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Flight instructor salary
Average flight instructor salary
$51,324
Flight Instructor Salary Overview
As of October 2025, the average salary for a Flight Instructor in the United States is approximately $51,324 annually, translating to about $25 per hour. Factors such as location, experience, and industry significantly influence earning potential in this field.
Where Flight Instructors Earn More
Flight instructors in states like California and Florida often see higher salaries, driven by demand for flight training in these regions. Additionally, positions in private flight schools or aviation academies typically offer competitive pay compared to those in community colleges or universities.
Job Opportunities
Career paths for flight instructors are diverse. Opportunities exist in both commercial and private aviation sectors, with many instructors transitioning to become commercial pilots or airline captains. Pursuing advanced certifications can further enhance job prospects and salary potential.
Explore Career Options
Investigate various flight instructor positions to find one that matches your expertise and desired salary. Utilize resources like Zippia to apply for jobs and gain insights into specific industries and demands. By understanding the salary landscape and job market, you can make informed decisions about your career in aviation.
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Where can a Flight Instructor earn more?
Flight instructor salary estimates from across the web
Average flight instructor salary by state
The highest-paying states for flight instructors are California, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. The lowest average flight instructor salary states are South Dakota, Illinois, and South Carolina.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for flight instructors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $75,940 | $36.51 |
| 2 | North Carolina | $59,233 | $28.48 |
| 3 | Michigan | $61,577 | $29.60 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $63,708 | $30.63 |
| 5 | Oregon | $57,185 | $27.49 |
| 6 | Mississippi | $56,576 | $27.20 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $70,801 | $34.04 |
| 8 | Iowa | $55,594 | $26.73 |
| 9 | Delaware | $56,570 | $27.20 |
| 10 | Minnesota | $59,762 | $28.73 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $57,682 | $27.73 |
| 12 | New York | $55,049 | $26.47 |
| 13 | Wisconsin | $56,055 | $26.95 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $53,519 | $25.73 |
| 15 | North Dakota | $51,178 | $24.60 |
| 16 | Alabama | $52,766 | $25.37 |
| 17 | Tennessee | $52,000 | $25.00 |
| 18 | Hawaii | $59,689 | $28.70 |
| 19 | Kentucky | $50,334 | $24.20 |
| 20 | Texas | $51,969 | $24.99 |
| 21 | District of Columbia | $61,041 | $29.35 |
| 22 | Virginia | $51,898 | $24.95 |
| 23 | Vermont | $51,621 | $24.82 |
| 24 | Nebraska | $51,167 | $24.60 |
| 25 | Wyoming | $47,143 | $22.66 |
| 26 | Florida | $49,719 | $23.90 |
| 27 | New Hampshire | $51,793 | $24.90 |
| 28 | West Virginia | $49,310 | $23.71 |
| 29 | Indiana | $50,739 | $24.39 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $47,856 | $23.01 |
| 31 | Georgia | $47,384 | $22.78 |
| 32 | Missouri | $51,156 | $24.59 |
| 33 | Connecticut | $52,116 | $25.06 |
| 34 | Alaska | $46,805 | $22.50 |
| 35 | Colorado | $46,227 | $22.22 |
| 36 | Arkansas | $49,349 | $23.73 |
| 37 | Maryland | $48,828 | $23.48 |
| 38 | Nevada | $44,844 | $21.56 |
| 39 | Washington | $50,593 | $24.32 |
| 40 | Maine | $48,177 | $23.16 |
| 41 | Ohio | $44,949 | $21.61 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $41,958 | $20.17 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $45,976 | $22.10 |
| 44 | Kansas | $44,135 | $21.22 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $44,084 | $21.19 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $45,121 | $21.69 |
| 47 | Utah | $44,830 | $21.55 |
| 48 | Arizona | $41,255 | $19.83 |
| 49 | Illinois | $42,534 | $20.45 |
| 50 | Idaho | $37,296 | $17.93 |
| 51 | Montana | $39,503 | $18.99 |
Highest paying cities for flight instructors
The highest-paying cities for flight instructors are Atwater, CA, Norwood, MA, and Duluth, MN.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atwater, CA | $77,485 | $37.25 |
| 2 | Norwood, MA | $71,152 | $34.21 |
| 3 | Duluth, MN | $60,011 | $28.85 |
| 4 | Tupelo, MS | $56,852 | $27.33 |
| 5 | Dubuque, IA | $55,913 | $26.88 |
| 6 | Birmingham, AL | $52,834 | $25.40 |
| 7 | San Antonio, TX | $52,660 | $25.32 |
| 8 | Chesapeake, VA | $51,899 | $24.95 |
| 9 | Grand Forks, ND | $51,527 | $24.77 |
| 10 | Terre Haute, IN | $50,411 | $24.24 |
| 11 | Frankfort, KY | $50,386 | $24.22 |
| 12 | Daytona Beach, FL | $49,876 | $23.98 |
| 13 | Aurora, CO | $46,253 | $22.24 |
| 14 | New Orleans, LA | $45,111 | $21.69 |
| 15 | Columbus, OH | $44,633 | $21.46 |
| 16 | Wichita, KS | $44,321 | $21.31 |
| 17 | Wheeling, IL | $42,602 | $20.48 |
| 18 | Phoenix, AZ | $41,181 | $19.80 |
Flight instructor salary details
A flight instructor's salary ranges from $32,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $80,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a flight instructor's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $80,000 | $6,667 | $38 |
| 75th Percentile | $65,000 | $5,417 | $31 |
| Average | $51,324 | $4,277 | $25 |
| 25th Percentile | $40,000 | $3,333 | $19 |
| 10th Percentile | $32,000 | $2,667 | $15 |
Highest paying flight instructor jobs
The highest paying types of flight instructors are adjunct faculty, instructional supervisor, and technical instructor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adjunct Faculty | $83,069 | $6,922 | $39.94 | 26,791 |
| Teacher-In-Training | $37,214 | $3,101 | $17.89 | 132,725 |
| Instructor, Adjunct Faculty | $52,225 | $4,352 | $25.11 | 37,739 |
| Instructor, Faculty | $57,553 | $4,796 | $27.67 | 38,774 |
| Continuing Education Instructor | $56,156 | $4,680 | $27.00 | 45,955 |
| Laboratory Instructor | $49,931 | $4,161 | $24.01 | 63,100 |
Top companies hiring flight instructors now:
Which companies pay flight instructors the most?
