How much do aircraft mechanics make?

Aircraft Mechanic salary 2026 · BLS occupation: Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians (SOC 49-3011) · Updated October 28, 2026

Answer

Aircraft mechanics in the US earned a median of $79,870 a year ($38.40 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned $62,630 to $99,130.

Median annual pay: $79,870; Mean $84,740
Median hourly pay: $38.40; Mean $40.74
Typical range (10th–90th): $48.8K–$129K; $48,780 to $128,890
US jobs: 138,090; +5.4% projected, 2025–35

BLS OEWS, May 2025, released April 30, 2026. Wages include tips, commissions and production bonuses but not overtime premiums, shift differentials, other bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers are not included. Methodology

How to become an aircraft mechanic: steps, years and cost · Best-paying state after cost of living: New Jersey

Aircraft Mechanic pay range

Annual wages, May 2025

10th percentile$48,780
25th percentile$62,630
Median$79,870
75th percentile$99,130
90th percentile$128,890

Half of all aircraft mechanics earned more than $79,870 and half earned less. The lowest-paid 10% made under $48,780; the top 10% made over $128,890. The middle 50%, from the 25th to the 75th percentile, ran from $62,630 to $99,130.

These percentiles describe everyone in the occupation at one time. They are not pay steps by years of experience: they mix new and senior workers, different states, employers and hours. Pay generally rises with experience, credentials and specialization, but BLS does not publish pay by experience.

Percentile	Annual	Hourly	Monthly
10th	$48,780	$23.45	$4,065
25th	$62,630	$30.11	$5,219
Median (50th)	$79,870	$38.40	$6,656
75th	$99,130	$47.66	$8,261
90th	$128,890	$61.97	$10,741
Mean (average)	$84,740	$40.74	$7,062

Aircraft Mechanic salary by state

Median annual pay; cost of living from BEA regional price parities 2024

Median annual pay for aircraft mechanics by state. Darker tiles pay more. A dash means BLS did not publish a figure.

Highest-paying states

1. New Jersey $105,370
2. New York $102,800
3. Maryland $100,500
4. Washington $98,980
5. Connecticut $96,830

Lowest-paying states

50. West Virginia $45,470
49. Wyoming $56,680
48. Idaho $61,250
47. Indiana $63,400
46. Nebraska $64,020

Best after cost of living: New Jersey. Its median of $105,370 is worth about $96,843 at national-average prices.


Alabama	$82,260	15	$92,611	6	$39.55	4,310	2.04
Alaska	$91,150	8	$89,049	11	$43.82	1,470	4.50
Arizona	$75,300	32	$74,794	40	$36.20	5,670	1.75
Arkansas	$65,420	44	$75,250	39	$31.45	720	0.55
California	$86,100	10	$77,764	36	$41.40	12,590	0.69
Colorado	$82,080	17	$79,649	29	$39.46	2,690	0.94
Connecticut	$96,830	5	$93,456	5	$46.55	1,430	0.84
Delaware	$83,550	13	$83,711	20	$40.17	240	0.49
District of Columbia	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Florida	$76,940	28	$74,400	41	$36.99	14,850	1.50
Georgia	$75,640	31	$78,552	33	$36.36	6,720	1.37
Hawaii	$90,830	9	$82,610	22	$43.67	1,150	1.83
Idaho	$61,250	48	$64,140	48	$29.45	600	0.69
Illinois	$81,680	19	$81,714	23	$39.27	3,370	0.55
Indiana	$63,400	47	$67,932	46	$30.48	1,500	0.47
Iowa	$69,890	41	$79,636	30	$33.60	330	0.21
Kansas	$80,270	22	$89,122	10	$38.59	1,440	1.00
Kentucky	$67,920	42	$75,334	38	$32.65	1,680	0.84
Louisiana	$79,780	23	$90,446	9	$38.36	1,150	0.59
Maine	$67,890	43	$69,954	44	$32.64	190	0.30
Maryland	$100,500	3	$95,752	2	$48.32	1,070	0.39
Massachusetts	$93,040	7	$87,975	13	$44.73	1,410	0.39
Michigan	$74,900	34	$77,845	35	$36.01	3,380	0.77
Minnesota	$81,980	18	$83,126	21	$39.41	2,390	0.81
Mississippi	$74,880	35	$86,115	17	$36.00	1,360	1.17
Missouri	$71,470	38	$78,697	31	$34.36	1,700	0.58
Montana	$64,170	45	$67,801	47	$30.85	310	0.61
Nebraska	$64,020	46	$71,052	42	$30.78	410	0.40
Nevada	$94,890	6	$94,910	4	$45.62	2,570	1.66
New Hampshire	$79,610	24	$76,427	37	$38.27	190	0.28
New Jersey	$105,370	1	$96,843	1	$50.66	1,900	0.44
New Mexico	$84,440	11	$91,572	8	$40.60	860	0.98
New York	$102,800	2	$95,255	3	$49.42	4,300	0.44
North Carolina	$76,980	27	$81,611	24	$37.01	4,700	0.95
North Dakota	$77,740	26	$87,389	14	$37.38	200	0.47
Ohio	$80,570	21	$86,845	16	$38.74	2,840	0.51
Oklahoma	$74,390	36	$84,685	19	$35.77	8,550	5.00
Oregon	$82,850	14	$80,156	27	$39.83	1,080	0.55
Pennsylvania	$78,000	25	$79,941	28	$37.50	2,080	0.34
Rhode Island	$70,720	39	$69,144	45	$34.00	120	0.25
South Carolina	$75,160	33	$80,172	26	$36.13	1,660	0.72
South Dakota	$75,750	30	$85,510	18	$36.42	150	0.32
Tennessee	$81,040	20	$88,212	12	$38.96	4,670	1.42
Texas	$84,440	12	$87,000	15	$40.60	16,850	1.20
Utah	$70,160	40	$70,966	43	$33.73	2,080	1.20
Vermont	$76,370	29	$77,962	34	$36.72	160	0.54
Virginia	$82,200	16	$81,302	25	$39.52	2,260	0.55
Washington	$98,980	4	$92,493	7	$47.59	4,480	1.26
West Virginia	$45,470	50	$50,806	50	$21.86	590	0.84
Wisconsin	$73,930	37	$78,570	32	$35.54	1,270	0.43
Wyoming	$56,680	49	$61,149	49	$27.25	340	1.21

