What Does it Take to Be an Aircraft Mechanic or Service Technician?
Aircraft Mechanic or Technician Example Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul aircraft engines and assemblies, such as hydraulic and pneumatic systems. Includes helicopter and aircraft engine specialists.
Life As an Aircraft Mechanic or Technician: What Do They Do?
- Install and align repaired or replacement parts for subsequent riveting or welding, using clamps and wrenches.
- Measure parts for wear, using precision instruments.
- Modify aircraft structures, space vehicles, systems, or components, following drawings, schematics, charts, engineering orders, and technical publications.
- Check for corrosion, distortion, and invisible cracks in the fuselage, wings, and tail, using x-ray and magnetic inspection equipment.
- Fabricate defective sections or parts, using metal fabricating machines, saws, brakes, shears, and grinders.
- Clean, strip, prime, and sand structural surfaces and materials to prepare them for bonding.
What an Aircraft Mechanic or Technician Should Know
When polled, Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Repairing: Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Equipment Maintenance: Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Types of Aircraft Mechanic or Technician Jobs
- Helicopter Mechanic
- Landing Gear Mechanic
- X Ray Examiner of Aircraft
- Burnisher and Bumper
- Preflight Mechanic
Aircraft Mechanic or Technician Job Outlook
In the United States, there were 132,000 jobs for Aircraft Mechanic or Service Technician in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 4.9% which is below the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 6,500 new jobs for Aircraft Mechanic or Service Technician by 2026. The BLS estimates 10,900 yearly job openings in this field.
The states with the most job growth for Aircraft Mechanic or Technician are Alabama, Nevada, and Utah. Watch out if you plan on working in Washington, Massachusetts, or Wisconsin. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Aircraft Mechanic or Technician Average Salary
The average yearly salary of an Aircraft Mechanic or Technician ranges between $36,760 and $97,820.
Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians who work in Connecticut, Georgia, or Nevada, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $67,400 |
| Arizona | $62,280 |
| Arkansas | $51,150 |
| California | $70,750 |
| Colorado | $73,130 |
| Connecticut | $78,240 |
| Delaware | $62,250 |
| Florida | $63,040 |
| Georgia | $76,310 |
| Hawaii | $65,260 |
| Idaho | $54,960 |
| Illinois | $63,840 |
| Indiana | $49,090 |
| Iowa | $55,940 |
| Kansas | $56,840 |
| Kentucky | $79,590 |
| Louisiana | $60,340 |
| Maine | $51,570 |
| Maryland | $72,650 |
| Massachusetts | $67,420 |
| Michigan | $58,350 |
| Minnesota | $62,050 |
| Missouri | $62,490 |
| Montana | $55,900 |
| Nebraska | $46,180 |
| Nevada | $78,380 |
| New Hampshire | $57,270 |
| New Jersey | $69,090 |
| New Mexico | $62,140 |
| New York | $67,840 |
| North Carolina | $60,820 |
| North Dakota | $57,360 |
| Ohio | $59,490 |
| Oregon | $61,090 |
| Pennsylvania | $66,830 |
| Rhode Island | $51,670 |
| South Carolina | $62,120 |
| South Dakota | $53,730 |
| Tennessee | $58,170 |
| Texas | $63,860 |
| Utah | $60,770 |
| Vermont | $60,280 |
| Virginia | $67,000 |
| Washington | $68,140 |
| West Virginia | $54,220 |
| Wisconsin | $53,360 |
| Wyoming | $58,390 |
What Tools do Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Web browser software
- SAP
- Microsoft Windows
- Computer aided manufacturing CAM software
- Maintenance record software
- Technical manual database software
Becoming an Aircraft Mechanic or Technician
Individuals working as an Aircraft Mechanic or Service Technician have obtained the following education levels:
How many years of work experience do I need?
Where Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians Are Employed
The table below shows the approximate number of Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians employed by various industries.
You May Also Be Interested In…
Those thinking about becoming an Aircraft Mechanic or Service Technician might also be interested in the following careers:
Those who work as an Aircraft Mechanic or Service Technician sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
Image Credit: Airman 1st Class Nigel Sandridge via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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