{"id":1645,"date":"2024-04-08T08:18:21","date_gmt":"2024-04-08T08:18:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wrightexperience.com\/?p=1645"},"modified":"2024-04-08T08:18:21","modified_gmt":"2024-04-08T08:18:21","slug":"aircraft-mechanics-salary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wrightexperience.com\/aircraft-mechanics-salary\/","title":{"rendered":"How Much Do Aircraft Mechanics Make? All About Their Salary"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>An aircraft maintenance technician (<a href=\"https:\/\/americanmedtech.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">AMT<\/a> &#8211; simply known as an aircraft mechanic) is a certified professional responsible for the airplane&#8217;s working order and safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Jobs in the aviation industry, including entry-level roles, often pay well. So, if you&#8217;re considering a career as a mechanic, you can always expect a competitive salary range. Keep reading to learn more about the aircraft mechanic wage!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h6><strong>In this article:<\/strong><\/h6><nav><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#how-much-do-airplane-mechanics-make\">How Much Do Airplane Mechanics Make?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#pros-and-cons-of-being-an-aircraft-mechanic\">Pros and Cons Of Being An Aircraft Mechanic<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#how-to-train-to-become-an-airframe-mechanic\">How To Train To Become An Airframe Mechanic<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#conclusion\">Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-much-do-airplane-mechanics-make\"><strong>How Much Do Airplane Mechanics Make<\/strong><strong>?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>On average, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wrightexperience.com\/how-many-aircraft-carriers-does-the-us-have\/\">aircraft mechanics in the United States<\/a> earn around <strong>$33.49<\/strong> an hour, based on 16,600 reported salaries. The number was last updated on 25 March 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, let&#8217;s examine the cities, companies, and job positions that offer the highest average salary for aircraft mechanics. We&#8217;ve compiled all the information in a chart to make it easier to track and compare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>1. Top Companies<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>At <a href=\"https:\/\/aecom.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/aecom.com\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">AECOM<\/a>, workers earn the highest hourly rate of $34.68, totaling an annual income of $72,137. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.paccar.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.paccar.com\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">PACCAR<\/a> follows closely behind ($32.18 per hour), while Structure Group and Erickson offer comparable hourly rates of $31.89 and $31.77, respectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Company<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Hourly Rate<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Yearly Salary<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>AECOM<\/td><td>$34.68<\/td><td>$72,137<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>PACCAR<\/td><td>$32.18<\/td><td>$66,939<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Structure Group<\/td><td>$31.89<\/td><td>$66,323<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Erickson<\/td><td>$31.77<\/td><td>$66,087<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>PAE<\/td><td>$31.72<\/td><td>$65,976<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Elbit Systems of America<\/td><td>$31.24<\/td><td>$64,985<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Pacific Architects and Engineers<\/td><td>$30.44<\/td><td>$63,325<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>ICONMA<\/td><td>$30.03<\/td><td>$62,455<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Zenetex<\/td><td>$29.95<\/td><td>$62,293<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>AerSale<\/td><td>$29.73<\/td><td>$61,847<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Surdex<\/td><td>$29.73<\/td><td>$61,828<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings<\/td><td>$29.71<\/td><td>$61,806<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Ishpi Information Technologies, Inc. (dba Ishpi)<\/td><td>$29.66<\/td><td>$61,701<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>TAD PGS<\/td><td>$29.59<\/td><td>$61,537<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Lynden<\/td><td>$29.57<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zippia.com\/lynden-careers-29999\/salary\/aircraft-mechanic\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">$61,509<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>HEICO<\/td><td>$29.56<\/td><td>$61,475<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Hawthorne Global Aviation Services<\/td><td>$29.54<\/td><td>$61,444<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>M.I.T. International, Inc.<\/td><td>$29.22<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zippia.com\/mit-international-careers-30038\/salary\/aircraft-mechanic\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">$60,769<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Techtronic Industries TTI<\/td><td>$29.18<\/td><td>$60,701<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Boeing<\/td><td>$28.69<\/td><td>$59,669<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>2. Top States<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Aircraft mechanic salaries vary slightly across states. In New Jersey, these professionals earn the highest average hourly wage, $34.31.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wyoming follows closely behind with an hourly rate of $34.06, and Wisconsin and Washington offer slightly lower airplane mechanic wages ($33.61 and $33.53 per hour, respectively).