BLS OEWS, May 2025, state estimates. Adjusted pay = median ÷ (state price level ÷ 100), using BEA regional price parities for 2024; it ignores taxes. Figures for states with few workers in the occupation have larger survey errors and can change sharply from one year to the next. “—” means BLS did not publish the figure (District of Columbia). State names link to each state’s highest-paying jobs.

Best-paying metro areas for aircraft mechanics

207 metro areas with published pay

Highest median pay
Metro area	Median	Adjusted	Jobs
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	$127,140	$112,950	5,110
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$103,900	$93,492	3,950
Waterbury-Shelton, CT	$101,660	$101,886	70
Trenton-Princeton, NJ	$101,590	$98,459	120
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	$100,940	$96,605	580
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	$100,610	$97,119	2,090
Lexington Park, MD	$100,500	$99,742	190
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$98,760	$89,438	260
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	$98,300	$98,243	2,770
Kahului-Wailuku, HI	$98,280	$89,841	120

Most jobs
Metro area	Jobs	Median	Adjusted
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	8,000	$94,920	$92,075
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	6,460	$78,260	$68,556
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	5,110	$127,140	$112,950
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	5,020	$83,250	$73,305
Tulsa, OK	4,520	—	—
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	3,950	$103,900	$93,492
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ	3,810	$76,610	$74,151
Oklahoma City, OK	3,310	$68,140	$75,369
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	2,770	$98,300	$98,243
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX	2,710	$85,400	$86,587

BLS OEWS, May 2025, metropolitan statistical areas; adjusted with BEA metro price parities (2024).

What moves aircraft mechanic pay: employers and settings

The type of employer is the biggest pay factor for aircraft mechanics. Scheduled airlines pay a median of $98,300 and courier and express delivery companies, which run their own cargo fleets, pay $90,190. Aircraft and parts manufacturers pay $82,720 and charter operators $80,180. Airport support businesses such as repair stations employ the most mechanics, 42,580, but pay a lower median of $72,910. Federal government mechanics earn a median of $76,210.

Certificates matter too. Holding both airframe and powerplant ratings opens more jobs than one rating, and an Inspection Authorization or lead inspector role brings more responsibility. The 10th percentile is $48,780, and the 90th is $128,890, a wide spread across employers, roles and locations.

