Aircraft Mechanic
Salary, job outlook, education and requirements
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul aircraft engines and assemblies, such as hydraulic and pneumatic systems.
Also called: Aircraft Maintainer · Aircraft Maintenance Technician (Aircraft Maintenance Tech) · Aircraft Mechanic · Aircraft Restorer · Aircraft Service Technician (Aircraft Service Tech) · Aircraft Technician (Aircraft Tech) · Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic (A and P Mechanic) · Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT)
O*NET-SOC 49-3011.00 (Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians)
Aircraft Mechanic salary
Wages for aircraft mechanics and service technicians across all employers, 2025 data. The 10th percentile is typical entry-level pay; the 90th percentile reflects the most experienced and highest-paid workers.
National median hourly wage: $38.40.
Aircraft Mechanic pay by state
Ten largest states by population, annual wages.
| State | 10th percentile | Median | 90th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $53,860 | $86,100 | $116,690 |
| Texas | $48,600 | $84,440 | $122,180 |
| Florida | $45,500 | $76,940 | $130,190 |
| New York | $63,380 | $102,800 | $240,310 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,560 | $78,000 | $136,510 |
| Illinois | $46,460 | $81,680 | $130,950 |
| Ohio | $51,490 | $80,570 | $132,850 |
| Georgia | $47,240 | $75,640 | $133,250 |
| North Carolina | $50,970 | $76,980 | $112,050 |
| Michigan | $48,180 | $74,900 | $118,100 |
Aircraft Mechanic job outlook
- Employment is projected to go from 140,000 jobs in 2025 to 147,600 in 2035 (5% change).
- About 11,400 openings are projected each year, including jobs that open up as workers retire or change occupations.
- CareerOneStop outlook rating: Average.
How to become an aircraft mechanic
- Typical entry education
- Postsecondary certificate
- Work experience
- No work experience
- On-the-job training
- No on-the-job training
Education level of current workers
- Less than high school diploma2.4%
- High school diploma or equivalent27.3%
- Some college, no degree33.6%
- Associate's degree23.2%
- Bachelor's degree11.2%
- Master's degree1.8%
- Doctoral or professional degree.4%
Related training programs
- Agricultural Mechanics and Equipment/Machine Technology/Technician
- Aircraft Powerplant Technology/Technician
- Airframe Mechanics and Aircraft Maintenance Technology/Technician
What does an aircraft mechanic do?
Common tasks
- Inspect completed work to certify that maintenance meets standards and that aircraft are ready for operation.
- Read and interpret maintenance manuals, service bulletins, and other specifications to determine the feasibility and method of repairing or replacing malfunctioning or damaged components.
- Maintain repair logs, documenting all preventive and corrective aircraft maintenance.
- Examine and inspect aircraft components, including landing gear, hydraulic systems, and deicers to locate cracks, breaks, leaks, or other problems.
- Conduct routine and special inspections as required by regulations.
- Replace or repair worn, defective, or damaged components, using hand tools, gauges, and testing equipment.
- Inspect airframes for wear or other defects.
- Check for corrosion, distortion, and invisible cracks in the fuselage, wings, and tail, using x-ray and magnetic inspection equipment.
- Measure parts for wear, using precision instruments.
- Remove or install aircraft engines, using hoists or forklift trucks.
Most important skills
- Equipment Maintenance
- Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.
- Repairing
- Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.
- Troubleshooting
- Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.
- Operations Monitoring
- Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.
- Reading Comprehension
- Reading work-related information.
- Critical Thinking
- Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
- Complex Problem Solving
- Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
- Quality Control Analysis
- Testing how well a product or service works.
Aircraft Mechanic certifications
8 of 13 certifications CareerOneStop maps to this occupation. Requirements vary by employer and state.
- Certifying Technical Employee Competence (CertTEC) · Advanced
- Certifying Technical Employee Competence (CertTEC) · Core
- Certifying Technical Employee Competence (CertTEC) · Core
- Certifying Technical Employee Competence (CertTEC) · Core
- Certifying Technical Employee Competence (CertTEC) · Core
- Federal Aviation Administration · Specialty
- Certifying Technical Employee Competence (CertTEC) · Advanced
- International Fluid Power Society · Advanced
See all 13certifications in CareerOneStop's Certification Finder
Aircraft Mechanic jobs
Current federal openings from USAJOBS. For more air traffic control jobs, including private-sector listings, see the Air Traffic Control jobs hub.
Job data from USAJOBS.gov. Careers.org is not affiliated with or endorsed by OPM.
Related careers
- Avionics Technicians
- Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers
- Aircraft Service Attendants
- Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians
- Engine and Other Machine Assemblers
- Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians
- Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists
- Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians
- Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines
- Automotive Service Technician
More air traffic control careers
This page includes information from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (DOLETA), and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).
Source: CareerOneStop occupation profile for Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians. Wages are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program; projections are national long-term projections.