Aircraft mechanics and service technicians salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $48,780 | $23.45 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $79,870 | $38.40 |
| Mean (average) | $84,740 | $40.74 |
| 90th percentile | $128,890 | $61.97 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Aircraft mechanics and service technicians pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 52 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $82,260 | $48,350 | $98,440 | 4,310 | 2.29 |
| Alaska | $91,150 | $54,530 | $122,880 | 1,470 | 5.07 |
| Arizona | $75,300 | $48,290 | $121,480 | 5,670 | 1.97 |
| Arkansas | $65,420 | $39,900 | $78,690 | 720 | 0.62 |
| California | $86,100 | $53,860 | $116,690 | 12,590 | 0.78 |
| Colorado | $82,080 | $60,960 | $130,160 | 2,690 | 1.05 |
| Connecticut | $96,830 | $60,390 | $127,050 | 1,430 | 0.95 |
| Delaware | $83,550 | $63,280 | $116,370 | 240 | 0.56 |
| Florida | $76,940 | $45,500 | $130,190 | 14,850 | 1.68 |
| Georgia | $75,640 | $47,240 | $133,250 | 6,720 | 1.55 |
| Guam | $62,760 | $36,030 | $92,880 | 80 | 1.33 |
| Hawaii | $90,830 | $62,570 | $130,560 | 1,150 | 2.07 |
| Idaho | $61,250 | $44,840 | $98,260 | 600 | 0.78 |
| Illinois | $81,680 | $46,460 | $130,950 | 3,370 | 0.62 |
| Indiana | $63,400 | $36,980 | $90,060 | 1,500 | 0.53 |
| Iowa | $69,890 | $33,740 | $93,130 | 330 | 0.24 |
| Kansas | $80,270 | $50,630 | $98,070 | 1,440 | 1.13 |
| Kentucky | $67,920 | $45,210 | $156,910 | 1,680 | 0.94 |
| Louisiana | $79,780 | $47,840 | $107,830 | 1,150 | 0.67 |
| Maine | $67,890 | $57,000 | $118,500 | 190 | 0.33 |
| Maryland | $100,500 | $65,960 | $121,100 | 1,070 | 0.44 |
| Massachusetts | $93,040 | $75,180 | $133,400 | 1,410 | 0.44 |
| Michigan | $74,900 | $48,180 | $118,100 | 3,380 | 0.87 |
| Minnesota | $81,980 | $52,100 | $133,020 | 2,390 | 0.91 |
| Mississippi | $74,880 | $47,650 | $88,340 | 1,360 | 1.32 |
| Missouri | $71,470 | $45,620 | $97,160 | 1,700 | 0.65 |
| Montana | $64,170 | $47,100 | $97,200 | 310 | 0.69 |
| Nebraska | $64,020 | $47,440 | $98,020 | 410 | 0.45 |
| Nevada | $94,890 | $61,010 | $113,290 | 2,570 | 1.87 |
| New Hampshire | $79,610 | $59,560 | $99,910 | 190 | 0.32 |
| New Jersey | $105,370 | $72,760 | $133,790 | 1,900 | 0.5 |
| New Mexico | $84,440 | $49,690 | $99,020 | 860 | 1.11 |
| New York | $102,800 | $63,380 | $240,310 | 4,300 | 0.5 |
| North Carolina | $76,980 | $50,970 | $112,050 | 4,700 | 1.07 |
| North Dakota | $77,740 | $52,100 | $99,170 | 200 | 0.53 |
| Ohio | $80,570 | $51,490 | $132,850 | 2,840 | 0.58 |
| Oklahoma | $74,390 | $51,130 | $108,770 | 8,550 | 5.64 |
| Oregon | $82,850 | $59,330 | $135,770 | 1,080 | 0.62 |
| Pennsylvania | $78,000 | $48,560 | $136,510 | 2,080 | 0.39 |
| Puerto Rico | $45,100 | $23,650 | $87,730 | 610 | 0.73 |
| Rhode Island | $70,720 | $31,200 | $96,530 | 120 | 0.28 |
| South Carolina | $75,160 | $45,230 | $84,600 | 1,660 | 0.81 |
| South Dakota | $75,750 | $51,160 | $89,360 | 150 | 0.36 |
| Tennessee | $81,040 | $52,900 | $167,410 | 4,670 | 1.6 |
| Texas | $84,440 | $48,600 | $122,180 | 16,850 | 1.35 |
| Utah | $70,160 | $46,210 | $104,550 | 2,080 | 1.35 |
| Vermont | $76,370 | $55,610 | $98,810 | 160 | 0.61 |
| Virginia | $82,200 | $58,150 | $125,170 | 2,260 | 0.62 |
| Washington | $98,980 | $58,450 | $117,740 | 4,480 | 1.42 |
| West Virginia | $45,470 | $35,220 | $78,710 | 590 | 0.95 |
| Wisconsin | $73,930 | $44,520 | $99,850 | 1,270 | 0.49 |
| Wyoming | $56,680 | $35,460 | $99,540 | 340 | 1.36 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for aircraft mechanics and service technicians
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 11,400. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 0.8%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for aircraft mechanics and service technicians
- Typical entry education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Agricultural Mechanics and Equipment/Machine Technology/Technician CIP 01.0205
- Airframe Mechanics and Aircraft Maintenance Technology/Technician CIP 47.0607
- Aircraft Powerplant Technology/Technician CIP 47.0608
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical 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.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- SAP software (hot technology)
- Access Software AIRPAX
- CaseBank SpotLight
- Computerized aircraft log manager CALM
- DatcoMedia EBis
- Disassembler software
- Engine analysis software
- Maintenance information databases
- Maintenance planning software
- Maintenance record software
Transferable skills for career changers: Equipment Maintenance, Repairing, Troubleshooting, Operations Monitoring, Complex Problem Solving, Operation and Control.
Common job titles: 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), Aviation Mechanic, Helicopter Mechanic.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do aircraft mechanics and service technicians make?
The national median annual wage for aircraft mechanics and service technicians was $79,870 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $48,780 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $128,890. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do aircraft mechanics and service technicians need?
BLS lists postsecondary nondegree award as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is aircraft mechanics and service technicians a growing career?
BLS projects employment of aircraft mechanics and service technicians to change +5.4% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 11,400 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay aircraft mechanics and service technicians the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were New Jersey ($105,370), New York ($102,800), Maryland ($100,500). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.