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>State<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Hourly Wage<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Weekly Pay<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Monthly Pay<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Annual Salary<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>New Jersey<\/td><td>$34.31<\/td><td>$1,372<\/td><td>$5,947<\/td><td>$71,365<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Wyoming<\/td><td>$34.06<\/td><td>$1,362<\/td><td>$5,903<\/td><td>$70,847<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Wisconsin<\/td><td>$33.61<\/td><td>$1,344<\/td><td>$5,826<\/td><td>$69,913<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Washington<\/td><td>$33.53<\/td><td>$1,341<\/td><td>$5,811<\/td><td>$69,737<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Massachusetts<\/td><td>$33.38<\/td><td>$1,335<\/td><td>$5,785<\/td><td>$69,425<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Indiana<\/td><td>$33.33<\/td><td>$1,333<\/td><td>$5,776<\/td><td>$69,318<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Alaska<\/td><td>$33.32<\/td><td>$1,332<\/td><td>$5,776<\/td><td>$69,315<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Oregon<\/td><td>$33.09<\/td><td>$1,323<\/td><td>$5,734<\/td><td>$68,819<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>North Dakota<\/td><td>$33.02<\/td><td>$1,320<\/td><td>$5,723<\/td><td>$68,676<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Arizona<\/td><td>$32.64<\/td><td>$1,305<\/td><td>$5,657<\/td><td>$67,885<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Hawaii<\/td><td>$32.37<\/td><td>$1,294<\/td><td>$5,611<\/td><td>$67,334<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>3. Top City<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Those working in San Jose, California, earn the highest hourly wage among the listed cities, at $41.37. In Oakland, CA, the hourly wage for aircraft mechanic jobs is slightly lower than in San Jose at $40.46. Hayward, CA is closely behind at $40.39.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>City<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Hourly Wage<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Weekly Pay<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Monthly Pay<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Annual Salary<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>San Jose, CA<\/td><td>$41.37<\/td><td>$1,654<\/td><td>$7,170<\/td><td>$86,050<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Oakland, CA<\/td><td>$40.46<\/td><td>$1,618<\/td><td>$7,012<\/td><td>$84,155<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Hayward, CA<\/td><td>$40.39<\/td><td>$1,615<\/td><td>$7,001<\/td><td>$84,013<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Ashland, CA<\/td><td>$40.39<\/td><td>$1,615<\/td><td>$7,000<\/td><td>$84,003<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Antioch, CA<\/td><td>$40.36<\/td><td>$1,614<\/td><td>$6,996<\/td><td>$83,956<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Seattle, WA<\/td><td>$40.17<\/td><td>$1,606<\/td><td>$6,962<\/td><td>$83,552<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Santa Cruz, CA<\/td><td>$39.08<\/td><td>$1,563<\/td><td>$6,773<\/td><td>$81,280<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Kenmore, WA<\/td><td>$39.07<\/td><td>$1,562<\/td><td>$6,772<\/td><td>$81,264<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Seaside, CA<\/td><td>$39.00<\/td><td>$1,560<\/td><td>$6,760<\/td><td>$81,128<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>4. Top Job Titles<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Aviation Maintenance Technicians earn $24.90 per hour, while Light Wheel Mechanics receive $20.17 hourly. Systems Mechanics stand out with the highest wage (commanding $32.54).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These discrepancies in airplane mechanic salaries likely stem from differences in skill levels, job responsibilities, and specialized knowledge required for each position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Job Title<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Job Openings<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Hourly Rate<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Monthly Salary<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Annual Salary<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Aviation Maintenance Technician<\/td><td>102,259<\/td><td>$24.90<\/td><td>$4,316<\/td><td>$51,794<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Systems Mechanic<\/td><td>92,087<\/td><td>$32.54<\/td><td>$5,640<\/td><td>$67,679<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Light Wheel Mechanic<\/td><td>90,297<\/td><td>$20.17<\/td><td>$3,496<\/td><td>$41,948<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Equipment Mechanic<\/td><td>50,409<\/td><td>$21.84<\/td><td>$3,786<\/td><td>$45,435<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Airframe&nbsp; &amp; Powerplant Mechanic<\/td><td>34,350<\/td><td>$26.17<\/td><td>$4,536<\/td><td>$54,430<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Helicopter Mechanic<\/td><td>33,954<\/td><td>$29.75<\/td><td>$5,156<\/td><td>$61,876<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>5. Top Paying Industries<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Within the government sector, aircraft mechanics command an hourly rate of $30.97 (the highest). Manufacturing industries offer a slightly lower wage, averaging $29.82 per hour, while those working in the professional sector have their hourly rate at $29.53.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Industry<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Hourly Rate<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Annual Salary<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Government<\/td><td>$30.97<\/td><td>$64,412<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Manufacturing<\/td><td>$29.82<\/td><td>$62,029<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Professional<\/td><td>$29.53<\/td><td>$61,420<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Technology<\/td><td>$27.86<\/td><td>$57,959<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Transportation<\/td><td>$27.14<\/td><td>$56,459<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>6. Trends Over The Year<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The aviation mechanic salary has shown an impressive upward trend over recent years. Starting at $26.34 per hour in 2020, the hourly rate climbed to $28.06 by 2023 with a notable 1.8% increase and is predicted to reach a new height in 2024. This steady progression suggests a favorable outlook for the job likely influenced by demand dynamics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Year<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Hourly Rate<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Annual Salary<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Change<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2023<\/td><td>$28.06<\/td><td>$58,400<\/td><td>+1.8%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2022<\/td><td>$27.54<\/td><td>$57,300<\/td><td>+3.0%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2021<\/td><td>$26.71<\/td><td>$55,600<\/td><td>+1.4%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2020<\/td><td>$26.34<\/td><td>$54,800<\/td><td>+3.0%<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"pros-and-cons-of-being-an-aircraft-mechanic\"><strong>Pros and Cons Of Being An Aircraft Mechanic<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"678\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wrightexperience.