Flight instructor salaries at Cirrus Aircraft and Bell Flight are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average flight instructor salary at companies like General Atomics and AVIA HOLDINGS are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cirrus Aircraft | $113,336 | $54.49 |
| 2 | Bell Flight | $83,005 | $39.91 |
| 3 | General Atomics | $74,646 | $35.89 |
| 4 | AVIA HOLDINGS | $73,339 | $35.26 |
| 5 | Textron | $67,482 | $32.44 |
| 6 | Boeing | $64,395 | $30.96 |
| 7 | Airbus | $63,627 | $30.59 |
| 8 | Lockheed Martin | $62,542 | $30.07 |
| 9 | L3Harris | $61,742 | $29.68 |
| 10 | Central Washington University | $61,621 | $29.63 |
| 11 | Marine Military Academy | $60,414 | $29.05 |
| 12 | Republic Airways Holdings | $60,268 | $28.98 |
| 13 | University of Nebraska at Omaha | $60,010 | $28.85 |
| 14 | ExpressJet Airlines | $59,583 | $28.65 |
| 15 | SkyWest Airlines | $58,590 | $28.17 |
| 16 | Spirit Airlines | $57,932 | $27.85 |
| 17 | Leidos | $57,891 | $27.83 |
| 18 | California Baptist University | $57,433 | $27.61 |
| 19 | Hawthorne Global Aviation Services | $57,389 | $27.59 |
| 20 | Central Texas College | $57,259 | $27.53 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Flight Instructor salary by industry
The average flight instructor salary varies across industries:
- The average flight instructor salary in the manufacturing industry is $59,418, the highest of any industry.
- The average flight instructor salary in the finance industry is $59,157.
- Flight instructors in the telecommunication industry earn an average salary of $47,035, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for flight instructors
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manufacturing | $59,418 | $28.57 |
| 2 | Technology | $59,157 | $28.44 |
| 3 | Start-up | $50,996 | $24.52 |
| 4 | Transportation | $49,817 | $23.95 |
| 5 | Education | $49,318 | $23.71 |
| 6 | Telecommunication | $47,035 | $22.61 |
High paying flight instructor jobs
Flight instructor salary trends
The average flight instructor salary has risen by $6,302 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average flight instructor earned $45,022 annually, but today, they earn $51,324 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for flight instructors over the last decade.
Compare flight instructor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average flight instructor salary over time
Compare flight instructor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Flight instructor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $51,300 | $24.68 | +1.8% |
| 2024 | $50,400 | $24.23 | +2.7% |
| 2023 | $49,000 | $23.57 | +2.9% |
| 2022 | $47,600 | $22.89 | +1.8% |
| 2021 | $46,700 | $22.47 | +2.3% |
Recently added flight instructor salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Louis University | Flight Instructor | Saint Louis, MO | 06/27/2025 | $40,000 |
| The University of Oklahoma Human Resources | Chief Flight Instructor Aviation | Norman, OK | 06/27/2025 | $104,400 |
| Global Medical Response | Helicopter Flight Instructor and Check Airman | McClellan Park, CA | 06/27/2025 | $104,422 |
| State of Ohio | Highway Patrol Aviation Flight Instructor | Columbus, OH | 06/26/2025 | $78,325 |
| Farmingdale State College | Flight Instructors-Farmingdale State College | Farmingdale, NY | 06/26/2025 | $37,566 |
| Joby Aviation | S4 Flight Instructor | Marina, CA | 06/19/2025 | $82,700 |
| Leidos Holdings Inc. | Direct Support Operator (DSO) Flight Instructor | Albuquerque, NM | 06/17/2025 | $63,700 |
| South Dakota Board of Regents | Chief Flight Instructor | Brookings, SD | 06/17/2025 | $81,074 |
| Most Comprehensive Finance Options for Owner Flown Aircraft | Chief Flight Instructor | Frederick, MD | 06/14/2025 | $75,000 |
| Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association | Chief Flight Instructor | Frederick, MD | 06/13/2025 | $75,000 |
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