Ave pay for DMs and Instructors?

[downunder]

I have seen multiple dive shops with "help wanted" signs up for Dive Masters and Instructors. What is the average pay out there for these positions? I assume it is flat rate based upon number of students or flat per class??? Just considering going all the way and instructing on the side, but something has to pay the bills at the end of the tunnel!!! Thanks.

[PlatypusMan]

There are very few people who make their living solely in SCUBA.

Everyone I know has a day job to pay the bills.

The majority of DMs and Instructors are Independent Contractors, and as such the pay rate probably varies with what is brought to the table. Can you do specialties? Master's License for a power boat? Equipment repair?

Can you make good money? Perhaps; I know one shop owner (NOT ST!) who complained to me that his DMs every summer head down to Grand Cayman to DM on the boats there and pull in quite a bit of coin during the season. Kind of leaves him with a bit of a pickle when it comes to class help.

If you want to get a 'down & dirty' idea of what pay might be, check out the NAUI and PADI web sites for jobs posted.

Hope this helps a bit.

[Dive-aholic]

Average pay depends on the shop and the area. As a DM, I didn't make anything working with a LDS. I made a little as an instructor, but still not much at all. As an independent, I make a lot more, but still not enough to support myself. It basically covers my diving expenses...well some of them...
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV>I'm sure there are some instructors and DMs out there who make a very modest living in the dive industry, but if you're reading Help Wanted signs, chances are those aren't the jobs that will support anyone.</DIV>

[picxie]

There was an instructors position advertised here (in NZ) about six months ago. It was barely more than the minimum wage - I was very shocked as these are the people you trust your life on when you are learning, yet they got paid so little. I imagine it's more of a lifestyle choice then a job.

[georoc01]

My DM last weekend works for nothing but tips and free fills.
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV>My assistant instructor got a $30 credit in the shop he taught through for every weekend of teaching.</DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV>The instructors on the cruise ship I was on got paid up to $4k a month but also had all meals and housing included and for every tour beyond the first one got their flights to and from the home port of the ship covered.</DIV>

[downunder]

That's good to know. I certainly knew that it wouldn't pay all the bills, I was just hoping the ones associated with getting the higher level certs, insurance needs and some additional equipment.
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV>But, it sounds like I ought to be on a cruise ship!!!!</DIV>

[Joew]

At my LDS the DMs and instructors work 40 hr weeks (except for those who choose to work part time) and make decent pay by dive industry standards. They have a lot of employees who've been there for 10+ years, and they all seem to get by pretty well. None of them are rolling in cash, but at least they can afford to live a normal life (house, car, 2.2 kids).

In contrast, I've seen other shops around here that pay their staff in peanuts, and they have a huge employee turnover rate. I think it's sad that most shops treat their DM's and instructors this way. That's part of the reason why the average scuba instructor quits teaching after 1 year.

[thesmoothdome]

I can only speak about what it was like 15 years ago, but in San Diego most DMs received a heart felt thank you from most shops. Instructors made the big bucks, making between $50.00 and $65.00 per student for an OW class.

[cummings66]

Around these parts DM's make almost nothing surviving by tips alone. Instructors don't make much either. All the ones I know have a job outside of instructing, and instructing is how they introduce others to their love of diving.

Even the technical diver instructors work hard to make a living and typically have a normal weekly job.

[Bill22]

My long term plan is to be a dive instuctor when I retire from the military. Sounds like it's lucky I'm only looking for something to supplement my retirement income while getting to dive ;-)