Location follows airline hubs and aerospace plants. New Jersey has the highest median, $105,370, followed by New York at $102,800, Maryland at $100,500, Washington at $98,980, and Connecticut. New Jersey stays first after cost of living ($96,843 adjusted). West Virginia is lowest at $45,470.

Where aircraft mechanics work
Industry	Share of jobs	Median pay
Support Activities for Air Transportation	30.8%	$72,910
Scheduled Air Transportation	21.3%	$98,300
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing	18%	$82,720
Federal Executive Branch	8.9%	$76,210
Nonscheduled Air Transportation	4.6%	$80,180
Couriers and Express Delivery Services	2.9%	$90,190

Private employers and government
Employer type	Jobs	Median pay
Private employers	124,620	$80,640
Federal government (incl. Postal Service)	12,240	$76,210
State government (incl. schools and hospitals)	480	$67,990
Local government (incl. schools and hospitals)	750	$65,800

BLS OEWS, May 2025, national industry-specific and ownership estimates (4-digit NAICS).

Aircraft Mechanic pay over time

Median annual pay, 2015–2025

$79.9K $58.4K

2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Nominal median (dollars of each year)In May 2025 dollars (adjusted with CPI-U)

The median rose from $58,370 in 2015 to $79,870 in 2025, up 37% in nominal dollars. After inflation, the 2015 median is worth $78,905 in May 2025 dollars, so real pay grew 1% over the period.

BLS OEWS, May 2025 and earlier May releases; inflation from the CPI-U, US city average, May of each year.

What aircraft mechanics do

An aircraft mechanic inspects, services and repairs airplanes and helicopters so they are safe to fly. The work covers engines, landing gear, brakes, hydraulics, fuel systems, flight controls and the structure itself, and on many jobs it includes wiring and some avionics. Many hold an FAA mechanic certificate with airframe and powerplant ratings, usually called A&P mechanics; job titles include aviation mechanic, airplane mechanic and aircraft maintenance technician.

Mechanics work in hangars, repair stations and on the ramp near major airports. The largest group works for maintenance, repair and overhaul shops and other airport support businesses. Others work for passenger and cargo airlines, aircraft and parts manufacturers, charter operators and the federal government. A typical shift mixes scheduled inspections set by FAA rules with troubleshooting problems that pilots report. Every task follows the manufacturer's maintenance manual and must be signed off in the aircraft's records. Mechanics work with inspectors, avionics technicians, parts staff and flight crews. The job is physical: climbing on wings, crouching in wheel wells, working on ladders and around loud engines. Airline and repair-station shifts often include nights, weekends and holidays, because aircraft are fixed while they are not flying.

A typical day

Inspect engines, landing gear, brakes and structure on a set schedule
Troubleshoot problems written up by pilots, from warning lights to leaks
Replace worn or damaged parts using the manufacturer's maintenance manual
Check hydraulic, fuel and pressurization systems for leaks and correct pressure
Run engines and test systems on the ground after repairs
Repair sheet metal, composite panels and corrosion damage
Record every inspection and repair in the aircraft's maintenance records

Also called: aviation mechanic, airplane mechanic, aircraft maintenance technician, aircraft maintainer, aircraft maintenance technician (aircraft maintenance tech), aircraft restorer, aircraft service technician (aircraft service tech), aircraft technician (aircraft tech).

How to become an aircraft mechanic

Full guide

To become an aircraft mechanic, graduate from an FAA-certificated aviation maintenance technician school (often 1.5 to 2 years) or get 18 to 30 months of supervised experience, then pass the FAA General, Airframe and Powerplant knowledge tests plus oral and practical tests to earn an A&P mechanic certificate. You must be at least 18.

Typical time: 1.5-2.5 years; Fastest: About 1.5 years (full-time FAA-approved school)
Minimum education: High school diploma or equivalent, plus a certificate from an FAA-certificated aviation maintenance technician school (Part 147) or documented experience
License: Federal certificate: an FAA mechanic certificate (airframe and/or powerplant) is needed to approve aircraft for return to service; uncertificated workers may work only under a certificated mechanic's supervision
Typical training cost: $6.7K–$11.3K; See the guide for what it includes

Read the step-by-step guide to becoming an aircraft mechanic: each step with its time and cost, education options, exams, licensing and advancement.

