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The Global Insight

How much do instructor pilots make?

Author

Christopher Ramos

Updated on April 01, 2026

Income for a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) generally ranges from $30,000 to $60,000 per year ($15 to $30 per hour), but this depends greatly on experience, location, weather, hours flown, and demand. The greatest factor in compensation is how many hours you are able to fly.

Can I be a flight instructor with a PPL?

Besides, you will need to: Hold a PPL (A) and have completed at least 200 hours of flight time of which not less than 150 hours are as pilot in command (PIC) and have met the knowledge requirements for a CPL (A), unless training as an F1 (A) to provide training for the LAPL (A) only.

Can you make a living as a flight instructor?

However, with the current shortage of flight instructors, pay and benefits for flight instructors are rapidly going up. If you charge appropriately and are good at your job, you can make a very decent living as a full-time flight instructor.

Is being a flight instructor dangerous?

Learning to fly is statistically far less dangerous than flying a private plane for other reasons. Student pilots have lower accident rates than private pilots at large, likely due to the fact that they are heavily supervised by experienced flight instructors.

Is it stressful being a pilot?

An airline pilot can be an extremely stressful job due to the workload, responsibilities and safety of the thousands of passengers they transport around the world. Being a pilot is considered a unique job that requires managing high workloads and good psychological and physical health.

How many hours do you need to be a flying instructor?

Course Content 125 hours ground instruction; 30 hours (minimum) flight instruction comprising not less than 25 hours dual and a maximum of 5 hours teaching practice; The course may include the qualification to instruct at night.

How many hours do you need to be a flight instructor?

25 hours
To become a flight instructor, you need to have a commercial pilot license. As previously discussed, getting your CPL takes between 190 to 250 hours, at a minimum. Luckily, you only need 25 hours of training time (at a minimum) to become a certified flight instructor, or CFI, on airplanes.

Is a flight instructor a good job?

Instructors are in high demand and they can command a higher salary than ever before. In fact, many flight schools are now even paying for Pilots to complete their instructor rating. Instructing is not only a rewarding career but also a great way to make a good salary with some fantastic benefits.

Is it worth becoming a flight instructor?

One of the greatest benefits that becoming a flight instructor offers is a possibility to continue to learn through teaching, and one of the best ways to learn more is through teaching. Becoming a flight instructor allows you to build your flight hours while getting paid.

Is it worth being a flight instructor?

This motivational and caring aspect of teaching can be both meaningful and very rewarding. If you consider yourself a good motivator and a caring person then instructing may be a perfect fit for you. For the many Airline Pilots I have known, being home rather than being absent frequently, is desirable.

Can a PPL holder become a flight instructor?

Under current European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) flight crew regulations, pilots wishing to become instructors must first pass 13 CPL theoretical knowledge exams. This wasn’t always the case and for many decades UK PPL holders could become FIs solely by passing a Flight Instructor Course.

How much do flight instructors make per hour?

The average wage that an FI can expect to earn when teaching PPL students is around £25 per flying hour.

What kind of rating does a flight instructor have?

The Instrument Rating Instructor – IRI (A) rating allows you to conduct flight instruction for the Instrument Rating – IR (A) and class and type ratings for SEP airplanes. How can I get my Flight Instructor – FI (A) rating?

How can I train to become a flight instructor?

Besides, you will need to: • Hold a PPL (A) and have completed at least 200 hours of flight time of which not less than 150 hours are as pilot in command (PIC) and have met the knowledge requirements for a CPL (A), unless training as an F1 (A) to provide training for the LAPL (A) only.