Ski instructor?

Question

Whats the job like? pay much ?

Answer 1

I totally agree with Willie's answer. The rate of pay is always low, only a few of the very best ex racers  make a top pay in the industry.  90% of all lessons are beginners to intermediates. Pay by the hour, so to work the hours, you teach beginners and children.   Talk to the resort where you wish to teach, also some areas allow private or concession schools who have less demanding schedules.

  Jim.

Answer 2

I did it about 20 years ago, and it paid enough to have a lot of fun, so long as you have a bunch of roommates.  Free skiing, lots of discounts at the resorts.  If you're good, you can decent tips.

Answer 3

The pay is little, around the $7 per hour range.  And no matter how good of a skier you are, you will probably be stuck with teaching beginners (on a major resort) until you earn certification.  That could take a while, but after a few years your pay will increase quite a bit and you can start getting paid to ski where you want to.  Another factor is that you have to be out in all weather conditions, if that doesn't bother you and you can live on low pay (be prepared to room with lots of foreigners), then this is a great job for you.  Personally, I prefer working in a ski shop and going skiing on my lunch breaks.

For more accurate info contact the human resources dep. in the ski instructing/school program at the resort you are interested in.

Answer 4

Pay is low at a major resort. However, if you already live close to a ski resort of any size, the pay isn't as bad.

Pay is lower when you rely on the resort for room & board. If you already live near a resort you could make between $10-$20 per 1-hr lesson. However, resorts all over vary how they pay their instructors.

Some places pay a flat "per hour" rate, others pay by lesson, some give extra pay if you are specially requested. Pay will vary based on your PSIA certification and years of experience.

New instructors can always be expected to work with kids and beginners. That's the way it goes. Usually only experienced instructors get private lessons and advanced lessons.

Job perks are what most people do it for.

A) Free Skiing at your home hill.

B) Free-to-severely discounted skiing at other resorts.

C) Discounts on Gear. (This varies by resort and PSIA certification as well.)

D) Free-to-severely discounted food in the Lodge.

My advise is unless you are a total ski bum (which isn't bad) skip out on working at a resort where you rely on them for housing. If you live close to a resort, it's not a bad job. I know plenty of people who are in landscaping, painting, work at summer camps, etc. through the summer and work at ski resorts through the winter and manage to pay rent, put food in the fridge, and throw a party once in a while.

The best seasonal job at a resort is Ski Patrol, but many partollers are volunteers and to get a paid patrol job is tough. But you can rely on a paycheck and you get to ski.

Lifties, Groomers, Snowmakers, Shop Techs, etc. also can rely on steady pay, but don't get to ski as much.

Instructors get to ski a lot, but the pay is not steady.

So there it is.