How Much Does an Aviation Instructor Make in California?

Updated March 01, 2025
As of March 01, 2025, the average annual pay of Aviation Instructor in California is $63,997. While Salary.com is seeing that Aviation Instructor salary in CA can go up to $80,366 or down to $48,563, but most earn between $55,918 and $72,565. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, and your experience levels. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
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Similar Job Salaries to Aviation Instructor by Company

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Company average base salary in (usd) range
Chaffey College
Instructor, Aviation Maintenance Technology
$142,631/yr
$102,712
$182,550
RANGE: $102,712 - $182,550
Cuesta College (CA)
Aviation Maintenance Part-time Instructor Pool
$96,672/yr
$65,820
$127,523
RANGE: $65,820 - $127,523
Cuesta College - San Luis Obispo County Community College
Aviation Maintenance Part-time Instructor Pool
$132,659/yr
$104,078
$161,240
RANGE: $104,078 - $161,240
Gavilan College
Part-Time Aviation Maintenance Technology Instructor
$100,976/yr
$69,609
$132,343
RANGE: $69,609 - $132,343
$87,183/yr
$59,360
$115,007
RANGE: $59,360 - $115,007
FRANCIS TUTTLE TECHNOLOGY CENTER
Aviation and Drone Technologies Instructor
$106,650/yr
$92,921
$120,379
RANGE: $92,921 - $120,379
State Technical College of Missouri
Aviation Maintenance Instructor
$89,022/yr
$74,551
$103,493
RANGE: $74,551 - $103,493
Butler Tech
High School Aviation Instructor
$84,632/yr
$65,443
$103,822
RANGE: $65,443 - $103,822
Everglades University
Aviation - Adjunct Instructor
$58,233/yr
$49,765
$66,700
RANGE: $49,765 - $66,700
KCTCS Careers Site
Aviation Maintenance Technology Instructor
$82,861/yr
$57,121
$108,601
RANGE: $57,121 - $108,601

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Top 10 Highest Paying Cities For Aviation Instructor Jobs in California

It is important to understand how location impacts your career prospects in the United States. There are some cities where an Aviation Instructor can find a job easily with a greater salary paid then achieve a higher standard of living. Below is the top cities list for Aviation Instructor job salaries in California. Some cities can pay higher salaries for Aviation Instructor jobs, which can indicate that there is a large demand for Aviation Instructor positions in this city.
The following table shows top 10 cities where the Aviation Instructor salary is higher than other cities in California. San Jose takes first place in this list, followed by Santa Clara, Fremont. The Aviation Instructor salary is $72,816 in San Jose, which is higher than the national average. There are 76 cities' Aviation Instructor salary higher than national average in California.
The average salary for an Aviation Instructor in California is $63,997, but we found that the city with the highest salary for Aviation Instructor jobs is San Jose, CA, and it is higher than Santa Clara. Aviation Instructor jobs in San Jose can have the opportunity to earn higher salaries than in other cities in California.
CITY ANNUAL SALARY MONTHLY PAY WEEKLY PAY HOURLY WAGE
San Jose $72,816 $6,068 $1,400 $35
Santa Clara $72,816 $6,068 $1,400 $35
Fremont $72,700 $6,058 $1,398 $35
San Francisco $72,526 $6,044 $1,395 $35
Daly City $72,526 $6,044 $1,395 $35
Berkeley $70,785 $5,899 $1,361 $34
Oakland $70,785 $5,899 $1,361 $34
Hayward $70,669 $5,889 $1,359 $34
Antioch $66,840 $5,570 $1,285 $32
Vallejo $65,273 $5,439 $1,255 $31

What Does an Aviation Instructor Do?

The aviation instructor is the central figure in aviation training and is responsible for all phases of required training.
Updated October 13, 2021
As professionals, aviation instructors strive to maintain the highest level of knowledge, training, and currency in the field of aviation.
Updated October 02, 2021
A PII (Pilot Instructor In-Charge) and Dep.CFI (Deputy CFI) are both variations of the PI and CFI ranks respectively but they essentially hold the same certificate / rating issued by DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation).
Updated December 17, 2021
An instructor who is rude, thoughtless, and inattentive cannot hold the respect of a student, regardless of the instructor’s ability as a pilot or aviation maintenance technician.
Updated December 08, 2021
Experienced aviation instructors will also find the information useful for improving their effectiveness in training activities.
Updated December 05, 2021

Frequently Asked Questions About an Aviation Instructor Salaries

What is the average of an Aviation Instructor in California?

The Aviation Instructor salary range is from $55,918 to $72,565, and the average Aviation Instructor salary is $63,997/year in California. The Aviation Instructor's salary will change in different locations.

Which location pays the highest Aviation Instructor salary in the United States?

The Aviation Instructor salary in San Jose, CA is $72,816 which is the highest in the US.

What kinds of reasons will influence the Aviation Instructor's salary?

Besides the location, employees' education degree, related skills, and work experience also will influence the salary. Try to improve your skills and experience to get a higher salary for the position of Aviation Instructor.

What is the growth rate of the Aviation Instructor's salary?

If you are thinking of becoming an Aviation Instructor or planning the next step in your career, find the detailed salary report of an Aviation Instructor.