Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians

People in this career focus on diagnosing, adjusting, repairing, and overhauling aircraft engines and assemblies, including pneumatic and hydraulic systems. Daily activities center around inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify issues, and repairing and maintaining mechanical equipment. Technicians must gather and evaluate information to ensure all work complies with strict standards, making critical decisions to solve complex problems. They also document their work, update their technical knowledge, and communicate regularly with supervisors and peers.

This role is highly suited to individuals with realistic interests who enjoy practical, hands-on tasks. Success in this field requires strong skills in troubleshooting, equipment maintenance, repairing, and quality control analysis. Technicians must understand mechanics, engineering, public safety, and transportation. Key work styles include extreme attention to detail, dependability, cautiousness, and stress tolerance, as safety is paramount when working on flight systems.

To enter this field, candidates typically need a postsecondary certificate. The career is classified under medium preparation, meaning most workers complete vocational training, earn an associate degree, or gain significant related experience. Useful college majors include vehicle maintenance and repair technologies or agricultural mechanization.

While not always mandatory, technicians can earn professional certifications to demonstrate their expertise. Available credentials include the Aerospace/Aircraft Assembly Maintenance Certification from ASTM International, as well as various basic electricity and electronics certifications in alternating current, analog, digital, or direct current from CertTEC. CertTEC also offers an Aviation Mechanical Assembly certification. Additionally, some states list specific licensing requirements for this profession.

In 2025, the median annual pay for aircraft mechanics and service technicians was $79,870. Earnings can vary significantly based on experience and location; the lowest 10 percent of workers earn less than $48,780, while the highest 10 percent earn more than $128,890.

With 138,090 people employed in this field, the occupation is projected to grow by 5.4 percent from 2025 to 2035, which is faster than the average for all occupations. This growth, combined with retirement and career transitions, is expected to result in approximately 11,400 job openings each year.