SOC 49-2091.00Bright outlook

    Avionics Technicians

    Install, inspect, test, adjust, or repair avionics equipment, such as radar, radio, navigation, and missile control systems in aircraft or space vehicles.

    Median pay
    $82,280
    Growth
    +9.4%
    Much faster than average
    Openings a year
    1,700
    Typical education
    Postsecondary certificate

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $49,410
    Median
    $82,280
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $113,680
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    18,830 people work in this occupation.

    In short

    Avionics technicians install, test, and repair electronic systems on aircraft and space vehicles, earning a median annual pay of $82,280. This career offers strong job growth and requires specialized technical training.

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What avionics technicians do

    Job Zone 3: Medium preparation

    Install, inspect, test, adjust, or repair avionics equipment, such as radar, radio, navigation, and missile control systems in aircraft or space vehicles.

    Usually vocational training, an associate degree or related experience.

    What the work is like

    People in this career work with advanced flight technology, including radar, radio, navigation, and missile control systems. On a daily basis, technicians inspect equipment, troubleshoot electronic issues, and perform necessary repairs or adjustments. The job requires documenting work details, using computers, and updating technical knowledge to keep up with industry standards.

    To succeed in this field, individuals need strong skills in equipment maintenance, critical thinking, and complex problem-solving. They must understand computers, electronics, mechanics, and telecommunications. This role fits people with realistic interests who enjoy hands-on, practical work. Key work styles include extreme attention to detail, dependability, cautiousness, and the ability to tolerate stress while maintaining self-control in high-responsibility environments.

    How to get there

    Entering this career typically requires a postsecondary certificate. Most people prepare through vocational training, an associate degree, or related technical experience. Students interested in this field often major in vehicle maintenance and repair technologies or aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering.

    While preparing for the field, individuals can pursue professional certifications to demonstrate their expertise. Relevant credentials include the Certified Aircraft Electronics Technician from the Aircraft Electronics Association and the ESRI Drone2Map certification from the Law and Public Safety Education Network.

    Pay and outlook explained

    The median annual pay for avionics technicians is $82,280. Earnings vary based on experience and location, with the lowest 10 percent earning less than $49,410 and the highest 10 percent earning more than $113,680.

    There are 18,830 people employed in this occupation. Between 2025 and 2035, employment is projected to grow by 9.4 percent, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. This growth, combined with the need to replace departing workers, is expected to result in 1,700 job openings each year.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R) · strongest
    100 / 100
    Investigative (I)
    55 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    3 / 100
    Social (S)
    6 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    1 / 100
    Conventional (C)
    57 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code RCI. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Documenting/Recording Information
    85
    Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
    85
    Getting Information
    84
    Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment
    83
    Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    79
    Working with Computers
    79
    Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
    78
    Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    76
    Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
    75
    Training and Teaching Others
    70
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

    • Equipment Maintenance
    • Repairing
    • Troubleshooting
    • Critical Thinking
    • Operations Monitoring
    • Quality Control Analysis
    • Complex Problem Solving
    • Active Listening
    • Speaking
    • Judgment and Decision Making

    Knowledge

    • Computers and Electronics
    • Mechanical
    • English Language
    • Engineering and Technology
    • Customer and Personal Service
    • Telecommunications
    • Design
    • Mathematics
    • Education and Training
    • Public Safety and Security

    Abilities

    • Written Comprehension
    • Information Ordering
    • Near Vision
    • Oral Comprehension
    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Deductive Reasoning
    • Finger Dexterity
    • Inductive Reasoning
    • Written Expression
    • Oral Expression

    Work styles

    • Attention to Detail
    • Dependability
    • Cautiousness
    • Integrity
    • Intellectual Curiosity
    • Perseverance
    • Achievement Orientation
    • Stress Tolerance
    • Self-Control
    • Adaptability

    Also called

    Aircraft Avionics Technician (Aircraft Avionics Tech) · Aircraft Electrical Systems Specialist · Aircraft Electrician · Aircraft Technician (Aircraft Tech) · Airplane Technician (Airplane Tech) · Aviation Electrical Technician (Aviation Electrical Tech) · Aviation Electrician · Aviation Electronics Technician (Aviation Electronics Tech) · Aviation Maintenance Technician (Aviation Maintenance Tech) · Avionic Technician (Avionic Tech)

    Career pathway

    From your interests to avionics technicians

    Interests that fit the work, the career, majors that lead there and colleges whose graduates in those majors earn the most. Hover or focus a step to follow one path.

    1. Interests

    2. This career

      • Avionics Technicians$82,280 median pay

    3. Majors

    4. Colleges

    College Scorecard program outcomes

    Colleges with strong outcomes

    Programs that lead to this career, ranked by what their graduates earn four years after finishing. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid.

    1. 1University of Southern California USC logo
      University of Southern California USC

      Los Angeles, CA · Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $88,334
      4 yrs after
      $125,514
      Median debt
      $19,125
    2. 2University of Colorado Boulder Main Campus logo
      University of Colorado Boulder Main Campus

      Boulder, CO · Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $80,376
      4 yrs after
      $116,350
      Median debt
      $22,750
    3. 3University of California-Los Angeles UCLA logo
      University of California-Los Angeles UCLA

      Los Angeles, CA · Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $88,702
      4 yrs after
      $115,706
      Median debt
      $14,095
    4. 4University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Main Campus logo
      University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Main Campus

      Ann Arbor, MI · Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $85,422
      4 yrs after
      $115,075
      Median debt
      $21,000
    5. 5Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT logo
      Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT

      Cambridge, MA · Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $94,732
      4 yrs after
      $114,620
      Median debt
      Not reported
    6. 6
      University of Washington-Seattle Main Campus

      Seattle, WA · Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $88,006
      4 yrs after
      $111,349
      Median debt
      $15,925
    7. 7Illinois Institute of Technology logo
      Illinois Institute of Technology

      Chicago, IL · Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $82,501
      4 yrs after
      $110,956
      Median debt
      $24,687
    8. 8California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo SLO logo
      California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo SLO

      San Luis Obispo, CA · Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $88,269
      4 yrs after
      $107,498
      Median debt
      $19,333

    Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Programs with few graduates are not listed.

    NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk

    Majors that lead here

    Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What avionics technicians 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.

    Search all certifications on CareerOneStop

    Training

    Programs of study that prepare people for this work.

    • Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering, Other
    • Avionics Maintenance Technology/Technician

    Find training near you on CareerOneStop

    Licenses by state

    Licenses issued by federal agencies.

    Federal

    • Ship Radar Endorsement

      Federal Communications Commission

    Check license requirements on CareerOneStop

    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.

    Your plan

    Build my pathway plan

    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Related careers

    Careers with similar work, interests or skills.

    All careers

    Questions about avionics technicians

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What are some alternative job titles for avionics technicians?

    People in this field are also called aircraft electrical systems specialists, aviation electronics technicians, aircraft electricians, and aviation maintenance technicians.

    What is the job outlook for this career?

    The field is growing much faster than average, with a projected employment increase of 9.4 percent from 2025 to 2035. This expansion is expected to generate 1,700 job openings on an annual basis.

    What kind of education do I need to work in avionics?

    You typically need a postsecondary certificate to enter the field. Many technicians prepare by earning an associate degree, completing vocational training, or gaining related hands-on experience.

    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.