CFI Charges
Moderators: GAHorn, Karl Towle, Bruce Fenstermacher
- Brad Brady
- Posts: 745
- Joined: Fri Feb 29, 2008 2:54 am
CFI Charges
Just wondering, after adding my last years bills up, I just raised my tail wheel instructor prices up from 45.00 to 50.00 Am I over charging? or is this right? Need input! (not you guys that say I should give my time away....HA)
- Bruce Fenstermacher
- Posts: 10320
- Joined: Tue Apr 23, 2002 11:24 am
Re: CFI Charges
Brad,
First I must say I don't instruct to make a living. I do it to help out folks who might need my particular experties ie tail wheel, that they can not find elsewhere. I do it at my convenience. I also give a lot of my time away.
From my standpoint the fact I happen to be an instructor who is tail wheel qualified, doesn't mean my time is worth more (or less) than another guy in my area who is not. It does mean I may be the only game in town if you need or want a tail wheel instructor but I wouldn't charge more for my time.
Don't know what the going rate is in your area but in my area of PA $45-$50 an hour is the going rate.
First I must say I don't instruct to make a living. I do it to help out folks who might need my particular experties ie tail wheel, that they can not find elsewhere. I do it at my convenience. I also give a lot of my time away.
From my standpoint the fact I happen to be an instructor who is tail wheel qualified, doesn't mean my time is worth more (or less) than another guy in my area who is not. It does mean I may be the only game in town if you need or want a tail wheel instructor but I wouldn't charge more for my time.
Don't know what the going rate is in your area but in my area of PA $45-$50 an hour is the going rate.
CAUTION - My forum posts may be worth what you paid for them!
Bruce Fenstermacher, Past President, TIC170A
Email: brucefenster at gmail.com
Bruce Fenstermacher, Past President, TIC170A
Email: brucefenster at gmail.com
- Brad Brady
- Posts: 745
- Joined: Fri Feb 29, 2008 2:54 am
Re: CFI Charges
Thanks, Bruce...I just wondered. I've been doing this for my whole life, I would do it for nothing....I love it that much...Yet I do have to eat... I see that I'm in tune now...
Re: CFI Charges
$50/hr is about the going rate these days....unfortunately for the good CFI's. (The computer gurus charge more than that for teaching operators, PLUS the service call. Maybe that's because of the danger of electrical shock..?? )
(The GM auto-dealers down here get $105/hr for mx work, and the airport FBOs only get $45-$85.... I guess that's because
airplane guys love their work...???)
(The GM auto-dealers down here get $105/hr for mx work, and the airport FBOs only get $45-$85.... I guess that's because
airplane guys love their work...???)
'53 B-model N146YS SN:25713
50th Anniversary of Flight Model. Winner-Best Original 170B, 100th Anniversary of Flight Convention.
An originality nut (mostly) for the right reasons.
50th Anniversary of Flight Model. Winner-Best Original 170B, 100th Anniversary of Flight Convention.
An originality nut (mostly) for the right reasons.
Re: CFI Charges
I charge a lot less than that, but I'm free-lance. Instructors at FBOs cost more because they've got overhead that I don't have.
John Renwick
Minneapolis, MN
Former owner, '55 C-170B, N4401B
'42 J-3 Cub, N62088
'50 Swift GC-1B, N2431B, Oshkosh 2009 Outstanding Swift Award, 2016 Best Continuously Maintained Swift
Minneapolis, MN
Former owner, '55 C-170B, N4401B
'42 J-3 Cub, N62088
'50 Swift GC-1B, N2431B, Oshkosh 2009 Outstanding Swift Award, 2016 Best Continuously Maintained Swift
Re: CFI Charges
My son is paying $45/hr to freelance instructor, using my plane, at Cartersville, GA. He has full time job with Delta but loves the Cessna 170's and is highly qualified in tail wheel planes. The local FBO is charging $50/hr in Cessna 172's.
Jim Wildharber, Kennesaw, GA
Past President TIC170A (2010-12) and Georgia Area Representative
'55 170B, N3415D, SN:26958, O-300D; People's Choice '06 Kelowna, B.C., Best Modified '07 Galveston, TX, Best Modified '08 Branson, MO.
Past President TIC170A (2010-12) and Georgia Area Representative
'55 170B, N3415D, SN:26958, O-300D; People's Choice '06 Kelowna, B.C., Best Modified '07 Galveston, TX, Best Modified '08 Branson, MO.
Re: CFI Charges
Does that instructor know his client is the son of the rich, past-Prez of our association? (He might raise his fees if he did!)jlwild wrote:My son is paying $45/hr to freelance instructor, using my plane, at Cartersville, GA. He has full time job with Delta but loves the Cessna 170's and is highly qualified in tail wheel planes. The local FBO is charging $50/hr in Cessna 172's.
'53 B-model N146YS SN:25713
50th Anniversary of Flight Model. Winner-Best Original 170B, 100th Anniversary of Flight Convention.
An originality nut (mostly) for the right reasons.
50th Anniversary of Flight Model. Winner-Best Original 170B, 100th Anniversary of Flight Convention.
An originality nut (mostly) for the right reasons.
