reasonable accommodation or approved medical exception will be considered for this position.
   
   KBR is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, veteran status, genetic information, union status and/or beliefs, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find flight instructors for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your flight instructor job on Zippia to find and recruit flight instructor candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as k12jobspot, learn4good, serious teachers, teachingjobs.com.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit flight instructors, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new flight instructor

   Once you've decided on a perfect flight instructor candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new flight instructor first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a flight instructor?