Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair · SOC 49-3011 · O*NET 49-3011.00
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul aircraft engines and assemblies, such as hydraulic and pneumatic systems.
Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians fall under the Installation, Maintenance, and Repair category in the U.S. occupational classification. Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians earn a median salary of $78,680 per year, ranking in the top 25% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +4.0% job growth through 2034, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Entry into this field typically requires an apprenticeship, technical certification, or postsecondary training, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.
What do aircraft mechanics and service technicians earn?
The median annual wage for aircraft mechanics and service technicians is $78,680. That puts aircraft mechanics and service technicians at #201 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is above the U.S. median for individual workers and reflects a stable, credentialed occupation. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.
| 10th percentile (entry-level) | $47,790 |
| 25th percentile | $61,920 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $78,680 |
| 75th percentile | $95,050 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $120,080 |
| Median hourly wage | $37.83/hr |
Is aircraft mechanics and service technicians a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for aircraft mechanics and service technicians is +4.0%, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 139K positions in 2024 to 145K in 2034, a net change of 6K. Average growth signals a healthy, resilient occupation that mirrors broader U.S. employment trends. Job availability tends to track regional economic conditions.
What do aircraft mechanics and service technicians do every day?
According to O*NET task surveys of working aircraft mechanics and service technicians, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.
- 1.Inspect completed work to certify that maintenance meets standards and that aircraft are ready for operation.
- 2.Read and interpret maintenance manuals, service bulletins, and other specifications to determine the feasibility and method of repairing or replacing malfunctioning or damaged components.
- 3.Maintain repair logs, documenting all preventive and corrective aircraft maintenance.
- 4.Examine and inspect aircraft components, including landing gear, hydraulic systems, and deicers to locate cracks, breaks, leaks, or other problems.
- 5.Conduct routine and special inspections as required by regulations.
- 6.Replace or repair worn, defective, or damaged components, using hand tools, gauges, and testing equipment.
- 7.Inspect airframes for wear or other defects.
- 8.Check for corrosion, distortion, and invisible cracks in the fuselage, wings, and tail, using x-ray and magnetic inspection equipment.
Top skills for aircraft mechanics and service technicians
O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.
What education does my child need to become aircraft mechanics and service technician?
Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians typically enter the field through a formal apprenticeship, technical certification, or vocational training program — a strong fit for teens who prefer hands-on learning over traditional college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.
Based on O*NET surveys of incumbents — what people in this job actually have, not what employers list as required.
Related careers your child might also consider
- Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay$100,940 median
- Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$92,560 median
- Signal and Track Switch Repairers$83,600 median
- Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment$82,730 median
- Avionics Technicians$81,390 median
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$78,300 median
How parents help teens explore careers like this
Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.
Common questions parents ask about aircraft mechanics and service technicians
What is the median salary for aircraft mechanics and service technicians?
The median annual salary for aircraft mechanics and service technicians is $78,680 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is aircraft mechanics and service technicians a growing career?
BLS projects +4.0% growth for aircraft mechanics and service technicians from 2024 through 2034, which is average growth projected to grow at roughly the US average.
What education does my child need to become aircraft mechanics and service technician?
The typical entry path requires an apprenticeship, technical certification, or postsecondary training, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.
What careers are similar to aircraft mechanics and service technicians?
Related occupations within the Installation, Maintenance, and Repair category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.
Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 release.