Is it worth it? Training cost against pay

Compare careers

Training time: 1.5-2.5 years; Typical path in our guide
Training cost: $6.7K–$11.3K; Tuition and exam fees, before aid
Median pay: $79,870; $28,890 above the all-jobs median ($50,980)
Cost vs. one year's pay: 8–14%; Training cost as a share of a year at the median

Once qualified, the pay difference over the typical US job at the median ($28,890 a year before tax) would repay the training cost in less than a year after training ends (1.5-2.5 years in our guide). This is a rough guide: it ignores taxes, financial aid, interest, earnings given up while training and how pay changes over a career. How we calculate ROI.

Job outlook for aircraft mechanics

BLS Employment Projections 2025–35

Projected growth: +5.4%; All occupations +3.5%
Jobs in 2025: 140,000; 147,600 projected for 2035
Openings each year: 11,400; New jobs plus replacements
Self-employed: 0.8%; Not in the pay figures above

BLS projects aircraft mechanic and service technician jobs to grow 5.4% from 2025 to 2035, from 140,000 to 147,600, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. That means about 11,400 openings a year, most of them created when mechanics retire or leave the field. More passenger and cargo flights mean more aircraft to maintain, and newer aircraft systems are more complex, which adds to demand for trained technicians. BLS also notes that the growing space industry may add some jobs.

Related careers and their pay

Diesel Mechanic$61,770
Auto Mechanic$50,620
Aerospace Engineer$134,960
Avionics Technicians$82,280
Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers$65,380

Related occupations from O*NET 31.0; median annual pay from BLS OEWS, May 2025.

Aircraft Mechanic salary FAQ

How much do aircraft mechanics make an hour?

The median hourly wage for aircraft mechanics was $38.40 in May 2025. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $23.45 an hour and the highest-paid 10% more than $61.97. Hourly figures are BLS estimates for all workers in the occupation, full-time and part-time.

Which state pays aircraft mechanics the most?

New Jersey has the highest median pay for aircraft mechanics, $105,370 a year, followed by New York ($102,800) and Maryland ($100,500). After adjusting for each state's price level, New Jersey comes out ahead at about $96,843 in national-average dollars.

Do aircraft mechanics make six figures?

Some do: based on the BLS percentiles, between 10% and 25% of aircraft mechanics earn more than $100,000 a year. The median is $79,870, and the top 10% earn more than $128,890. Pay generally rises with experience, specialization and location.

What is an A&P mechanic?

An A&P mechanic holds an FAA mechanic certificate with both the airframe (A) and powerplant (P) ratings. The airframe rating covers the aircraft's structure and systems, such as landing gear, hydraulics and flight controls; the powerplant rating covers engines and propellers. Employers often prefer mechanics with both ratings because they can sign off on most work on an aircraft.

Do aircraft mechanics work nights and weekends?

Often. Most aircraft mechanics work full time, and BLS notes that shifts of 8 or 10 hours can include nights, weekends and holidays. Airline and repair-station crews often service aircraft overnight, when they are not scheduled to fly. Manufacturing plants and some hangar jobs run daytime shifts, so the schedule depends heavily on the employer.

Is being an aircraft mechanic physically demanding?

Yes. Mechanics climb on wings and work from ladders and scaffolds, crouch or lie on the ground to reach landing gear, and lift heavy parts. Ramp work happens outdoors in heat, cold and rain, and engine runs are loud enough to require hearing protection. Hangars and shops are more comfortable, but deadlines to return aircraft to service can be stressful.

Sources

Data updated October 28, 2026 · Text checked against its sources October 28, 2026

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released April 30, 2026, SOC 49-3011
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035, released September 2026
O*NET 31.0 Database (49-3011.00), U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0; tasks rewritten by Careers and Salaries
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state and metro area, 2024
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), US city average, May values
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study and institution data, most recent cohorts, released 2026-10-15
Aircraft and Avionics Equipment Mechanics and Technicians, Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · checked October 28, 2026
14 CFR Part 65 Subpart D: mechanics (65.71, 65.75, 65.77, 65.79, 65.80, 65.83), Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (National Archives) · checked October 28, 2026
Become an Aviation Mechanic, Federal Aviation Administration · checked October 28, 2026
Aviation Maintenance programs, North Central Texas College · checked October 28, 2026
Aviation Maintenance Technology, University of Alaska Anchorage · checked October 28, 2026
14 CFR 147.17 and 147.21: AMT school training requirements and certificate of completion, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (National Archives) · checked October 28, 2026
14 CFR 65.91 and 65.93: Inspection Authorization and renewal, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (National Archives) · checked October 28, 2026
License Finder, CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) · checked October 28, 2026

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