Flight Instructor
Shortage Now
States / territories with a shortage signal
Snapshot
Median salary
A$157,200
Full-time annual
People employed
970
Estimated workforce
Shortage signal
Shortage (national)
Categories identify where a shortage occurs; they are not a severity score.
What you actually do
Educates and trains students in flight procedures, navigation and aircraft operations, and supervises their flight practice, ensuring safety and compliance with aviation regulations.
Alternative titles
Flying Instructor
Specialisations
Skills & main tasks
Official main tasks
- Develops detailed and structured lesson plans encompassing theoretical knowledge and practical skills
- Instructs students in the theory and principles of flying aircraft
- Conducts pre-flight and post-flight inspections of aircraft to ensure safety and airworthiness
- Demonstrates and explains the operation of aircraft controls and equipment
- Provides practical flight training to students, including take off, landing and manoeuvring
- Monitors and evaluates students' progress, and provides feedback on their performance
- Maintains logs of student performance and their flying hours
- Prepares students for flight certification exams
Where people work
State / territory distribution
Highest education
Share of workers
Education & work pattern
Part-time
34%
Female rate
11%
Median age
39
2030 & 2035 employment outlook
to 2030
+6%
876 projected jobs
to 2035
+14%
2,116 projected jobs
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OSCA skill level 1
A classification attribute describing the occupation; it is not a personal eligibility or qualification decision.
Registration or licensing
Registration or licensing is required.
Official VET pathways
Diploma of Aviation (Flight Instructor)
Progression pathway
Diploma of Aviation (Commercial Pilot Licence - Aeroplane)
Progression pathway
Diploma of Aviation (Commercial Pilot Licence - Helicopter)
Progression pathway
Diploma of Aviation (Instrument Rating)
Progression pathway
Advanced Diploma of Aviation (Pilot in Command)
Progression pathway
Real jobs right now
Live signal from SEEK, Indeed & moreCurrent vacancy signal
WA · May 2026
15
VIC · May 2026
12
NT · May 2026
4
TAS · May 2026
2
NSW · May 2026
33
QLD · May 2026
34
Where could this career take you?
Compare state-level shortage signals, salary context, study options and visa information for Flight Instructor.
Regional demand
Largest employment base
#1 Melbourne - North East
806 estimated employed
- 1
Melbourne - North East
806 employed
VIC
+18.88%
year on year
- 2
Sydney - Sutherland
796 employed
NSW
+6.56%
year on year
- 3
Gold Coast
737 employed
QLD
+9.84%
year on year
- 4
Brisbane Inner City
680 employed
QLD
+10.03%
year on year
- 5
Sunshine Coast
676 employed
QLD
+20.71%
year on year
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Ranked by current shortage signal and projected employment growth.
Workers in this occupation
575
Moved in from another occupation
80
Moved to another occupation
65
Recommendation score: shortage = 2 points, no shortage = 1 point, plus 1 point for each 10% of projected growth to 2035.
- 1
4
points
Data status
- Classification
- OSCA 299133
- Last updated
- Refresh pending
- Sources
- Jobs and Skills Australia OSL · Jobs and Skills Australia DOM · ABS OSCA · OSCA 2024 — Jobs and Skills Australia
Labour-market data coverage
- Shortage signal and drivers: JSA Occupation Shortage List (ANZSCO unit group where applicable).
- Work profile, state distribution and education: JSA Occupation Profiles (ANZSCO mapped).
- Regional employment: JSA NERO, June 2026.
- Career-move observations: JSA DOM, last available 2020–21. Observed Australian worker transitions are not personalised recommendations; many contractors and sole traders are excluded, as are transitions below 10 workers.
- Vacancy signal: JSA Internet Vacancy Index, 3-month average (ANZSCO unit group).
- Employment outlook: JSA employment projections (ANZSCO unit group).
- Training pathways: JSA Training Occupation Pathways.
Data confidence: estimate.