This depends on what you want to do. You can do tandem rating, videographer, packer, reserve packer, master rigger, pilot, instructor etc. Lets talk about tandem first. You can earn anything between $25-$60 per tandem jump. Depending on the dropzone on quantity, but there are always perks. Some DZ's do about 700+ jumps per season(6 months). Calc $40x700/6months=$4600p/m. Then you can go to another side of the world to catch the season there, or chill out. This is a very stranious job though. Videographer, would get about half that, but a lot less stress in the air. Packer. I am uncertain about the current rate, but if you are at a busy DZ, do a good pack job consistantly, you will sure as hell survive, and normally get some free jumps/accomodation. Reminder here, it is NOT cheap to get to that level of tandem master, so you will have to probably sell your house to get there, and loose the wife, since you are going to be on the DZ every day.
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That varies a lot depending on wether or not they are full or part-time staff. Most in fact are part-time jumping at weekend. They are usually paid on a jump by jump basis. Tandem instructing is more profitable than Accelerated Freefall or Static Line course instructing.
Most skydivers don't make any money because it is a hobby.
There are professional skydivers. Generally, they're very poor, as they pretty much teach in order to jump for free, paying for their addiction to the sport. The adreneline is very addicting. Therefore, skydiving schools don't pay their instructors much.
I'm sure it depends on where you work, but where I work it is $35 a lesson, with a lesson running from 1 hour to 5 hours depending on the weather and students.
its not about the money, its about building credit at the DZ to do more of what you love...JUMP! Blue Skies