SOC 55-1012.00

    Aircraft Launch and Recovery Officers

    Plan and direct the operation and maintenance of catapults, arresting gear, and associated mechanical, hydraulic, and control systems involved primarily in aircraft carrier takeoff and landing operations.

    Median pay
    Not reported
    Growth
    Not reported
    Openings a year
    Not reported
    Typical education
    Not reported

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

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    Annual pay range

    Not reported in the latest federal data

    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.

    What aircraft launch and recovery officers do

    Plan and direct the operation and maintenance of catapults, arresting gear, and associated mechanical, hydraulic, and control systems involved primarily in aircraft carrier takeoff and landing operations. Duties include supervision of readiness and safety of arresting gear, launching equipment, barricades, and visual landing aid systems; planning and coordinating the design, development, and testing of launch and recovery systems; preparing specifications for catapult and arresting gear installations; evaluating design proposals; determining handling equipment needed for new aircraft; preparing technical data and instructions for operation of landing aids; and training personnel in carrier takeoff and landing procedures.

    Also called

    Catapult and Arresting Gear Officer · Flight Deck Officer · Landing Signal Officer · V/STOL Landing Signal Officer

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    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What aircraft launch and recovery officers may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Certifications

    Core certifications employers recognise for this work. Showing 12 of 35.

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    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

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    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.