Irrespective of any technological or economic factor, the world will always need aircraft maintenance technicians. These professionals play critical roles that ensure the safety of personnel, passengers, other people, and of course, the aircraft. For that reason, the average aircraft maintenance technician salary in the US is relatively higher than most related jobs.
Whether you’re a recruiter determining an appropriate pay package or an aircraft maintenance technician wondering if they’re being compensated well, keep reading.
We’ve gathered the most up-to-date aircraft maintenance technician salary figures in the United States, as estimated by some renowned platforms, so you won’t have to.
Let’s get started.
Average Aircraft Maintenance Technician Salary in the United States
An aircraft maintenance technician (also known as an aircraft maintenance mechanic, aviation maintenance technician, avionics technicians, and technicians) are mainly responsible for performing routine maintenance as per FAA regulations on aircraft of various kinds, including:
- Small piston engine aircraft
- Jetliners (and other large aircraft powered by turbofan or turboprop engines)
- Helicopters
- Fighter/Multi-role combat jets and military drones
According to the National Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national average for aircraft maintenance mechanics or technicians is $64,310.
However, how much an aircraft maintenance technician makes depends on a variety of factors, such as:
- Difference in Cost of Living – in certain cities, aircraft maintenance technicians earn higher than their peers from other regions, based on the difference in rent, bills, and other costs of living.
- Employment Type – full-time aircraft maintenance technicians earn more than their part-time colleagues.
- Years of Experience – an entry-level technician will earn less than their experienced colleagues. However, this difference is usually not that much unless the other person is promoted.
- Education – a high school diploma and FAA-approved training is required to become an aircraft maintenance technician. Professionals with more credentials may earn higher than others.
When estimating a figure for a compensation package, consider all of the aforementioned factors. To give you a clearer idea, we went ahead and collected compensation data for aircraft maintenance technicians from different sources:
1. Indeed
Whether you want to look for open positions, seek out capable candidates, or dig out trustworthy compensation data, Indeed is a good place to .
According to the website, the average aircraft maintenance technician salary in the United States is $48,678 per year. This figure is based on over 1,000 salary reports collected from actual aircraft maintenance technicians.
Furthermore, the platform also shows that the most common perks and benefits that these professionals receive include, but are not limited to:
- Parental leave
- Relocation assistance
- Tuition reimbursement
- Health insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
In addition to the average pay and perks and benefits, you can also get a list of the 8 highest paying cities in the United States. As of now, these include San Francisco, Chicago, Miami, Fort Worth, Jacksonville, San Diego, Savannah, and Atlanta.
2. ZipRecruiter
ZipRecruiter, like Indeed (and Glassdoor) is a 360-degree job search platform where you can also get up-to-date salary estimates for roles in different industries.
As per the reports received on this platform, the national average for aircraft maintenance technicians stands at $53,501 per year (or $26 per hour). The overall salary range starts from $23,500 and goes all the way up to $78,500.
You can also check the data for certain locations with a special filter.
In addition, ZipRecruiter also reports that the highest paying city for this role is San Mateo, CA, which is different from the data on Indeed. Such inconsistencies make sense, given that professionals who report their salaries on platform-A might not necessarily do so platform-B.
3. PayScale
If you only want to look up salaries for different roles, and not search jobs (or find candidates to fill open positions), PayScale is the most useful website for you.
According to this website, the base salary for aircraft maintenance technicians is $60,839 per year (or $26.68 per hour).
Additionally, people working in this role also receive $2,500 in cash bonuses and $2,750 in profit sharing, bringing the total average aircraft maintenance technician salary to $66,089.
Besides the annual salary and additional compensation, reports suggest that the most common perks and benefits are medical, vision, and dental insurance.
Furthermore, the platform reports Seattle, New York, and Chicago as the top 3 cities in terms of compensation. Los Angeles happens to be the worst of the lot.
What Does an Aircraft Maintenance Technician Do? [Job Description]
Aircraft maintenance technicians are employed by airports, private companies (American airlines, media companies, etc.), military organizations, and government agencies.
The exact job titles may vary from organization to organization. However, their general duties and responsibilities are pretty much the same everywhere around the globe.
These include:
- Perform Routine Maintenance – their main responsibility is to perform preventive maintenance and unscheduled upkeep of various aircraft components, such as the airframe, power plants/aircraft engines, landing gear, etc.
- Inspect Aircraft Components – in addition to performing planned maintenance and repairs, the industrial maintenance technician is also responsible for closely monitoring equipment (usually under the supervision of a more qualified engineer).
- Report on Maintenance Activities – finally, the aircraft maintenance technician reports on all activities to a maintenance supervisor. All modern companies use computerized maintenance management systems for this purpose.
The aforementioned duties cover just about everything an aircraft maintenance technician does.
Ending Note
If you’re a recruiter looking for capable technicians to look after your fleet of aircraft, adjust the compensation package with an offer that’s slightly higher than the national average.
This small investment can help you potentially save millions of dollars in the long-run.
On the other hand, if you’re an aircraft technician – don’t settle for anything else. Negotiate with your potential employer for a better paycheck, and don’t forget to inquire about additional compensation and employee benefits.
Josh is a partner at Maintenance Manager HQ.
