by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Flight Instructor explores Flight Instructor. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Technical Knowledge And Skills To The Training Of Pilots Or Navigators, To Prepare Them To Fly And/or Navigate Commercial Passenger And Cargo, Agricultural, Public Service, Corporate And Rescue Aircraft, And Fixed Or Rotary Wing Aircraft. Includes Instruction In Principles Of Aircraft Design And Performance, Aircraft Flight Systems And Controls, Flight Crew Operations And Procedures, Radio Communications And Navigation Procedures And Systems, Airways Safety And Traffic Regulations, And Governmental Rules And Regulations Pertaining To Piloting Aircraft. Programs May Qualify Individuals To Administer The Faa Commercial Air Crew Examinations. Read on to learn the key facts every flight instructor student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering flight instructor programs.
Across the country, flight instructor draws strong interest, with 30 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Flight Instructor Schools ranking analyzes these 5 schools to determine the best overall colleges for flight instructor students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of flight instructor programs later in this article.
Studies in Flight Instructor build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations flight instructor graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a flight instructor program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a flight instructor major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several flight instructor degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 14 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 6 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 9 |
People currently working in careers related to flight instructor tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 45.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 20.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 13.0% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 9.8% |
| Some college courses | 5.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.3% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in flight instructor careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in flight instructor opens doors to a variety of career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to flight instructor.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to flight instructor.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | 1,094,880 | -1.9% |
| Commercial Pilots | 368,702 | -1.8% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of flight instructor graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $54,735 |
| 4 years | $69,369 |
| 5 years | $80,156 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for flight instructor graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers flight instructor grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $58,648 |
| Commercial Pilots | $43,713 |
With 5 different flight instructor programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased flight instructor school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in flight instructor, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Aeronautics/Aviation/Aerospace Science and Technology, General | 6,327 |
| Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew | 2,249 |
| Aviation/Airway Management and Operations | 1,786 |
| Air Transportation, Other | 315 |
| Air Traffic Controller | 189 |
| Remote Aircraft Pilot | 127 |
| Airline Flight Attendant | 47 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
