Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians
Also called Aircraft Maintenance Technician (Aircraft Maintenance Tech), Aircraft Mechanic, Aircraft Technician (Aircraft Tech), or Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic (A and P Mechanic)
Updated · Source: O*NET 31.0
What Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians do
You find the cracks, leaks and worn parts on an aircraft before it flies, then sign off that the work was done right.
Aircraft mechanics and service technicians keep planes and helicopters safe to fly. You inspect landing gear (the wheels and legs the aircraft rests on), hydraulic lines (tubes of pressurized fluid that move heavy parts like the landing gear), engines and the airframe (the body, wings and tail). You hunt for cracks, corrosion and leaks, sometimes using x-ray and magnetic testing equipment, which reveals cracks too small to see with your eyes. Then you repair or replace what is worn and write it all down in the repair log.
Much of the job is reading: maintenance manuals, service bulletins (notices from the aircraft maker about fixes that need doing) and safety regulations tell you exactly how a repair must be made. The rest is hands and judgment. Median pay is $79,870 a year nationally, $93,040 in Massachusetts, with about 11,400 openings a year.
A day in the life
You show up at the hangar (the big building where aircraft are parked and worked on), put on safety glasses and ear protection, and check the work assigned to your crew. You and another technician pull a panel and look for leaks in the tubes that carry pressurized fluid, measuring parts with precision tools to see how worn they are. The manual stays open beside you. Midday you walk out to the parking area where aircraft are loaded and serviced, in whatever weather the day brings, to look over an airframe before its next flight. That big building often has no heating or air conditioning, so you feel the seasons. You are on your feet most of the day. You talk with pilots, inspectors and lead mechanics, then finish by logging every repair.
This could fit you if you…
- ✓Like fixing real machines with your own hands
- ✓Can follow a written procedure exactly, step by step
- ✓Enjoy tracking down the cause of a problem
- ✓Take paperwork and record keeping seriously
- ✓Stay calm when a plane has to be ready by a set time
You might not like it if you…
- –Want a desk job with steady office temperatures
- –Dislike standing, kneeling and lifting for most of a shift
- –Get frustrated by rules, inspections and detailed logs
- –Would rather not work outdoors in cold, heat or rain
How people get in
- 1Build a base in high school with math, physics, English and any shop or small engine classes you can take
- 2Enroll in a postsecondary program in airframe mechanics (the aircraft body) or aircraft powerplant technology (the engines); this award, rather than a four-year degree, is the typical way in
- 3Get comfortable reading technical manuals and writing clear maintenance records, since both are daily work
- 4Look for entry-level or helper roles at repair shops, airlines, cargo carriers or smaller airports that handle private and small aircraft, where you usually work under experienced mechanics at first
- 5Ask employers and your school which certifications they expect, and plan your testing around that
- 6Keep learning new aircraft types and systems as you go; employers often train you on the specific models they fly
Who tends to enjoy it
Hands-on
People who like building, fixing, working with tools, machines, plants, or animals.
Organizing
People who like keeping things accurate, orderly, and running on schedule.
Curious
People who like figuring things out, research, science, and solving problems.
Official task list
Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul aircraft engines and assemblies, such as hydraulic and pneumatic systems. (O*NET)
- Inspect completed work to certify that maintenance meets standards and that aircraft are ready for operation.
- Read and interpret maintenance manuals, service bulletins, and other specifications to determine the feasibility and method of repairing or replacing malfunctioning or damaged components.
- Maintain repair logs, documenting all preventive and corrective aircraft maintenance.
- Examine and inspect aircraft components, including landing gear, hydraulic systems, and deicers to locate cracks, breaks, leaks, or other problems.
- Conduct routine and special inspections as required by regulations.
- Replace or repair worn, defective, or damaged components, using hand tools, gauges, and testing equipment.
- Inspect airframes for wear or other defects.
- Check for corrosion, distortion, and invisible cracks in the fuselage, wings, and tail, using x-ray and magnetic inspection equipment.
A typical day involves
Skills that matter most
- Equipment Maintenance
- Repairing
- Troubleshooting
- Operations Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
What you'll need to know
- Mechanical
- Public Safety and Security
- Engineering and Technology
- English Language
- Transportation
How much Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians make
The median pay for Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians in the U.S. is $79,870 a year ($38.40 an hour). Most earn between $48,780 and $128,890. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025)
Pay depends a lot on where you live: the median is highest in New Jersey ($105,370) and lowest in Puerto Rico ($45,100).
Pay by state and territory
| State | Median pay | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $82,260 | 4,310 |
| Alaska | $91,150 | 1,470 |
| Arizona | $75,300 | 5,670 |
| Arkansas | $65,420 | 720 |
| California | $86,100 | 12,590 |
| Colorado | $82,080 | 2,690 |
| Connecticut | $96,830 | 1,430 |
| Delaware | $83,550 | 240 |
| Florida | $76,940 | 14,850 |
| Georgia | $75,640 | 6,720 |
| Guam | $62,760 | 80 |
| Hawaii | $90,830 | 1,150 |
| Idaho | $61,250 | 600 |
| Illinois | $81,680 | 3,370 |
| Indiana | $63,400 | 1,500 |
| Iowa | $69,890 | 330 |
| Kansas | $80,270 | 1,440 |
| Kentucky | $67,920 | 1,680 |
| Louisiana | $79,780 | 1,150 |
| Maine | $67,890 | 190 |
| Maryland | $100,500 | 1,070 |
| Massachusetts | $93,040 | 1,410 |
| Michigan | $74,900 | 3,380 |
| Minnesota | $81,980 | 2,390 |
| Mississippi | $74,880 | 1,360 |
| Missouri | $71,470 | 1,700 |
| Montana | $64,170 | 310 |
| Nebraska | $64,020 | 410 |
| Nevada | $94,890 | 2,570 |
| New Hampshire | $79,610 | 190 |
| New Jersey | $105,370 | 1,900 |
| New Mexico | $84,440 | 860 |
| New York | $102,800 | 4,300 |
| North Carolina | $76,980 | 4,700 |
| North Dakota | $77,740 | 200 |
| Ohio | $80,570 | 2,840 |
| Oklahoma | $74,390 | 8,550 |
| Oregon | $82,850 | 1,080 |
| Pennsylvania | $78,000 | 2,080 |
| Puerto Rico | $45,100 | 610 |
| Rhode Island | $70,720 | 120 |
| South Carolina | $75,160 | 1,660 |
| South Dakota | $75,750 | 150 |
| Tennessee | $81,040 | 4,670 |
| Texas | $84,440 | 16,850 |
| Utah | $70,160 | 2,080 |
| Vermont | $76,370 | 160 |
| Virginia | $82,200 | 2,260 |
| Washington | $98,980 | 4,480 |
| West Virginia | $45,470 | 590 |
| Wisconsin | $73,930 | 1,270 |
| Wyoming | $56,680 | 340 |
Where to study for this
College programs that commonly lead to this career, and how many US colleges offer each.
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Source: O*NET 31.0 Database (USDOL/ETA), occupation 49-3011.00, used under CC BY 4.0 and modified by Whittle. Pay: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), SOC 49-3011. Outlook and entry education: BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Program links: NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. How we build these pages.