State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
Aircraft Mechanic Salary (2026): Data, Outlook & How to Become One
The median pay for Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians is $79,870 a year ($38.40/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 4.0% through 2034, with about 11,300 openings a year (BLS EP, 2024–2034). Typical entry-level education: Postsecondary nondegree award.
SOC 49-3011Installation, Maintenance, and RepairLast updated August 15, 2026
- Median pay
- $79,870
- Projected growth
- +4.0%
- Openings a year
- 11,300
- Typical education
- Certificate
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Also advertised as: Aircraft Maintainer, Aircraft Maintenance Technician (Aircraft Maintenance Tech), Aircraft Mechanic, Aircraft Restorer, Aircraft Service Technician (Aircraft Service Tech), Aircraft Technician (Aircraft Tech).
How much do Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians make?
10th percentile$48,780
Entry / lowest-paid tenth
25th percentile$62,630
Lower quartile
Median (50th)$79,870
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile$99,130
Upper quartile
90th percentile$128,890
Top-paid tenth
| Median annual wage | $79,870 |
|---|---|
| Median hourly wage | $38.40/hr |
| Mean annual wage | $84,740 |
| People employed | 138,090 |
Versus all US occupations
At $79,870, Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians earn 57% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $28,890 a year.
Versus installation, maintenance, and repair occupations
Inside the Installation, Maintenance, and Repair group, where the middle occupation pays $60,460, this is 32% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $128,890 or more while the bottom 10% earn $48,780, a gap of 2.6×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 66% of the 923 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
New Jersey pays the most at $105,370, and still leads at $96,843 once local prices are taken into account.
Which states pay Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians the most?
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $105,370 | $96,843 | 1,900 |
| New York | $102,800 | $95,255 | 4,300 |
| Maryland | $100,500 | $95,752 | 1,070 |
| Washington | $98,980 | $92,493 | 4,480 |
| Connecticut | $96,830 | $93,456 | 1,430 |
| Nevada | $94,890 | $94,910 | 2,570 |
| Massachusetts | $93,040 | $87,975 | 1,410 |
| Alaska | $91,150 | $89,049 | 1,470 |
| Hawaii | $90,830 | $82,610 | 1,150 |
| California | $86,100 | $77,764 | 12,590 |
Is Aircraft Mechanic a growing career?
Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians4.0%
All US occupations3.1%
+4.0% projected growth vs 3.1% for all occupations.
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians to change 4.0% over 2024–2034, against 3.1% projected for all occupations. That is 5,600 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 11,300 openings are projected each year, 8.1% of the 139,400 jobs that existed in 2024. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of aircraft and avionics equipment mechanics and technicians is projected to grow 5 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Growing demand for passenger travel and goods transportation will increase air traffic over the coming years. As the use and number of aircraft increase, and as aircraft systems become more complex, more technicians will be needed to provide maintenance and repair services. The growing space industry also may add to this need.
How to become an Aircraft Mechanic
Aircraft and avionics equipment mechanics and technicians typically need postsecondary education, such as a certificate from a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-approved program. Some enter the occupation with an associate’s degree; others have a high school diploma and train on the job or in the military. These workers typically are certified by the FAA.
| Typical entry-level education | Postsecondary nondegree award |
|---|---|
| Preparation needed (O*NET job zone) | Some preparation |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | None |
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as aircraft mechanics and service technicians.
- Post-Secondary Certificate66.2%
- Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)15.1%
- High School Diploma10.0%
- Some College Courses8.1%
- Bachelor's Degree0.6%
What does an Aircraft Mechanic do?
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul aircraft engines and assemblies, such as hydraulic and pneumatic systems.
Aircraft and avionics equipment mechanics and technicians install, test, adjust, and repair equipment and systems in aircraft.
Day-to-day tasks
- Read and interpret maintenance manuals, service bulletins, and other specifications to determine the feasibility and method of repairing or replacing malfunctioning or damaged components.
- Replace or repair worn, defective, or damaged components, using hand tools, gauges, and testing equipment.
- Assemble and install electrical, plumbing, mechanical, hydraulic, and structural components and accessories, using hand or power tools.
- Conduct routine and special inspections as required by regulations.
- Examine and inspect aircraft components, including landing gear, hydraulic systems, and deicers to locate cracks, breaks, leaks, or other problems.
- Inventory and requisition or order supplies, parts, materials, and equipment.
- Maintain repair logs, documenting all preventive and corrective aircraft maintenance.
- Inspect airframes for wear or other defects.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Where aircraft mechanics and service technicians work
| Support activities for air transportation | 32% |
|---|---|
| Air transportation | 26% |
| Aerospace product and parts manufacturing | 16% |
| Federal government | 10% |
| Couriers and express delivery services | 4% |
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition.
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension4.1/5
- Critical Thinking4.0/5
- Monitoring3.6/5
- Active Listening3.5/5
- Speaking3.3/5
- Active Learning3.1/5
- Writing3.0/5
- Mathematics2.9/5
Transferable skills
- Equipment Maintenance4.9/5
- Repairing4.9/5
- Troubleshooting4.5/5
- Operations Monitoring4.3/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.9/5
- Operation and Control3.8/5
- Quality Control Analysis3.8/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.5/5
Tools and software
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Accounting software
- Analytical or scientific software
- Compiler and decompiler software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Document management software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
What personality type suits an Aircraft Mechanic?
Interest profile: O*NET Occupational Interests, scored 1–7
Realisticprimary6.7
Investigativeprimary3.8
Artistic1.0
Social1.3
Enterprising1.8
Conventionalprimary4.7
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Aircraft Mechanic: frequently asked questions
How much do Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians make?
Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians earn a median of $79,870 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 57% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $38.40/hr. The middle half earn between $62,630 and $99,130. The top 10% earn $128,890 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Aircraft Mechanic?
Not a degree, but you do need credentialled training: BLS lists a postsecondary non-degree award (a certificate or licence programme) as the typical entry route for Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 66.2% hold post-secondary certificate.
Is Aircraft Mechanic a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 4.0% over 2024–2034, about the same as the 3.1% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2024–2034). BLS still projects about 11,300 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an Aircraft Mechanic do?
Aircraft and avionics equipment mechanics and technicians install, test, adjust, and repair equipment and systems in aircraft. A core O*NET task: read and interpret maintenance manuals, service bulletins, and other specifications to determine the feasibility and method of repairing or replacing malfunctioning or damaged components. Employers most often ask for Electronic mail software, Enterprise resource planning ERP software, Office suite software.
Which states pay Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians the most?
The highest state medians for Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians are New Jersey ($105,370), New York ($102,800), Maryland ($100,500) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits an Aircraft Mechanic?
O*NET scores Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians highest on the Realistic, Conventional and Investigative interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 923 occupations in the bank.