Aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $47,310 | $22.74 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $65,380 | $31.43 |
| Mean (average) | $71,420 | $34.34 |
| 90th percentile | $107,500 | $51.68 |
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 structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 23 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $58,990 | $49,800 | $85,660 | 950 | 2.06 |
| Arizona | $73,930 | $58,690 | $85,970 | 1,210 | 1.7 |
| Arkansas | $46,290 | $35,340 | $59,170 | 780 | 2.73 |
| California | $63,640 | $48,120 | $94,280 | 2,930 | 0.74 |
| Colorado | $70,870 | $37,030 | $89,630 | 160 | 0.25 |
| Connecticut | $78,630 | $48,540 | $120,750 | 500 | 1.35 |
| Florida | $64,580 | $47,040 | $98,290 | 1,280 | 0.59 |
| Georgia | $72,550 | $47,300 | $95,230 | 2,950 | 2.76 |
| Idaho | $50,100 | $44,400 | $60,620 | 40 | 0.23 |
| Kansas | $59,850 | $52,630 | $77,440 | 9,710 | 30.86 |
| Michigan | $47,230 | $35,920 | $78,020 | 360 | 0.37 |
| Missouri | $58,600 | $48,800 | $95,800 | 460 | 0.71 |
| Nebraska | $64,530 | $53,470 | $101,480 | 220 | 0.99 |
| New York | $49,620 | $36,120 | $61,110 | 280 | 0.13 |
| North Carolina | $51,930 | $47,240 | $70,060 | 670 | 0.62 |
| Oklahoma | $49,070 | $37,790 | $74,510 | 400 | 1.08 |
| Oregon | $58,050 | $46,010 | $98,130 | 560 | 1.31 |
| Pennsylvania | $81,680 | $45,000 | $112,300 | 740 | 0.56 |
| Tennessee | $66,390 | $33,130 | $78,420 | 130 | 0.18 |
| Texas | $76,640 | $43,500 | $100,450 | 3,010 | 0.98 |
| Utah | $51,130 | $35,700 | $75,440 | 550 | 1.44 |
| Washington | $110,470 | $63,110 | $110,470 | 4,280 | 5.51 |
| West Virginia | Data unavailable | 140 | 0.89 |
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 structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 3,100. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 0.6%.
- 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 structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
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
- Airframe Mechanics and Aircraft Maintenance Technology/Technician CIP 47.0607
- Aircraft Powerplant Technology/Technician CIP 47.0608
- Avionics Maintenance Technology/Technician CIP 47.0609
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Read blueprints, illustrations, or specifications to determine layouts, sequences of operations, or identities or relationships of parts.
- Inspect or test installed units, parts, systems, or assemblies for fit, alignment, performance, defects, or compliance with standards, using measuring instruments or test equipment.
- Assemble parts, fittings, or subassemblies on aircraft, using layout tools, hand tools, power tools, or fasteners, such as bolts, screws, rivets, or clamps.
- Mark identifying information on tubing or cable assemblies, using etching devices, labels, rubber stamps, or other methods.
- Adjust, repair, rework, or replace parts or assemblies to ensure proper operation.
- Attach brackets, hinges, or clips to secure or support components or subassemblies, using bolts, screws, rivets, chemical bonding, or welding.
- Assemble prefabricated parts to form subassemblies.
- Clean aircraft structures, parts, or components, using aqueous, semi-aqueous, aliphatic hydrocarbon, or organic solvent cleaning products or techniques to reduce carbon or other harmful emissions.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- SAP software (hot technology)
- Electrical power management system software
Transferable skills for career changers: Quality Control Analysis, Complex Problem Solving, Equipment Maintenance, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management, Coordination.
Common job titles: Aircraft Assembler, Aircraft Line Assembler, Assembler, Assembly Riveter, Assembly Technician (Assembly Tech), Sheet Metal Assembler and Riveter (SMAR), Sheet Metal Mechanic, Sheet Metal Technician (Sheet Metal Tech), Structures Mechanic, Structures Technician (Structures Tech).
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 structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers make?
The national median annual wage for aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers was $65,380 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $47,310 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $107,500. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers to change -5.6% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 3,100 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Washington ($110,470), Pennsylvania ($81,680), Connecticut ($78,630). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.