If you’re planning on being a ski instructor then you’ll need to carefully consider where in the world you want to spend the season. The salaries vary massively in each country, so in this article I’ll be taking you through the average amount ski instructors get paid throughout the world.
The average salary per hour of a ski instructor is $19 (USD) in the USA and $18 (CAD) in Canada. In Europe, the average ski instructor salary is €24 per hour, with Switzerland paying the most at €32 followed by France which pays €28 per hour on average.
| Country | Average Salary/ Hour | USD Equivalent* |
| Japan | 1600¥ | $11 |
| Canada | $18 | $13 |
| Australia | $25 | $16 |
| USA | $19 | $19 |
| Spain | €20 | $20 |
| Italy | €21 | $21 |
| Germany | €22 | $22 |
| Austria | €25 | $25 |
| France | €28 | $28 |
| Switzerland | €32 | $32 |
Ski Instructor Salary USA
On average, ski instructors in the USA earn $19 per hour. The average length of a working week is 30 hours which equates to a salary of $570 per week or $2450 per month. The typical ski season in the USA lasts for 5 months making the average salary per season $12,250.
In some resorts, the working week will only be 15-20 hours, however sometimes it can be 40 hours during peak times such as Christmas.
In general, resorts in Utah have a higher average salary for ski instructors compared to other states, with Aspen Snowmass having the best salaries. Resorts in Colorado typically do not pay a well.
| Ski Resort | Average Salary/ Hour | Average Salary/ Week | Average Salary/ Month | Average Salary/ Season |
| Beaver Creek, CO | $16 | $480 | $2064 | $10,320 |
| Breckenridge, CO | $18 | $540 | $2322 | $13,932 |
| Jackson Hole, WY | $19 | $570 | $2451 | $11,030 |
| Telluride, CO | $19 | $570 | $2451 | $10,417 |
| Vail, CO | $19 | $570 | $2451 | $12,255 |
| Steamboat, CO | $19 | $570 | $2451 | $11,030 |
| Palisades, CA | $20 | $600 | $2580 | $12,900 |
| Park City, UT | $20 | $600 | $2580 | $12,900 |
| Deer Valley, UT | $20 | $600 | $2580 | $11,610 |
| Snowbird, UT | $22 | $660 | $2838 | $13,481 |
| Aspen, UT | $25 | $750 | $3225 | $16,125 |
Average salary of ski instructors in popular US ski resorts (US dollars). Based on 30 hour work week. Average salary/ season calculated per resort to match average season dates
Ski Instructor Salary Canada
On average, ski instructors in Canada earn $18 (CAD) per hour. The average length of a working week is 30 hours which equates to a salary of $540 per week or $2300 per month. The typical ski season in Canada lasts for 5 months making the average salary per season $11,600.
The average salary doesn’t vary very much between resorts, however some resorts have different bonus packages. The average salaries quoted in the table below are for instructors with limited experience, it is possible to earn significantly more if you have higher qualifications/ time teaching.
| Ski Resort | Average Salary/ Hour | Average Salary/ Week | Average Salary/ Month | Average Salary/ Season |
| Lake Louise | $17 | $510 | $2,193.00 | $12,061.50 |
| Sunshine Village | $18 | $540 | $2,322.00 | $13,932.00 |
| Sun Peaks | $18 | $540 | $2,322.00 | $11,029.50 |
| Revelstoke | $18 | $540 | $2,322.00 | $11,610.00 |
| Whistler Blackcomb | $18 | $540 | $2,322.00 | $12,771.00 |
| Big White | $19 | $570 | $2,451.00 | $11,642.25 |
Average salary of ski instructors in popular Canadian ski resorts (CA dollars). Based on 30 hour work week. Average salary/ season calculated per resort to match average season dates
Ski Instructor Salary Europe
On average, ski instructors in Europe earn €24 per hour. The average working week is 36 hours so the weekly salary is €813 and the monthly salary is €3500. The ski season in Europe typically lasts for 4.5 months making the average salary per season €15,725.
