dsbbreck 0 #1 April 22, 2004 It just came to me that in the skydiving industry, there doesn't seem to be many raises when it comes to being an instructor. Just curious, when was the last time the standard instructor rate increased. It seems to me that it's about $30 a jump around most of the country, and as far as I can tell, it's been about that for the past 5 years at least. Do you as an instructor think it's about time that the industry raises the jump rate for instructors to at least meet the cost of living?David "Socrates wasn't killed because he had the answer.......he was killed because he asked the question." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diablopilot 2 #2 April 22, 2004 As far as I can tell most instructors are not employees, they are contractors. The industry only needs to rase rates when it finds itself without a supply of contractors willing to work for the current rates. I think $30 is fair. Many DZ's pay far less. Few if any pay much more.---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JoeyRamone 0 #3 April 22, 2004 Do you as an instructor think it's about time that the industry raises the jump rate for instructors to at least meet the cost of living? *** I think a lot is based on what DZ you work at. People are only willing to pay so much for that first skydive, then, most DZ'S, hope the people will return for another ,then an AFP or AFF program, then become a weekend jumper.... All depends on how many student walk into your home DZ. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bodypilot1 0 #4 April 22, 2004 As long as the "weekend warrior" exists as an Instructor, the Tandems or AFF's will go up, yet the Instructors rates will remain the same.......www.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fool 0 #5 April 22, 2004 I think with the raised cost of running an airplane these days, keeping jump tickets the same price is impressive enough. I also think that if there was a raise in both instructor pay, and jump tickets, they would negate each other. The instructors pay for fun jumps too after all. S.E.X. party #1 "Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "f*#k, what a ride". Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zeemax 0 #6 April 22, 2004 i think in the UK the rate is about $80-90 a jump. Phoenix Fly - High performance wingsuits for skydiving and BASE Performance Designs - Simply brilliant canopies Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diablopilot 2 #7 April 22, 2004 Quotei think in the UK the rate is about $80-90 a jump. Than seems like quite a lot. The only instructors I've heard of getting paid that much per jump here stateside, are Tandem Instructors with their own rigs. Could that be what you're talking about, or are jumps in the UK the equivalent of $400 each?---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CanuckInUSA 0 #8 April 22, 2004 So has your cost of living increased? You know I'm not talking about normal consumer inflation which is usually on the rise. I'm talking about something else. Or did your prices (as a member of the staff) stay the same? Try not to worry about the things you have no control over Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyangel2 2 #9 April 22, 2004 I just read in another post that a DZ is raising the price of their jumps for a Memorial Fund. Maybe you can get the owners to start a Memorial Fund for the instructors that risk their lives every time they jump with a student. I say, take care of the staff, the staff that keeps the students in the air, and they (the instructors) will be good to you (the DZOs).May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cajundude 0 #10 April 22, 2004 I've been a scuba instructor since 1994 and I can tell you as a contract instructor (which seems to me what the skydive instructors are) you probably won't get a raise. Since 94, I was paid a certain amount per student depending on the level of certification. If ya'll are getting $30 per jump that sounds awesome. Imagine only getting $50 a student for about 25-30 hrs. worth of work! With only 8 students in a class that is $400. I've decided to switch over to above sea level instead of below sea level. I am in the process of selling all of my excess scuba gear and will be starting my journey to the A license and possibly one day an instructor on May 5, my birthday! So get ready Skydive Spaceland, I'll be visiting you soon! Oh yea, this was on top of my regular full time job because there is no way you can make a living doing it, at least not with my tastes in hobbies. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnMitchell 14 #11 April 23, 2004 Our DZ has raised the Tandem pay to $37 a jump, and the instructor has to pack, but the static line instructor's pay has not gone up from $10 a student since I started teaching over 25 years ago! The price of the class is 4 times what it used to be, though. I don't teach the FJC much anymore because of that, but enough other people do, so the marketplace decides the wages. