Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians
Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians (SOC 49-3011) earn a median $79,870 a year ($38.40 an hour) in the United States, with 138,090 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is New Jersey.
What aircraft mechanics and service technicians do
Aircraft mechanics and service technicians diagnose, adjust, repair and overhaul aircraft engines and assemblies, including hydraulic and pneumatic systems. They read and interpret maintenance manuals, service bulletins and other specifications to decide whether and how to repair or replace malfunctioning or damaged components. They examine and inspect components including landing gear, hydraulic systems and deicers for cracks, breaks, leaks and other problems, inspect airframes for wear or defects, and check the fuselage, wings and tail for corrosion, distortion and invisible cracks using x-ray and magnetic inspection equipment. Worn, defective or damaged components are replaced or repaired with hand tools, gauges and testing equipment. They conduct routine and special inspections as regulations require, check finished work to certify that maintenance meets standards and the aircraft can return to operation, and keep repair logs documenting all preventive and corrective maintenance. Avionics technicians (49-2091), who handle electronic systems such as radar and navigation, are excluded.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a postsecondary certificate, meaning training completed after high school but short of a degree.
Also called: Aerospace Propulsion Jet Engine Mechanic, Aircraft AC Mechanic (Aircraft Air Conditioning Mechanic), Aircraft Accessories Mechanic, Aircraft Avionics Technician (Aircraft Avionics Tech), Aircraft Body and Bonded Structure Repairer.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $23.45 | $30.11 | $38.40 | $47.66 | $61.97 | $40.74 | 138,090 |
| Annual | $48,780 | $62,630 | $79,870 | $99,130 | $128,890 | $84,740 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where aircraft mechanics and service technicians earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $34.98 | $39.75 | $50.66 | $62.96 | $64.32 | $53.31 | 1,900 | 0.44 | 0.50 |
| Annual | $72,760 | $82,670 | $105,370 | $130,960 | $133,790 | $110,880 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $30.47 | $37.68 | $49.42 | $115.54 | $115.54 | $66.28 | 4,300 | 0.44 | 0.50 |
| Annual | $63,380 | $78,380 | $102,800 | $240,310 | $240,310 | $137,860 | ||||
| Maryland | Hourly | $31.71 | $37.16 | $48.32 | $49.95 | $58.22 | $45.32 | 1,070 | 0.39 | 0.44 |
| Annual | $65,960 | $77,280 | $100,500 | $103,900 | $121,100 | $94,270 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $28.10 | $36.19 | $47.59 | $51.62 | $56.61 | $45.21 | 4,480 | 1.26 | 1.42 |
| Annual | $58,450 | $75,280 | $98,980 | $107,370 | $117,740 | $94,040 | ||||
| Connecticut | Hourly | $29.04 | $37.51 | $46.55 | $57.07 | $61.08 | $46.25 | 1,430 | 0.85 | 0.95 |
| Annual | $60,390 | $78,010 | $96,830 | $118,710 | $127,050 | $96,200 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | $23.36 | $33.24 | $40.60 | $47.83 | $58.74 | $41.09 | 16,850 | 1.20 | 1.35 |
| Annual | $48,600 | $69,130 | $84,440 | $99,490 | $122,180 | $85,480 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $21.87 | $28.69 | $36.99 | $46.84 | $62.59 | $38.40 | 14,850 | 1.50 | 1.68 |
| Annual | $45,500 | $59,660 | $76,940 | $97,430 | $130,190 | $79,880 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $25.90 | $32.88 | $41.40 | $47.91 | $56.10 | $41.40 | 12,590 | 0.69 | 0.78 |
| Annual | $53,860 | $68,390 | $86,100 | $99,650 | $116,690 | $86,110 | ||||
| Oklahoma | Hourly | $24.58 | $29.39 | $35.77 | $51.78 | $52.29 | $37.77 | 8,550 | 5.00 | 5.64 |
| Annual | $51,130 | $61,130 | $74,390 | $107,700 | $108,770 | $78,570 | ||||
| Georgia | Hourly | $22.71 | $28.30 | $36.36 | $47.26 | $64.06 | $38.64 | 6,720 | 1.37 | 1.55 |
| Annual | $47,240 | $58,870 | $75,640 | $98,300 | $133,250 | $80,370 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $36.22 | $39.75 | $61.13 | $115.54 | $115.54 | $66.58 | 5,110 | 0.54 | 0.61 |
