Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers: Career Overview
Assemble, fit, fasten, and install parts of airplanes, space vehicles, or missiles, such as tails, wings, fuselage, bulkheads, stabilizers, landing gear, rigging and control equipment, or heating and ventilating systems.
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The Daily Work of Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers Perform?
The day-to-day responsibilities of aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers cover:
- Assemble parts, fittings, or subassemblies on aircraft, using layout tools, hand tools, power tools, or fasteners, such as bolts, screws, rivets, or clamps.
- Read blueprints, illustrations, or specifications to determine layouts, sequences of operations, or identities or relationships of parts.
- Attach brackets, hinges, or clips to secure or support components or subassemblies, using bolts, screws, rivets, chemical bonding, or welding.
- Inspect or test installed units, parts, systems, or assemblies for fit, alignment, performance, defects, or compliance with standards, using measuring instruments or test equipment.
- Adjust, repair, rework, or replace parts or assemblies to ensure proper operation.
- Cut, trim, file, bend, or smooth parts to ensure proper fit and clearance.
- Fabricate parts needed for assembly or installation, using shop machinery or equipment.
- Layout and mark reference points and locations for installation of parts or components, using jigs, templates, or measuring and marking instruments.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Effective aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The competencies most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Types of Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers Jobs
Common job titles for this role include:
- A&P Technician (Airframe and Powerplant Technician)
- Aerospace Assembler
- Aircraft De-Icer Installer
- Aircraft Fuselage Framer
- Aircraft Layout Worker
- Aircraft Line Assembler
- Aircraft Part Assembler
- Aircraft Parts Assembler
Employment and Demand
There are roughly 782,560 aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +7.2% over the projection horizon.
Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $48,162 |
| Hourly median | $23.16 |
| 10th percentile | $30,834 |
| 25th percentile | $39,498 |
| 75th percentile | $56,826 |
| 90th percentile | $65,490 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $93,550 |
| Connecticut | $82,280 |
| Texas | $81,130 |
| Pennsylvania | $78,570 |
| Colorado | $68,230 |
| Arizona | $66,930 |
| Georgia | $65,580 |
| Missouri | $64,360 |
| Florida | $62,770 |
| Alabama | $62,010 |
| Utah | $59,810 |
| Tennessee | $59,070 |
| Kansas | $57,970 |
| California | $56,160 |
| Ohio | $55,540 |
| Oregon | $55,150 |
| Michigan | $55,070 |
| Virginia | $52,420 |
| North Carolina | $51,440 |
| Idaho | $51,210 |
| Mississippi | $49,710 |
| New York | $48,010 |
| Oklahoma | $45,840 |
| Arkansas | $40,690 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Compensation for aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers shift depending on where you work. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | $82,280 | 0.8% | 0.67 |
| Far Western US | $81,360 | 22.7% | 4.47 |
| Southwest | $76,591 | 13.5% | 1.06 |
| Middle Atlantic | $72,894 | 4.5% | 0.75 |
| Southeast | $60,648 | 21.1% | 1.95 |
| Rocky Mountains | $60,390 | 1.7% | 0.55 |
| Plains States | $58,193 | 35.0% | 33.13 |
| Great Lakes | $55,128 | 0.8% | 0.21 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $94,910 | 4,390 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | TX | $83,870 | 2,450 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | PA | $79,110 | 890 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | FL | $73,040 | 140 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | MO | $70,080 | 380 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | AZ | $66,930 | 460 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $64,970 | 40 |
| Huntsville, AL | AL | $63,790 | 240 |
Industry Breakdown
The bulk of aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 30,040 | $61,680 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 1,250 | $61,620 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 980 | $43,620 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 440 | $73,480 |
| Educational Services | 90 | $49,750 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tools and Technology
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software: SAP software (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
Daily working conditions for aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers reflects the following characteristics:
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Exposed to Contaminants
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
Education and Training
Entry-level aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians (Supplemental)
- Sheet Metal Workers (Primary-Long)
- Avionics Technicians (Primary-Long)
- Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers (Supplemental)
- Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians (Primary-Long)
- Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door (Supplemental)
- Industrial Machinery Mechanics (Supplemental)
- Maintenance Workers, Machinery (Supplemental)
Where to Study
Aspiring aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers often complete programs in:
Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians
3 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 51-2011.00 (Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers).
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