Where to work as a ski instructor?
Our Complete guide to the pros and cons of becoming a ski instructor by country.
Working as a ski instructor is an incredibly rewarding experience. You get to spend your days in some of the most beautiful environments the world has to offer, you meet an incredibly diverse range of people and you help them achieve their goals and have fun.
Each country is slightly different though and working in Canada will be an incredibly different experience from working in France. Not only are the experiences different but the amount of money you will earn can vary wildly.
The following information focuses on pay, security, career progression and which qualifications are recognised. Depending on your Citizenship status you may also need to factor in the Right to Work in a given country. We are not experts on VISA’s but can give general advice. If you are accepted onto a course that requires you to have a VISA our team will organise this with you.
America
We have expanded on the details of Skiing in Northern American resorts under the Canadian section, so make sure you read on for more information about the general North American experience.
There are six main areas in America where you will find ski resorts; New England, mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Midwest, Rocky Mountains and the West Coast.
New England, South East and Mid Atlantic generally get lumped together under the umbrella East Coast Resorts. Very few of Americas famous resorts are found in this part of the country. While it is a vast generalisation, East Coast Resorts have a reputation for being quite icey and getting less fresh snow.
The Midwest, West Coast and the Rocky Mountains are home to some of Americas most famous resorts.
Utah specifically is renowned for getting lots of powder, while over the border in Colorado, you can find some of the most famous resorts in America, including Vail. Further north, Wyoming is home to Jackson Hole, a must for many freeride skiers.
On the west coast, you have resorts like Mammoth and Heavenly. Recently snowfall on the West Coast has been hit and miss, and many resorts have experienced increasing annual temperatures.
We would head to the west coast if you are looking to maximise earnings; for Powder days and the best terrain, we would look at the Rockies and Midwest. For easy access to the industry, we would suggest the north coast.
Australia
When you first think of skiing you don’t automatically think of Australia, but Australia has some great resorts mainly in the states of New South Wales and Victoria. With Australia having opposite winter months to that of Europe, America and Canada, it means a lot of instructors take advantage of back-to-back winters.
So what qualifications do you need to teach in Australia and what other requirements need to be considered?
Each ski school in Australia has their own employment requirements but the majority will require some form of ski qualification and BASI qualifications are recognised.
The majority of instructor positions in Australia are offered at resort hiring clinics. These are run in May, ahead of the winter season. In most cases you will need to apply for a place to attend one of the hiring clinics but places can not be applied for until you have obtained a work permit or working holiday visa.
There are exceptions to the hiring clinics. Schools may offer to sponsor instructors to work for them and in these cases they also arrange a work permit on the instructors behalf. In other resorts, they will interview you by Skype or phone and offer you a role on the basis that you hold the necessary qualification.
There are many great resorts in Australia, some of the most popular are:
Thredbo – 500km south of Syndey, Thredbo covers 480 hectares of terrain and has something to suit everyone, regardless of level. The resort holds the longest runs in Australia, and has four progressive terrain parks with great features. This means instructors are able to teach a variety of skills in their lessons.
Perisher – Perisher is made up of 4 ski villages; Perisher Valley, Smiggin Holes, Guthega, and Blue Cow. Together they make up 12 square kilometres of skiable terrain and like Thredbo, a great variety of parks to keep you busy Perisher also home to Australia’s only half pipe which means there are some great competitions here. As a resort Perisher is committed to making sure snow conditions are at their best and have spent a massive $22 million investing in new snow making systems over the past decade.
Mt Buller – Mt Buller is smaller than the above two resorts but it is home to the largest lift system and most in-resort accommodation in Victoria. This has allowed it to run the Victorian Snowsports championships, and become a top destination for ice climbing too. There are 300 hectares of skiable terrain including 80km of groomed piste and 9km of cross-country trails. Mt Buller also has 22 lifts.
For a list of resorts, go to www.ski.com.au.
Austria
Many people see Austria as the birthplace of Alpine Skiing as we know it today. It was in Austria that skis changed from the more classic method of transportation used by the Scandinavian nations towards more modern Alpine Skis. It is also home to the first formal Ski Lessons and Ski School with Hannes Schneider launching the ski school Arlberg 100 years ago in 1921.
Austria is a great place to work and train as a ski instructor. There is a high demand for lessons and the Ski Schools are set up to support the ongoing development of young instructors. When not working it is quite likely that you will have the opportunity to train with one of the more experienced instructors on the team.
Many Austrian schools will place instructors on a contract that guarantees them a minimum number of hours, includes accommodation and your lift pass. This dramatically reduces the financial pressure, especially on a young instructor.
We do have a few words of warning though. While most schools look after their instructors incredibly well some are less supportive. We have heard stories about schools suspending contacts when work is quiet. This puts the cost of your accommodation up and means you have to pay for your lift pass if you want to continue skiing. It is worth talking to past instructors to hear their experiences.
Hourly rates vary dramatically depending on your qualification level.