Europe typically offer higher salaries for ski instructors compared to the USA and Canada. Switzerland offers the best ski instructor salaries worldwide, however the cost of living is higher compared to most other countries. France offers high ski instructor salaries, but requires advanced qualifications.
| Ski Resort | Average Salary/ Hour | Average Salary/ Week | Average Salary/ Month | Average Salary/ Season |
| Spain | €20 | €720 | €3,096 | €15,480 |
| Italy | €21 | €756 | €3,251 | €16,254 |
| Germany | €22 | €792 | €3,406 | €13,622 |
| Austria | €25 | €900 | €3,870 | €17,415 |
| France | €28 | €1,008 | €4,334 | €22,756 |
| Switzerland | €32 | €1,152 | €4,954 | €18,576 |
Average salary of ski instructors in Europe (Euros). Based on 36 hour work week. Average salary/ season calculated per resort to match average season dates
Ski Instructor Salary Japan
The average level 1 ski instructor in Japan earns 1600 yen per hour which equates to approximately $10.80 (USD). This makes the average ski instructor salary in Japan one of the lowest worldwide. However, Japan is a relatively cheap place to live. Rent is typically 150% more expensive in the USA compared to Japan, and groceries are 20% more expensive.
Ski Instructor Salary Australasia
The average ski instructor salary in Australia is $25 per hour (AUD) which equates to approximately $16 USD per hour. This means ski instructors typically get paid less in Australia compared to the USA and Europe, but more compared to Canada and Japan.
In New Zealand the average salary for a ski instructor is $22 per hour (NZD) which equates to roughly $12.50 USD. New Zealand generally pays its ski instructors less per hour compared to Australia. However, New Zealand is a cheaper place to live with rent costing an average of 17.5% less, and groceries costing 6.5% less.
Does the Ski Instructor Salary Vary With Experience?
The averages above typically favour the lesser qualified instructors salaries, as there are more level 1/ level 2 instructors compared to more experienced instructors. With more experience and qualifications, it is possible to earn significantly more.
There are 4 ski instructor qualifications:
- Level 1: entry-level salary. Allows you to teach beginners and usually needs to be required in the same country.
- Level 2: approximately 15-20% higher salary than level 1 instructors. Allows you to teach in most countries to intermediate level.
- Level 3: approximately 20% higher salary than level 2 instructors. Allows you to teach most abilities internationally.
- Level 4: approximately 30% higher salary than level 3 instructors. Maximum internationally recognised instructor level.
| Country | Lv1 Salary | Lv2 Salary | Lv3 Salary | Lv4 Salary |
| Japan | 1400¥ | 1610¥ | 1932¥ | 2511.6¥ |
| Australia | $21 | $25 | $30 | $39 |
| Canada | $16 | $19 | $23 | $30 |
| USA | $17 | $20 | $24.50 | $32 |
| Spain | €18 | €21.50 | €26 | €33.50 |
| Italy | €19 | €23 | $27 | $35.50 |
| Germany | €20 | €24 | €29 | €37.50 |
| Austria | €21 | €25 | €30 | €39 |
| France | N/A | €28 | €33.50 | €43.50 |
| Switzerland | €26 | €31 | €37 | €48.50 |
How Much Does it Cost to Qualify as a Ski Instructor?
Ideally, you’ll need to get trained to a Level 2 qualification to open up more opportunities. Level 1 instructors are not in high demand and the qualification is typically not recognised internationally. In France for example, the minimum qualification to instruct is actually Level 2.
However, Level 2 qualifications, and even Level 1 ski instructor qualifications are very expensive. For accommodation, travel and the course and qualification you can expect to pay upwards of $7000. The courses typically last for 11 weeks.
Perks of Being a Ski Instructor
- Access to free skiing: most resorts allow their instructors to ski all over the resort any time they want. A season pass would otherwise cost approximately $800-$1000 (USD) for North American resorts.
- Generous tips: although tips are not always given, it is common to receive a 10-20% tip for private lessons and around $20 tip for group lessons in North America.
- Après Ski: one of the best things about being a ski instructor is how much access to great restaurants, nightlife and other activities you’ll have when you’re not teaching in the ski school.