by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 5 U.S. colleges awarded 36 degrees and certificates in Flight Instructor. Associate degrees are the most popular award, at 50% of graduates. College Factual ranks 2 schools in its 2027 Best Flight Instructor Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $54,735 one year after completing, rising to $88,771 after four years.
A 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.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, flight instructor draws strong interest, with 36 degrees awarded annually. 5 colleges award flight instructor degrees, an average of 7 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 18.
By level, the 36 awards include 18 associate degrees, 5 bachelor’s degrees and 12 master’s degrees.
Women earned 8% of flight instructor degrees and certificates in the latest year (3 of 36). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (30) and Hispanic or Latino (3).
College Factual ranks 2 schools in its 2027 Best Flight Instructor Schools ranking, including 1 for associate degrees. It also ranks flight instructor schools within 1 state. In all, 5 colleges offer flight instructor programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Flight Instructor Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common flight instructor credential is the associate degree: 18 of the 36 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to flight instructor call most for Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring and Monitoring, and for knowledge of Transportation, English Language and Public Safety and Security, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Response Orientation, Problem Sensitivity and Control Precision.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a flight instructor degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 18 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 5 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 12 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to flight instructor, at 45.8%.
| 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% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Flight Instructor, with an average median salary of $51,180. Typical job titles include Line Pilot, Helicopter Pilot, Airplane Pilot and Copilot.
The occupation related to flight instructor with the most projected jobs is Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers, at 1,094,880.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | 1,094,880 | -1.9% |
| Commercial Pilots | 368,702 | -1.8% |
Flight Instructor graduates earn a median $54,735 one year after completing their program, $88,771 after four years and $80,211 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $54,735 |
| 4 years | $88,771 |
| 5 years | $80,211 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to flight instructor, with a median salary of $58,648.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $58,648 |
| Commercial Pilots | $43,713 |
Flight Instructor has 7 similar majors in the Transportation & Materials Moving field, which together award 11,964 degrees a year; the largest are Aeronautics/Aviation/Aerospace Science and Technology, General (6,536), Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew (2,560) and Aviation/Airway Management and Operations (2,152). Browse all Transportation & Materials Moving majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Aeronautics/Aviation/Aerospace Science and Technology, General | 6,536 |
| Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew | 2,560 |
| Aviation/Airway Management and Operations | 2,152 |
| Air Traffic Controller | 235 |
| Air Transportation, Other | 219 |
| Remote Aircraft Pilot | 192 |
| Airline Flight Attendant | 70 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
