What is the average income for a snow skiing instructor?

Question

What is the average income for a snow skiing instructor?

Answer 1

There are a few factors.  Full-time will make more than part-time.  Most ski instructors where I work are part-time.  (Saves the resort money that way.)  

You can also make more money if you're certified through PSIA (Professional Ski Instructors of America).  At our resort there is a .15¢/hour increase over minimum age for each level of certification, so someone who is a Level 3 cert. is going to make .45¢ + minimum / hour.

TIPS are the bread and butter of our income.  Some weeks I make more in tips than in my paycheck.

Once you are certified you can get better jobs within the industry as ski school director or other ski area management, but in order to get certified you have to put in over 50 teaching hours FIRST.

We don't do it for the money, its about sharing our love of the sport.

Answer 2

I'm trying to figure out how Salary Expert.com pushed out that $31K figure. Maybe I'm using the website incorrectly, but I can't even get it to FIND Ski Instructor as a surveyed career. I wouldn't put any trust in that.

I can't see instructors making more than $8000 for a whole season. Here's my math:

Average Season: 16 weeks

Average Workweek: 40hrs/week

Ballpark Wage: $10.00

Add 20% extra for tips and that comes to about $7600 a season.

It varies a lot from location to location. But as Jim said, he only made about $5000 and he works a fairly lenghty season. Some places only pay you for your lessons, some places pay you a lower wage because you are "on duty" but not teaching, then pay a different rate when you actually have a lesson. It's a wide range...but not anywhere near $31K.

The Mountain Ops manager at my mountain makes about $30K between the 5 months he works at the mountain and the 7 months he works at the summer camp also operated by our management company.

Answer 3

In BC, the average income is 31 000/ year for a ski instructor.  (see salaryexpert.com)

It can also depend on your credentials.... for example someone who has skied their whole life and teaches versus someone who has skied their whole life and has a degree in physical education or kinisiology would likely get paid more.

Answer 4

not a lot

Answer 5

Not much. Very few instructors in the US make much above minimum wage. The few top instructors at the big resorts in the Rockies, may make more. Most in the smaller resorts are doing it for the love of the sport. I was full time this season and have 40 years teaching experience, with an Alpine 2 Certification. I made less than $5,000 for the season including tips.

Top directors and names with a reputation may make a much larger salary.