How much will I earn?
Can this be a career?
Possibly one of the most important questions we never get asked. So many people get wrapped up in the excitement of doing a ski instructor course that they forget about the bigger picture. The answer is yes this can be a career.
BASI level 1
The BASI 1 is a great starting place but just the BASI 1 is not enough to build a career on. Most dry ski slopes and indoor ski centres will pay between £8 and £10 an hour for an instructor position.
You would be mistaken however if you thought that this would provide a steady income year round. Just as in the mountains the work is very seasonal and the winter teams at these centres will be considerably larger than the summer teams. Working on a dry ski slope or indoors is a great way to hone your teaching skills though. If you can make lessons exciting and engaging in such a limited environment it will be childs play when you get to the mountains.
BASI level 2
As a level 2 Instructor working in Switzerland you could expect to earn between 20 and 25 CHF an hour. While this is a reasonable amount of money you may find your potential income is limited by the number of hours that you are allocated. A lot of ski schools will have some sort of priority list that will dictate who gets the most work.
If you decided to head to Austria you would most likely be offered a flat salary that paid the same regardless of how many hours you worked. This is great as it gives you a consistent income you can rely on but can mean that sometimes especially during peak periods you will end up doing a huge amount of hours. You could expect your monthly pay packet to be the equivalent of €1300 – €1800. It is important to highlight the word equivalent there as some schools will have accommodation and food packages.
Across the rest of the world the pay scales do vary slightly, in New Zealand and Australia you could expect 16-22$ an hour. In the Americas you may find it is slightly less but you will do considerably better in tips.
The level 2 is an incredible qualification that allows you to work while you continue to train but to be really comfortable and in a position to save and possibly support a family you need to continue on up the BASI ladder.
BASI level 3 or ISIA
As a level 3 instructor you will more money per hour than a level 2 on average you could expect your hourly/monthly rate to increase by 10 to 20%.
In most countries you will be one of the highest qualified instructors on the hill so you should find yourself working your way up the priority list and getting a better variety of work.
Combined together this can really increase your earning potential. With this level of qualification you will be able to start making a sustainable living and as such a career in the industry.
BASI level 4 or ISTD
Once you have achieved your level 4 the world is your oyster. If you are working in France you can expect between 45 and 60 Euros an hour and would be able to expect around 600 hours of work a season. Your hourly rate would be fairly similar in Switzerland. If you decided to work further a field in the USA for example you may find your hourly rate is lower but you would be high of the priority list because of your qualification and tips are far more common.
Get more information
Becoming a ski instructor may seem a daunting task and the variety of courses available certainly does not make it any easier, but here at New Generation we have over 10 years experience of running ski instructor training courses and during that time we have come across most situations, problems and variables.
We are available 7 days a week and will be able to guide you through all steps of the BASI system, at every level. So contact us today and find out more.
Note: If you contact us regarding a specific course we can also send you a full brochure, so don’t forget to enter your address details.