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thelem 0 #12 April 23, 2004 QuoteQuotei think in the UK the rate is about $80-90 a jump. The only instructors I've heard of getting paid that much per jump here stateside, are Tandem Instructors with their own rigs. Depends what you mean by instructor. If I was an instructor I would expect to get: £90 for a SL course ground training £40 for being the 'duty instructor' for the day - ie refreshing students, giving briefs and dispatching SL students. Any other SL instructors who instruct that day are unlikely to get paid anything, but may get a free solo jump from it. £40 (I think) for being a Tandem instructor. As for AFF, the later levels seem to be about £115. Take off jump tickets, student gear and packing and that is about £70 for the jump. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zeemax 0 #13 April 23, 2004 what are you basing those on? And yes a tandem at my local DZ is £230 = $400 ish... yup, our country sucks.Phoenix Fly - High performance wingsuits for skydiving and BASE Performance Designs - Simply brilliant canopies Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chriswelker 0 #14 April 23, 2004 If you are trying to make a living off AFF it is my hallucination that you would be very fortunate to clear $20,000. The better money is in packing and Tandems when you look at things from a input/output point of view. I do AFF because I like giving something back to the sport, when I REALLY need the MONEY I'll take Tandems all day long for $75 a toss. "When you squeeze a sponge, only so much water will come out." Chris Welker Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
slotperfect 7 #15 April 23, 2004 QuoteI do AFF because I like giving something back to the sport Me too . . . it serves to forward the sport and support many organizarions within. I also like to teach, which is more extensive in AFF vs. tandems. Quotewhen I REALLY need the MONEY I'll take Tandems all day long for $75 a toss Do you own your own rig? I get paid $30 per tandem, $40 if I pack the rig. Using school owned equipment, that is.Arrive Safely John Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Adriandavies 0 #16 April 23, 2004 QuoteQuotei think in the UK the rate is about $80-90 a jump. Than seems like quite a lot. The only instructors I've heard of getting paid that much per jump here stateside, are Tandem Instructors with their own rigs. Could that be what you're talking about, or are jumps in the UK the equivalent of $400 each? At the moment tandems are £210 or $367.50 (using £1 to $1.75) at the weekend at the Langar DZ where I jump. Midweek is cheaper. I've heard of UK tandem instructors with their own rigs and also doing AFF earning £30-£40000 before tax pa ($52500-$70000 pa). Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
burbleflyer 0 #17 April 29, 2004 You know what? If they paid a decent wage there would be long line ups to do the job. Then they could pick and choose instructors and that would make the instructors in the job work harder knowing how easy they could be replaced. Or, they could hire MORE instructors and not work their staff to death but provide a decent living with days off. DZs continually mismanage money and the instructors get shorted becuase of it. If they can pay ME 30 bucks a jump for rig rental they should be able to pay themselves as well. 2000 tandems x 30 bucks is nearly 60 grand in profit just from rig rental. Student gear as well. It goes at 30 bucks a jump. DZs are always cryin poor but its bad management in MHO. Dont even ask about all the free labor we're asked to provide at the DZ. I get paid to jump, but I'm supposed to empty garbage and build shit for free. Then, along comes a weekend warrior who gets paid exactly what I do who doesnt do any of the shit work. That my friend, is BS. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DanglesOZQld 0 #18 April 29, 2004 Being a full time jumper is a lifestyle thing and not a job that will make you rich. After a great deal of pushing we got a rise after some 5 years of a few dollars a jump. I used to work for another dz every few weekends but choose not to go there at all now due to money being a more important factor than proper training and/or procedures. BSBD - Mark. "A Scar is just a Tattoo with a story!!!" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vt1977 0 #19 April 29, 2004 Quotei think in the UK the rate is about $80-90 a jump. Where's that? I was under the impression that in most of the UK the going rate for tandems and AFF was around £30-£35 which is more like $50 - $60. Vicki Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stateofnature 0 #20 April 29, 2004 It's easy to get a raise, just jump more As an instructor you'll burn out anyway, so before that happens, go to school, skydiving is the perfect college job. Then, you get to live the dream again, to one day pay for skydives... tear ... tear .... happiness!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