| Annual | $75,330 | $82,670 | $127,140 | $240,310 | $240,310 | $138,480 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $28.61 | $38.60 | $49.95 | $51.62 | $57.23 | $46.29 | 3,950 | 1.89 | 2.13 |
| Annual | $59,520 | $80,280 | $103,900 | $107,370 | $119,040 | $96,290 | ||||
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | Hourly | $27.17 | $38.37 | $48.87 | $64.11 | $84.63 | $54.34 | 70 | 0.46 | 0.51 |
| Annual | $56,510 | $79,800 | $101,660 | $133,340 | $176,020 | $113,020 | ||||
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | Hourly | $33.79 | $38.61 | $48.84 | $60.76 | $60.76 | $49.81 | 120 | 0.48 | 0.54 |
| Annual | $70,290 | $80,300 | $101,590 | $126,380 | $126,380 | $103,590 | ||||
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | Hourly | $32.90 | $36.51 | $48.53 | $50.84 | $58.22 | $46.16 | 580 | 0.43 | 0.48 |
| Annual | $68,440 | $75,940 | $100,940 | $105,750 | $121,100 | $96,010 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $25.06 | $36.39 | $45.63 | $49.70 | $59.22 | $43.49 | 8,000 | 1.98 | 2.23 |
| Annual | $52,130 | $75,680 | $94,920 | $103,370 | $123,180 | $90,470 | ||||
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | Hourly | $22.47 | $28.69 | $37.62 | $48.00 | $64.69 | $39.37 | 6,460 | 2.29 | 2.58 |
| Annual | $46,740 | $59,660 | $78,260 | $99,830 | $134,560 | $81,890 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $36.22 | $39.75 | $61.13 | $115.54 | $115.54 | $66.58 | 5,110 | 0.54 | 0.61 |
| Annual | $75,330 | $82,670 | $127,140 | $240,310 | $240,310 | $138,480 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $24.46 | $31.62 | $40.03 | $50.08 | $59.19 | $41.61 | 5,020 | 0.80 | 0.90 |
| Annual | $50,870 | $65,780 | $83,250 | $104,160 | $123,120 | $86,550 | ||||
| Tulsa, OK | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 4,520 | 9.86 | 11.10 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
Top industries employing aircraft mechanics and service technicians
Support Activities for Air Transportation employ 30.8% of aircraft mechanics and service technicians nationally (42,580 jobs) at a median $72,910 a year ($35.05 an hour), followed by Scheduled Air Transportation (21.3%) and Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (18.0%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Support Activities for Air Transportation NAICS 488100 | 42,580 | 30.8% | $72,910 | $35.05 |
| Scheduled Air Transportation NAICS 481100 | 29,480 | 21.3% | $98,300 | $47.26 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing NAICS 336400 | 24,910 | 18.0% | $82,720 | $39.77 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999100 | 12,240 | 8.9% | $76,210 | $36.64 |
| Nonscheduled Air Transportation NAICS 481200 | 6,420 | 4.6% | $80,180 | $38.55 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (138,090). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $65,380 for aircraft mechanics and service technicians in May 2021 and $79,870 in May 2025, with employment of 125,440 and 138,090.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $65,380 | $31.43 | 125,440 |
| May 2022 | $70,010 | $33.66 | 134,070 |
| May 2023 | $75,020 | $36.07 | 137,630 |
| May 2024 | $78,680 | $37.83 | 136,390 |
| May 2025 | $79,870 | $38.40 | 138,090 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
50 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey profile | $50.66 | $105,370 | $72,760 | $133,790 | 1,900 | 0.44 | 0.50 |
| 2 | New York profile | $49.42 | $102,800 | $63,380 | $240,310 | 4,300 | 0.44 | 0.50 |
| 3 | Maryland profile | $48.32 | $100,500 | $65,960 | $121,100 | 1,070 | 0.39 | 0.44 |
| 4 | Washington profile | $47.59 | $98,980 | $58,450 | $117,740 | 4,480 | 1.26 | 1.42 |
| 5 | Connecticut profile | $46.55 | $96,830 | $60,390 | $127,050 | 1,430 | 0.85 | 0.95 |
| 6 | Nevada profile | $45.62 | $94,890 | $61,010 | $113,290 | 2,570 | 1.66 | 1.87 |
| 7 | Massachusetts profile | $44.73 | $93,040 | $75,180 | $133,400 | 1,410 | 0.39 | 0.44 |
