Private Aviation · Senior · 12 to 20 years typical
Check Airman / Type Rating Instructor Salary
Annual base compensation, national and by market, from 258 named sources. Every figure below says where it came from.
| Market | Multiplier | P25 | P50 | P75 | P90 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York City, NY | 1.40× | $180,000 | $250,000 | $355,000 | $465,000 |
| San Francisco, CA | 1.30× | $170,000 | $235,000 | $330,000 | $430,000 |
| Boston, MA | 1.25× | $165,000 | $225,000 | $320,000 | $415,000 |
| Palm Beach, FL | 1.25× | $165,000 | $225,000 | $320,000 | $415,000 |
| Miami, FL | 1.23× | $160,000 | $220,000 | $310,000 | $405,000 |
| Los Angeles, CA | 1.20× | $155,000 | $215,000 | $305,000 | $400,000 |
| Washington, DC | 1.20× | $155,000 | $215,000 | $305,000 | $400,000 |
| Seattle, WA | 1.15× | $150,000 | $205,000 | $295,000 | $380,000 |
| Chicago, IL | 1.05× | $135,000 | $190,000 | $270,000 | $350,000 |
| Dallas, TX | 1.00× | $130,000 | $180,000 | $255,000 | $330,000 |
Time to fill 16 weeks for comparable searches, estimated from rouka's benchmark set.
Severe shortage mirrors pilot shortage; experienced check airmen retiring faster than pipeline replacement
What does a Check Airman / Type Rating Instructor do?
The Check Airman / Type Rating Instructor operates in private aviation operations, managing aircraft, flight crews, and aviation logistics for principals, charter operators, or fractional ownership programs. Professionals in this role typically bring 12 to 20 years of relevant experience. Classified at the Senior level, this position draws from a very tight candidate market with an estimated pool of 70-180 qualified professionals, making targeted sourcing and competitive compensation critical for successful placements.
What drives Check Airman / Type Rating Instructor compensation?
The median (P50) compensation for a Check Airman / Type Rating Instructor is $180,000, with the 25th to 75th percentile range spanning $130,000 to $255,000. The 69% spread between P25 and P75 reflects significant pay variation driven by aircraft type and fleet size, flight hours, type ratings held, international operating experience, Part 91 vs. Part 135 operations, and the principal's travel frequency. Demand for this role is trending upward with 10% year-over-year growth, which is putting upward pressure on compensation at all levels.
Check Airman / Type Rating Instructor career path
Professionals who move into Check Airman / Type Rating Instructor roles most commonly come from commercial aviation, military flight operations, or corporate flight departments. From this position, the typical trajectory leads toward chief pilot positions, director of aviation, aviation management company leadership, or fleet management for multi-aircraft operations. The average tenure in this role is approximately 6 years, with an annual turnover rate of 8%.
Hiring a Check Airman / Type Rating Instructor?
A search playbook for this seat: compensation positioning against the band above, the sourcing map, and the interview framework.