Aircraft mechanics and service technicians earn a median of $37.84 an hour, or $78,680 a year, according to May 2024 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That figure is a starting point. Actual hourly pay swings with experience, employer, location, and whether a mechanic holds an Airframe and Powerplant certificate.
Aircraft Mechanic Salary by the Hour: The Full Range
The median sits near the middle, but the spread is wide. BLS percentile data for aircraft mechanics puts the lowest 10 percent around $22.98 an hour ($47,790 a year) and the highest 10 percent above $57.73 an hour ($120,080 a year). Where a mechanic lands on that scale comes down to a few factors:
- Experience: entry-level roles start near $22 to $26 an hour
- Employer: scheduled airlines and cargo carriers pay more than general-aviation shops
- Location: New Jersey, California, and Alaska lead on nominal wages
- Certification: holding both Airframe and Powerplant ratings raises earning power
A new graduate typically enters near the lower percentiles; pay varies based on certification, employer, and experience accumulated on the job. The jump from entry rate to median often takes only a few years, because certified mechanics are scarce and employers compete to keep them. Overtime access widens the gap further, since one mechanic willing to work nights and heavy-check cycles can out-earn a colleague on straight days by a wide margin.
What Top-Scale Airline Mechanics Earn
Union contracts push the ceiling higher than BLS medians suggest. Mechanics at major carriers often clear $50 an hour at top scale, and Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association wage data has placed Southwest Airlines mechanics near $59 an hour. Overtime, shift differentials, and holiday premiums stack on top, so total hourly earnings frequently beat the straight-time rate. AIM’s breakdown of aircraft mechanic salary covers how those premiums add up over a career.
How Much Do Aircraft Mechanics Make a Year?
Multiplying the median hourly wage across a full-time schedule gives the $78,680 annual median, but few mechanics work straight time. Overtime during heavy maintenance checks and peak travel seasons lifts annual pay well past the base. Experienced airline and cargo mechanics reach $90,000 to $120,000 or more once premiums and seniority factor in. For comparison, the median for automotive technicians was $49,670 in May 2024, so the aircraft credential carries a clear wage premium. The premium reflects the FAA licensing requirement, the regulatory oversight, and the cost of a mistake on equipment that carries passengers.
What Raises an Aircraft Mechanic’s Hourly Pay
The fastest lever is the FAA Airframe and Powerplant certificate, which qualifies a mechanic to sign off on both the airframe and the engine and opens the higher-paying airline and MRO roles. Beyond the A&P, specialized skills move the needle: turbine engine work, avionics, and Inspection Authorization all command higher rates. AIM’s guide to how to become an aircraft mechanic lays out the certification path, and the A&P license and salary breakdown shows how the credential changes earning power.
Is the Pay Holding Up?
Demand supports wages. BLS projects 5 percent growth for aircraft and avionics mechanics from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations, with about 13,100 openings a year. A retiring workforce and a growing global fleet keep pressure on employers to compete for trained mechanics, which is one reason AIM tracks whether aircraft mechanics are in demand each year.
Start Earning as an Aircraft Mechanic
Hourly pay climbs with the FAA certificate, and that starts with training. The aviation maintenance program at the Aviation Institute of Maintenance (AIM) prepares students for the Airframe and Powerplant exams. Request program information to compare campuses and start dates.