- Brad Brady
- Posts: 745
- Joined: Fri Feb 29, 2008 2:54 am
Re: CFI Charges
Yep George, our local dealers charge $110.00 Per hour. The car shops are charging $98.00 I just raised my shop rate from $75.00 to $80.00 Just because I cant pay my bills for less....I relay don't make that much in the end. and am sending a kid to the U of I this year. If I go out and get a real job....so I can send the kid to collage....everyone in the area is going to loose my work on their aircraft. One of my mentors said "people don't need their aircraft.....They need their cars.... that's why you can't charge what a car shop charges!gahorn wrote:$50/hr is about the going rate these days....unfortunately for the good CFI's. (The computer gurus charge more than that for teaching operators, PLUS the service call. Maybe that's because of the danger of electrical shock..?? )
(The GM auto-dealers down here get $105/hr for mx work, and the airport FBOs only get $45-$85.... I guess that's because
airplane guys love their work...???)
Re: CFI Charges
Actally Brad, The federal government does not recoginize an A&P as a trained professional. That is the problem in the airline industry as well. Airlines hire mechanics for $15/hr. An auto mechanic is recognized as a trained professional. DougBrad Brady wrote:Yep George, our local dealers charge $110.00 Per hour. The car shops are charging $98.00 I just raised my shop rate from $75.00 to $80.00 Just because I cant pay my bills for less....I relay don't make that much in the end. and am sending a kid to the U of I this year. If I go out and get a real job....so I can send the kid to collage....everyone in the area is going to loose my work on their aircraft. One of my mentors said "people don't need their aircraft.....They need their cars.... that's why you can't charge what a car shop charges!gahorn wrote:$50/hr is about the going rate these days....unfortunately for the good CFI's. (The computer gurus charge more than that for teaching operators, PLUS the service call. Maybe that's because of the danger of electrical shock..?? )
(The GM auto-dealers down here get $105/hr for mx work, and the airport FBOs only get $45-$85.... I guess that's because
airplane guys love their work...???)
52' C-170B N2713D Ser #25255
Doug
Doug
-
- Posts: 526
- Joined: Thu Dec 02, 2004 1:52 am
Re: CFI Charges
I pay $60/hour for guitar lessons. I have never paid for lessons attaining my private single engine land, TW endorsement or Bi-annual Flight reviews. However I would find $50 to $55/ hour acceptable. I do give away a lot of maintenance hours however I charge $75/ hour when I work on non fellow flyers machines. Although all of my customers are my friends.
A&P, IA, New owner C170A N1208D, Have rebuilt some 50 aircraft. So many airplanes, So little time!
Re: CFI Charges
A couple of years ago a doctor, a hangar neighbor, that has a very nice turbo Bonanza asked me if I would be able to do an oil change on his airplane. I allowed as I could likely fit it in to my schedule, so he asked about the cost. I quoted him $100/ hr. plus parts.
He paled visibly, and wanted to know why I had such a high rate. I simply asked him what rate he paid to have the oil changed at the dealer on his wifes Lexus.
He found someone else.
He paled visibly, and wanted to know why I had such a high rate. I simply asked him what rate he paid to have the oil changed at the dealer on his wifes Lexus.
He found someone else.
BL
- Brad Brady
- Posts: 745
- Joined: Fri Feb 29, 2008 2:54 am
Re: CFI Charges
Yep and that's just the type of person I don't like, or need. I just picked up a 55 170 at an owners place, left my 172 in his hanger (how many people will do that for a client) it is standard practice for me!blueldr wrote:A couple of years ago a doctor, a hangar neighbor, that has a very nice turbo Bonanza asked me if I would be able to do an oil change on his airplane. I allowed as I could likely fit it in to my schedule, so he asked about the cost. I quoted him $100/ hr. plus parts.
He paled visibly, and wanted to know why I had such a high rate. I simply asked him what rate he paid to have the oil changed at the dealer on his wifes Lexus.
He found someone else.
Re: CFI Charges
Here in southern Maryland the going rate is $25/hr. That is what the Flight School charges, therefore the rate I charge when freelancing. There is pressure on instruction rates due to the close proximity of a military flying club that charges even less.
Re: CFI Charges
The rate is $53/hr here at Freeway (Maryland, near Annapolis) for instruction but, you get the added bonus of SFRA and LOTS of radio communication training on every flight
Regarding mechanic prices, my car mechanic charges $90/hr and the shop on the field charges $90/hr as well.
$90 for a car is steep for me cuz I can do the work. $90 for the airplane is steep for me cuz everything seems to be a 10 hour job ...but I'm not allowed to do the work
That being said, I think the A&P should be able to charge more due to the certification and liability.
I really need to get my A&P so I can start signing my own logbook.
Regarding mechanic prices, my car mechanic charges $90/hr and the shop on the field charges $90/hr as well.
$90 for a car is steep for me cuz I can do the work. $90 for the airplane is steep for me cuz everything seems to be a 10 hour job ...but I'm not allowed to do the work
That being said, I think the A&P should be able to charge more due to the certification and liability.
I really need to get my A&P so I can start signing my own logbook.