- BASI Level 2/Anwerter – €14 per hour
- BASI Level 3/Landes 2/Other ISIA Qualification – €25 per hour
- BASI Level 4/Staatliche/Other ISTD Qualification – €40 per hour
- SkiFuhrer – €50 per hour
These hourly rates are lower than instructors may find they are able to earn in the rest of Europe or Switzerland. The big difference is though that in Austria you are an employee and have all the normal benefits included with that, such as; sick pay, holiday pay, health care and so on. This is not the case in many other nations.
Recognition of qualifications in Austria is a complicated subject. All non-Austrian qualifications have to be approved and the holders have to apply for equivalence. For other EU qualification systems, this is mainly a formality. For 3rd Nation Systems like BASI, APSI, NZSIA and others it is a more complicated process but we have had individuals with qualifications in those systems work for us in the past.
Qualification recognition is only part of the challenge. You do also need to factor in the employability of your qualification. Many Austrian schools will favour the Austrian qualification system and its instructors. There is an element of national pride here but as we mentioned they are also set up to support the development of instructors within this pathway. Other more international schools are more open to other qualifications but may not be able to provide the same level of ongoing career support.
Canada
Skiing in Canada and, more generally, across North America will feel incredibly different if you are used to skiing in Europe.
The first thing to talk about is snowfall. Many people will say that they have experienced better, more consistent powder in Canada than in Europe. They are probably right. Whistler Blackcomb has an average annual snowfall of 11.38 metres. To put that in perspective, some of the most snow-sure resorts in France, Tignes and Val d’Isere, get 4.5 metres.
If thinking about taking a ski instructor job in Canada, do make sure you do your research. Not every resort is as snow sure as Whistler, and resorts on the East Coast can get very mixed reviews.
The big difference you will notice on snow is around the perception of off-piste skiing. In most European ski areas, you have marked pisted runs, which are patrolled and secured by Pisteurs. The remaining terrain that does not impact any marked runs is only lightly managed. Decisions on the safety of skiing this terrain are left entirely to the individual, and good knowledge of avalanche safety and rescue techniques are essential.
In most of North America, things are a little different. While the resort does have pisted/groomed runs and non-pisted areas, everything within the resort boundary is patrolled and secured. If parts of the resort are deemed unsafe due to avalanche or other risks, that part of the resort is closed. Theoretically, this means that you can ski anywhere within the resort boundary without avalanche safety gear. Accidents do still happen, and we would still encourage you to wear safety gear.
Outside of the resort boundary, you are on your own, and you must have a full avalanche safety kit and a high level of avalanche awareness.
The differences don’t stop there. In many North American resorts, the entire resort infrastructure is owned and operated by one company. This means there is only one ski school, and they will work closely with the resort management to create a great learning environment for clients. Generally, these schools are also better positioned to help with staff accommodation.
While there are many positives to one company owning and operating the entire resort, the lack of competition can have its downsides. Prices at some resorts are considerably higher than in Europe, and Instructor pay can be a lot lower.
On average, as a ski instructor in Canada, you can expect to earn.
- BASI Level 1/CSIA Level 1 or equivalent – $10 – $13 per hour
- BASI Level 2/CSIA Level 2 or equivalent – $15 – $18 per hour
- BASI Level 3/CSIA Level 3/equivalent or above – $20 – $25 per hour
In addition to your hourly pay, there is more of a tipping culture in North America, and you may find the cost of living is a little lower.
France
For many Europeans (often excluding Austrians), France is seen as the final rung on the ladder for becoming a ski instructor. The mountains are not necessarily any bigger. Some would argue the skiing is no better, but the pay is, without a doubt, much higher.
This high pay does come at a price, and that is a high barrier to entry.
Two main pathways will allow you to work as a ski instructor in France.
- Achieve a French State Ski Diploma through ENSA. This is a level III diploma equivalent to a Baccalaureate + 2 level.
- The training course extends over a minimum period of three to four years from the preparatory cycle.
- There are effectively two levels; Stagiaire (Apprentice) Status and fully qualified.
- The average training period for ski instructors in this system is seven years.
- The cost of the exams is approximately € 5,500. However, you will need to factor in training and other associated costs.
- Achieve an Equivalent Diploma through one of the following systems.
- German, Italian, Slovenian or Austrian.
- BASI are currently in the process of re-formalising their recognition in France. We are watching these talks closely, and it seems likely that an agreement will be reached.
Once you are qualified to work in France, you will be among the world’s highest-paid Ski Instructors. While exact rates do vary from resort to resort, you can expect to be paid;
- Stagiaire – €25 – €35 per hour.
- Fully Qualified Instructor – €45 – €60 per hour.
As the entry barriers are so high, you are unlikely to need to worry about the employability of the qualification you choose, and you will most likely find that you have offers from several schools.
If you have earned your qualification through the French State Diploma, it is likely that you will have been embedded in a ski school for the duration of your training. During this time, you will work your way up a priority list, helping you ensure more consistent hours.
Despite the high barriers to entry, there is a far higher level of commercial competition between Ski Schools and Instructors than in most countries. As a result, the quality of lessons and instructors is incredibly high.
So what are the downsides of working in France? There are very few, but you do need to prepare for slightly higher rent than you would expect to pay elsewhere.