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Specialist-mechanic-repairs-the-maintenance-1024x678.jpeg\" alt=\"Specialist mechanic repairs the maintenance\" class=\"wp-image-1751\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wrightexperience.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Specialist-mechanic-repairs-the-maintenance-1024x678.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.wrightexperience.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Specialist-mechanic-repairs-the-maintenance-300x199.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.wrightexperience.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Specialist-mechanic-repairs-the-maintenance-768x509.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.wrightexperience.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Specialist-mechanic-repairs-the-maintenance.jpeg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Specialist mechanic repairs the maintenance<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The plane mechanic salary is already quite rewarding, but there are other advantages to the job as well.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pros<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of those perks is the evolving nature of the aviation industry, which means you can learn something new every day. This will keep you inspired and motivated in the long run! Trust us, there&#8217;s no better feeling than truly enjoying every moment of what you do (and earning lots of money from it).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Better yet, depending on your company&#8217;s policies, you might also have plenty of opportunities to travel for work and service aircraft in various places worldwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Cons<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unfortunately, some maintenance tasks are physically demanding, and you will find yourself working in awkward positions more often than not. Worst of all, the work environment can be noisy and dirty, sometimes even exposing you to harsh chemicals.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If all of these don&#8217;t sound promising to you (or you have a medical history), think twice before settling for this career path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-to-train-to-become-an-airframe-mechanic\"><strong>How To Train To Become An Airframe Mechanic<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Choose either of these two main paths:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>FAA-approved Aviation Maintenance Technician School (AMTS)<\/strong>: This formal program provides classroom learning and hands-on training for 18 to 24 months to prepare you for the FAA certification exams.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>On-the-Job Training:<\/strong> Some companies offer training programs alongside work experience. It might take at least 30 months to qualify for the FAA exams.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em><strong>You might also like:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wrightexperience.com\/american-airlines-pilot-salary\/\">American Airlines pilot salary<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wrightexperience.com\/southwest-airlines-pilot-salary\/\">Southwest Airlines pilot salary<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wrightexperience.com\/delta-airlines-pilot-salary\/\">Delta Airlines pilot salary<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wrightexperience.com\/fedex-pilot-salary\/\">FedEx pilot salary<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wrightexperience.com\/united-airlines-pilot-salary\/\">United Airlines pilot salary<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wrightexperience.com\/how-much-do-pilots-make\/\">How much do pilots make<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wrightexperience.com\/how-to-become-an-airline-pilot\/\">How to become an airline pilot<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wrightexperience.com\/how-much-does-it-cost-to-become-a-pilot\/\">How much does it cost to become a pilot<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"conclusion\"><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The jet mechanic&#8217;s salary is definitely one of the main reasons people are drawn to this job.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, some physical challenges cannot and should not be underestimated. Consider the pros and cons, and feel free to contact us if you need advice.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An aircraft maintenance technician (AMT &#8211; simply known as an aircraft mechanic) is a certified professional responsible for the airplane&#8217;s working order and safety. Jobs in the aviation industry, including entry-level roles, often pay well. So, if you&#8217;re considering a career as a mechanic, you can always expect a competitive salary range. Keep reading to &#8230; <a title=\"How Much Do Aircraft Mechanics Make? All About Their Salary\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wrightexperience.com\/aircraft-mechanics-salary\/\" aria-label=\"More on How Much Do Aircraft Mechanics Make? All About Their Salary\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":1750,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wrightexperience.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1645"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wrightexperience.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wrightexperience.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wrightexperience.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wrightexperience.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1645"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.wrightexperience.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1645\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1796,"href":"https:\/\/www.wrightexperience.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1645\/revisions\/1796"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wrightexperience.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1750"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wrightexperience.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1645"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wrightexperience.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1645"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wrightexperience.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1645"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}