| 8 | Alaska profile | $43.82 | $91,150 | $54,530 | $122,880 | 1,470 | 4.50 | 5.07 |
| 9 | Hawaii profile | $43.67 | $90,830 | $62,570 | $130,560 | 1,150 | 1.83 | 2.07 |
| 10 | California profile | $41.40 | $86,100 | $53,860 | $116,690 | 12,590 | 0.69 | 0.78 |
| 11 | New Mexico profile | $40.60 | $84,440 | $49,690 | $99,020 | 860 | 0.98 | 1.11 |
| 12 | Texas profile | $40.60 | $84,440 | $48,600 | $122,180 | 16,850 | 1.20 | 1.35 |
| 13 | Delaware profile | $40.17 | $83,550 | $63,280 | $116,370 | 240 | 0.49 | 0.56 |
| 14 | Oregon profile | $39.83 | $82,850 | $59,330 | $135,770 | 1,080 | 0.55 | 0.62 |
| 15 | Alabama profile | $39.55 | $82,260 | $48,350 | $98,440 | 4,310 | 2.04 | 2.29 |
| 16 | Virginia profile | $39.52 | $82,200 | $58,150 | $125,170 | 2,260 | 0.55 | 0.62 |
| 17 | Colorado profile | $39.46 | $82,080 | $60,960 | $130,160 | 2,690 | 0.94 | 1.05 |
| 18 | Minnesota profile | $39.41 | $81,980 | $52,100 | $133,020 | 2,390 | 0.81 | 0.91 |
| 19 | Illinois profile | $39.27 | $81,680 | $46,460 | $130,950 | 3,370 | 0.55 | 0.62 |
| 20 | Tennessee profile | $38.96 | $81,040 | $52,900 | $167,410 | 4,670 | 1.42 | 1.60 |
| 21 | Ohio profile | $38.74 | $80,570 | $51,490 | $132,850 | 2,840 | 0.51 | 0.58 |
| 22 | Kansas profile | $38.59 | $80,270 | $50,630 | $98,070 | 1,440 | 1.00 | 1.13 |
| 23 | Louisiana profile | $38.36 | $79,780 | $47,840 | $107,830 | 1,150 | 0.59 | 0.67 |
| 24 | New Hampshire profile | $38.27 | $79,610 | $59,560 | $99,910 | 190 | 0.28 | 0.32 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania profile | $37.50 | $78,000 | $48,560 | $136,510 | 2,080 | 0.34 | 0.39 |
| 26 | North Dakota profile | $37.38 | $77,740 | $52,100 | $99,170 | 200 | 0.48 | 0.53 |
| 27 | North Carolina profile | $37.01 | $76,980 | $50,970 | $112,050 | 4,700 | 0.95 | 1.07 |
| 28 | Florida profile | $36.99 | $76,940 | $45,500 | $130,190 | 14,850 | 1.50 | 1.68 |
| 29 | Vermont profile | $36.72 | $76,370 | $55,610 | $98,810 | 160 | 0.54 | 0.61 |
| 30 | South Dakota profile | $36.42 | $75,750 | $51,160 | $89,360 | 150 | 0.32 | 0.36 |
| 31 | Georgia profile | $36.36 | $75,640 | $47,240 | $133,250 | 6,720 | 1.37 | 1.55 |
| 32 | Arizona profile | $36.20 | $75,300 | $48,290 | $121,480 | 5,670 | 1.75 | 1.97 |
| 33 | South Carolina profile | $36.13 | $75,160 | $45,230 | $84,600 | 1,660 | 0.72 | 0.81 |
| 34 | Michigan profile | $36.01 | $74,900 | $48,180 | $118,100 | 3,380 | 0.77 | 0.87 |
| 35 | Mississippi profile | $36.00 | $74,880 | $47,650 | $88,340 | 1,360 | 1.17 | 1.32 |
| 36 | Oklahoma profile | $35.77 | $74,390 | $51,130 | $108,770 | 8,550 | 5.00 | 5.64 |
| 37 | Wisconsin profile | $35.54 | $73,930 | $44,520 | $99,850 | 1,270 | 0.43 | 0.49 |
| 38 | Missouri profile | $34.36 | $71,470 | $45,620 | $97,160 | 1,700 | 0.58 | 0.65 |
| 39 | Rhode Island profile | $34.00 | $70,720 | $31,200 | $96,530 | 120 | 0.25 | 0.28 |
| 40 | Utah profile | $33.73 | $70,160 | $46,210 | $104,550 | 2,080 | 1.20 | 1.35 |
| 41 | Iowa profile | $33.60 | $69,890 | $33,740 | $93,130 | 330 | 0.21 | 0.24 |
| 42 | Kentucky profile | $32.65 | $67,920 | $45,210 | $156,910 | 1,680 | 0.84 | 0.94 |
| 43 | Maine profile | $32.64 | $67,890 | $57,000 | $118,500 | 190 | 0.30 | 0.33 |
| 44 | Arkansas profile | $31.45 | $65,420 | $39,900 | $78,690 | 720 | 0.55 | 0.62 |
| 45 | Montana profile | $30.85 | $64,170 | $47,100 | $97,200 | 310 | 0.61 | 0.69 |
| 46 | Nebraska profile | $30.78 | $64,020 | $47,440 | $98,020 | 410 | 0.40 | 0.45 |
| 47 | Indiana profile | $30.48 | $63,400 | $36,980 | $90,060 | 1,500 | 0.47 | 0.53 |
| 48 | Idaho profile | $29.45 | $61,250 | $44,840 | $98,260 | 600 | 0.69 | 0.78 |
| 49 | Wyoming profile | $27.25 | $56,680 | $35,460 | $99,540 | 340 | 1.21 | 1.36 |
| 50 | West Virginia profile | $21.86 | $45,470 | $35,220 | $78,710 | 590 | 0.84 | 0.95 |
Part of Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 49-3011 Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians.
*- Wage estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 49-3011, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 49-3011.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.