Flight Training — Average Employee Salary

The average employee in the flight training industry earns $79,711 per year ($38.32/hour), according to Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW data.

$79,711
Avg Annual Pay
25,172
Total Employees
1,727
Total Establishments
15
Avg Employees/Business

What Do Flight Training Workers Earn?

At $79,711/year (equivalent to $38.32/hour for a full-time worker), flight training wages are significantly above the national average of ~$65,000.

Higher wages in this industry typically reflect specialized skills, professional certifications, or technical expertise required for the work. Employers competing for talent in this space face elevated labor costs.

The typical flight training business employs 15 people. These are mid-sized operations where payroll is a significant but manageable expense.

Wages as a Percentage of Revenue

53.2%

For the average flight training business generating $2.2M/year with 15 employees at $79,711 each, total payroll represents roughly 53.2% of revenue. This is a labor-intensive industry — payroll is the dominant expense.

What This Means for Business Owners

If you're starting or running a flight trainingbusiness, here's what the wage data means for your bottom line:

  • Per-employee cost: Budget approximately $103,624/year per employee (salary + ~30% for benefits, taxes, and insurance).
  • Typical team size: 15 employees = ~$1,195,665/year in base payroll.
  • Hourly equivalent: $38.32/hour base — factor this into pricing and project estimates.
  • Revenue needed: With average revenue of $2.2M/business, you need strong utilization rates to maintain healthy margins after payroll.

See how these wages compare to total revenue and profit margins.

View full Flight Training revenue benchmarks →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do flight training employees make?
The average flight training employee earns $79,711 per year, which is equivalent to $38.32/hour for a full-time worker (2,080 hours/year). This is above the national average of approximately $65,000.
How many people work in the flight training industry?
The flight training industry employs 25,172 workers across 1,727 establishments in the United States. The average business in this industry has approximately 15 employees.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW 2023).