How to Become an Aircraft Mechanic
Keep aircraft airworthy: inspect, repair, and overhaul engines and airframes under strict FAA standards. It typically requires a postsecondary certificate (faa-approved), with a median salary of $79,870 per year and about average projected job growth.
Median pay
$79,870/yr
Middle half
$62,630 to $99,130
Job growth
About average
Openings / yr
11,300
Majors that lead here
Common majors include Aviation Maintenance Technology.
Key skills
- Airframe and Powerplant Repair
- Inspection
- Troubleshooting
- Regulatory Compliance
- Documentation
Helpful certifications
- FAA A&P (Airframe and Powerplant) certificate
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
0/100
Work-life balance
66/100
Stress level
55/100
Related careers
- Airline Pilot$232,140 median
- Air Traffic Controller$148,080 median
- Commercial Pilot$123,220 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does an Aircraft Mechanic make?
The median pay for an Aircraft Mechanic is $79,870 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $62,630 and $99,130 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become an Aircraft Mechanic?
The usual entry point is a postsecondary certificate (faa-approved). Common majors are Aviation Maintenance Technology.
Is Aircraft Mechanic a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is about average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 11,300 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does an Aircraft Mechanic use most?
Common skills for this role are Airframe and Powerplant Repair, Inspection, Troubleshooting, Regulatory Compliance, and Documentation.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).