How much do aircraft mechanics make comes down to a median of $78,680 a year, or about $37.84 an hour, reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for aircraft mechanics and service technicians as of May 2024. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $47,790 and the highest 10 percent earned more than $120,080. That $72,290 spread tracks four things: the industry doing the hiring, the ratings held, accumulated experience, and location.
The Full Reported Range
A median answers half the question. The percentile bands show the rest.
| Percentile | Annual wage (May 2024) | Approximate hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10 percent | Under $47,790 | Under $22.98 |
| Median | $78,680 | $37.84 |
| Highest 10 percent | Over $120,080 | Over $57.73 |
For comparison, BLS put the median wage across all U.S. occupations at $49,500 in the same period, and across installation, maintenance, and repair occupations at $58,230.
Pay by Industry
Industry accounts for the largest single gap in aircraft mechanic salary. These are the BLS median wages by industry as of May 2024, alongside the share of aircraft mechanic jobs each one holds.
| Industry | Median annual wage | Share of jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Air transportation | $95,320 | 26% |
| Couriers and express delivery services | $89,220 | 4% |
| Aerospace product and parts manufacturing | $82,560 | 16% |
| Federal government | $72,920 | 10% |
| Support activities for air transportation | $66,960 | 32% |
The top and bottom of that table are separated by $28,360 for the same certificate. The largest employer, support activities for air transportation, is also the lowest-paying of the five, which is why a national median understates what an airline job pays and overstates what a first repair station job often pays.
How Aviation Maintenance Pay Compares
BLS publishes median pay for occupations with comparable duties and entry requirements, which puts the aviation figure in context.
| Occupation | 2024 median pay |
|---|---|
| Avionics technicians | $81,390 |
| Aerospace engineering and operations technicians | $79,830 |
| Aircraft mechanics and service technicians | $78,680 |
| Electrical and electronic engineering technicians | $77,180 |
| Electrical and electronics installers and repairers | $71,270 |
| Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technicians | $70,760 |
| Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians | $62,740 |
| Electricians | $62,350 |
| Diesel service technicians and mechanics | $60,640 |
| Automotive body and glass repairers | $50,680 |
| Automotive service technicians and mechanics | $49,670 |
Aircraft mechanics report a median roughly $29,000 above automotive service technicians, an occupation with the same postsecondary nondegree entry standard.
Avionics Pay Runs Higher
Avionics technicians work the electronic systems: navigation, communications, radar, and flight instruments. BLS reported a median of $81,390 for the specialty as of May 2024, with the lowest 10 percent under $49,770 and the highest 10 percent over $113,580.
Their industry mix differs too. Aerospace product and parts manufacturing employs 41 percent of avionics technicians against 16 percent of aircraft mechanics, and avionics medians reached $99,150 in air transportation. State-level variation within the specialty is covered in this breakdown of avionics technician salary by location.
What Moves an Individual Paycheck
Four factors sit behind the range, and only one of them is time served.
Ratings held. The FAA issues separate Airframe and Powerplant certificates. BLS notes employers may prefer mechanics carrying both. Pay differences tied specifically to the A&P are covered in this look at A&P mechanic salary.
Inspection Authorization. The IA is available to A&P mechanics who meet additional FAA experience requirements. It permits approving major repairs and alterations and returning aircraft to service after annual inspections. BLS identifies IA holders as having the best advancement prospects in the occupation.
Schedule. Most mechanics work full time on 8-hour or 10-hour shifts that include nights, weekends, and holidays. Shift differentials and overtime are a routine part of aviation maintenance compensation rather than an exception.
Location. Maintenance work concentrates near major airports, hub operations, and manufacturing centers. BLS publishes state and metropolitan estimates through its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, and this look at the best cities for aircraft mechanic jobs covers specific markets.
One caution on any national figure: BLS wage data excludes self-employed workers, so independent contractors and mechanics running their own shops fall outside every number above.
Demand Behind the Numbers
BLS projects employment of aircraft and avionics equipment mechanics and technicians to grow 5 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the 3 percent average across all occupations. Avionics technicians are projected at 8 percent and aircraft mechanics at 4 percent.
About 13,100 openings are projected each year on average over that decade. BLS attributes many of them to workers transferring to other occupations or leaving the labor force, including retirements, rather than to newly created positions alone. Rising air traffic and increasingly complex aircraft systems drive the rest.
Earning the Certificate the Pay Follows
Pay in this field follows FAA certification, and BLS lists the typical entry-level education as a postsecondary nondegree award rather than a bachelor’s degree.
The aviation maintenance program at the Aviation Institute of Maintenance covers the general, airframe, and powerplant subject areas the FAA tests, and runs at all 15 campuses. Aviation Institute of Maintenance is institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), with FAA-approved aviation maintenance programs where applicable. Mechanics already holding documented field experience can look at the Professional Aviation Maintenance Certification, offered at 10 campuses.
The eligibility standards themselves are covered in this breakdown of aircraft mechanic requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average aircraft mechanic salary?
BLS reports a median rather than an average. The median annual wage for aircraft mechanics and service technicians was $78,680 as of May 2024, about $37.84 an hour. The median means half of mechanics earned more and half earned less.
Do aircraft mechanics make more than automotive mechanics?
BLS reported a 2024 median of $78,680 for aircraft mechanics and service technicians against $49,670 for automotive service technicians and mechanics, a difference of roughly $29,000. Both occupations list a postsecondary nondegree award as typical entry-level education.
Which industry pays aircraft mechanics the most?
Air transportation, at a median of $95,320 as of May 2024. Couriers and express delivery services followed at $89,220 and aerospace product and parts manufacturing at $82,560.
Do you need a degree to earn this pay?
No. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as a postsecondary nondegree award, and the FAA does not prescribe general education requirements for the Aviation Mechanic certificate. Individual employers set their own hiring standards.
Is aircraft mechanic pay expected to rise with demand?
BLS projects 5 percent employment growth for the occupation group from 2024 to 2034 and about 13,100 annual openings, many tied to retirements and transfers. BLS does not publish wage projections, so employment demand and future wages are separate questions.
Ready to work toward the certificate? Review the aviation maintenance program curriculum and campus locations, compare tuition and aid options, then request program information to speak with an admissions representative.
