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Job outlook for flight instructors in the United States
Are flight instructor jobs in demand?
Flight instructor job and salary trends over time
Flight instructor jobs over time
Flight instructor job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,460 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 3,473 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 3,683 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 3,623 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 3,742 | 0.00% |
Average flight instructor salary over time
Flight instructor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $51,324 | $24.68 | +1.8% |
| 2024 | $50,402 | $24.23 | +2.8% |
| 2023 | $49,017 | $23.57 | +2.9% |
| 2022 | $47,615 | $22.89 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | $46,747 | $22.47 | +2.4% |
Flight instructor jobs by state
Most common states for flight instructors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 508 | 9% |
| 2 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 46 | 8% |
| 3 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 692 | 7% |
| 4 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 680 | 7% |
| 5 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 597 | 7% |
| 6 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 364 | 7% |
| 7 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 279 | 7% |
| 8 | Delaware | 961,939 | 70 | 7% |
| 9 | Alaska | 739,795 | 55 | 7% |
| 10 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 479 | 5% |
| 11 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 318 | 5% |
| 12 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 168 | 5% |
| 13 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 99 | 5% |
| 14 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 87 | 5% |
| 15 | Hawaii | 1,427,538 | 69 | 5% |
| 16 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 61 | 5% |
| 17 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 48 | 5% |
| 18 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 40 | 5% |
| 19 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 38 | 5% |
| 20 | Vermont | 623,657 | 32 | 5% |
Most common cities for flight instructors
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bangor | 1 | 3% | $44,394 |
| 2 | Sanford | 1 | 2% | $49,788 |
| 3 | Little Rock | 1 | 1% | $49,420 |
| 4 | Palmdale | 1 | 1% | $74,869 |
| 5 | Peoria | 1 | 1% | $42,107 |
| 6 | Indianapolis | 3 | 0% | $50,742 |
| 7 | Miami | 2 | 0% | $49,544 |
| 8 | Washington | 2 | 0% | $61,064 |
| 9 | Anchorage | 1 | 0% | $47,105 |
| 10 | Atlanta | 1 | 0% | $47,472 |
| 11 | Denver | 1 | 0% | $46,228 |
| 12 | Orlando | 1 | 0% | $49,727 |
| 13 | Tucson | 1 | 0% | $41,380 |
Flight Instructor job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of flight instructor experts
Franklin and Marshall College
AGWA - American Grant Writers' Association, Inc.
Orange Coast College
What general advice would you give to a Flight Instructor?
David McMahan Ph.D.: Keep open to possibilities beyond the narrow range of what your diploma lists as your major or minor. Whatever job you get trained for today, in 10-20 years, it may be very different. Or it may not exist. Focus on obtaining and maintaining flexibility, critical thinking, creativity, and passion for learning. Being an interesting person is as vital as any credential.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Flight Instructors?
John Porter Ph.D.: Grant writing is a very consistent business. It does not matter if the market is up or down or which party is in office. If the economy is down and money is tight, business tends to turn towards grant funding to supplement revenue. If the economy is strong, the company has a little extra cash and is willing to explore grant funding.
When unemployment rises and it isn't easy to find employment, more people will start their own business. If that business is a non-profit, it could receive grant funding for their programs and activities.
Grant writing is an excellent full-time, and part-time opportunity. Many, mostly non-profit organizations, seek Certified Grant Writers to help compensate for the lack of revenue, which has occurred from the recent economic shutdown. Independent Grant Consultants have a lot of control over the number and type of clients they work with, from a few each month to as many as there is time to do.
Certified Grant Writers are in high demand to compensate for issues like the recovery from the economic shutdown, rising taxes, and other financial strains,
Rodney Foster
Instructor - Aviation Maintenance Technology Instructor - Airframe & Powerplant TechnologyOrange Coast College
Engineering
What general advice would you give to a Flight Instructor?
Rodney Foster: Orange Coast College (OCC) teaches Aircraft Maintenance Technology (AMT) and Avionics. Although the Government has dampened air travel by putting up restrictions to prevent a Covid-19 spread, there is still a certified mechanic/skilled labor shortage. I believe all our students will have permanent jobs within a six-month search. OCC AMT is listed as an essential workforce by the state of California and is back in classes full-time, Face-to-face labs, and online lectures. Our next semester registration maximum filled in two days and still has over 35 additional students per class on the waiting list.