Aircraft Service Technician Training and Jobs
Schools and Degrees
In order to become a successful aircraft service technician, one needs to obtain a degree from a trade school that has been certified by the FAA. There are more than 150 trade schools that offer 2-year or 4-year degrees in areas of study like aviation technology, avionics and aviation maintenance management. Courses in physics, mathematics, chemistry, computer science, electronics and mechanical drawing can also prove to be helpful.
Training and Education
A postsecondary vocational award is often necessary for working in the field. About 11% of employees have earned a degree. Some college, below a 4-year degree, is sufficient for 57% of aircraft service technicians. Workers with only a high school education represent about 33% of all.
Job Overview
Aircraft service technicians shoulder the responsibility of maintaining an aircraft in the best operating condition. They have to make the necessary repairs, perform scheduled maintenance and complete the inspections that are required by the Federal Aviation Administration. The have the responsibility to inspect landing gear, aircraft engines, pressurized sections, instruments and other aircraft accessories.
Job Requirements
Aircraft service technicians can earn a A&P certificate, which is awarded by the Federal Aviation Administration and is ideal for airframe and powerplant mechanics. This certificate can be obtained by passing an examination. However, aircraft service technicians need to go through 16 hours of training every 24 months to maintain the certification. Other certifications are also available, and all of them require aircraft service technicians to pass oral and written tests to prove their expertise in the field.
One needs to be at least 18 years old to become a aircraft service technicians. Aircraft service technicians must be very careful during their work, as they are required to have a high level of mechanical aptitude. These professionals also have to be very hardworking, self motivated and enthusiastic. The capacity to diagnose and solve complex mechanical problems is essential. Agility is a required skill for aircraft service technicians.
Nature of Work
Aircraft service technicians perform aircraft inspections depending on the number of hours that an aircraft has flown, the cycles of operation or the number of days since the last inspection of the aircraft. The technicians also update the records of the aircraft maintenance. After the repairs are completed, the aircraft must be tested to ensure that it is operating perfectly.
Aircraft service technicians have to work in hangars or other indoor areas. In cases where the hangars are full, they may have to work outdoors. Aircraft service technicians usually work for 40 hours a week. However, working longer hours and even during the weekends is frequent.
Area Job Conditions
Employees appear most common in Warner Robins (Georgia), Wichita Falls (Texas), and Wichita (Kansas), and least common in Edison (New Jersey), Rochester (New York), and Akron (Ohio).
Louisville (Kentucky), Roanoke (Virginia), and Oakland (California) offer the highest pay. Burlington (North Carolina), Visalia (California), and Racine (Wisconsin) offer the lowest salaries.
Part-Time and Self Employment
Government statistics report that 2% of aircraft service technicians are employed part-time.
Career Videos
Aircraft Service Technicians by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)
In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.
Alabama
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville | $51,000 | 110 | -29% |
| Mobile | $43,000 | 590 | +354% |
| Montgomery | $53,000 | 150 | +25% |
Alaska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | $61,000 | 780 | +533% |
| Fairbanks | $60,000 | 140 | +577% |
Arizona
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flagstaff | $39,000 | 30 | -21% |
| Phoenix | $47,000 | 2,550 | +88% |
| Tucson | $50,000 | 990 | +282% |
| Yuma | $55,000 | 70 | +86% |
Arkansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Smith | $56,000 | 70 | -21% |
| Little Rock | $49,000 | 270 | +3% |
California
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield | $56,000 | 600 | +207% |
| Fresno | $46,000 | 530 | +119% |
| Hanford | $47,000 | 50 | +128% |
| Los Angeles | $59,000 | 3,840 | +23% |
| Oakland | $68,000 | 270 | -65% |
| Oxnard | $55,000 | 120 | -46% |
| Riverside | $63,000 | 970 | +5% |
| Sacramento | $61,000 | 210 | -68% |
| Salinas | $51,000 | 50 | -57% |
| San Diego | $52,000 | 1,200 | +19% |
| San Francisco | $64,000 | 2,240 | +193% |
| San Jose | $57,000 | 240 | -65% |
| San Luis Obispo | $44,000 | 40 | -39% |
| Santa Ana | $52,000 | 290 | -74% |
| Santa Barbara | $64,000 | 60 | -51% |
| Stockton | $45,000 | 80 | -49% |
| Yuba City | $52,000 | 50 | +100% |
Colorado
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Springs | $52,000 | 230 | +22% |
| Denver | $58,000 | 1,160 | +21% |
| Fort Collins | $44,000 | 50 | -45% |
Connecticut
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport | $61,000 | 1,250 | +285% |
| Hartford | $56,000 | 570 | +30% |
| Norwich | $63,000 | 80 | -10% |
Delaware
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | $59,000 | 130 | -47% |
District of Columbia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $57,000 | 1,060 | -44% |
Florida
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Coral | $64,000 | 90 | -37% |
| Deltona | $41,000 | 100 | -11% |
| Fort Lauderdale | $45,000 | 900 | +68% |
| Fort Walton Beach | $54,000 | 260 | +388% |
| Jacksonville | $50,000 | 940 | +104% |
| Miami | $42,000 | 2,190 | +190% |
| Naples | $44,000 | 40 | -50% |
| Orlando | $47,000 | 1,020 | +31% |
| Palm Bay | $42,000 | 330 | +125% |
| Panama City | $46,000 | 70 | +47% |
| Pensacola | $46,000 | 410 | +277% |
| Port St Lucie | $35,000 | 60 | -30% |
| Sarasota | $40,000 | 50 | -73% |
| Sebastian | $42,000 | 60 | +90% |
| Tallahassee | $41,000 | 40 | -66% |
| Tampa | $45,000 | 430 | -51% |
| West Palm Beach | $53,000 | 430 | +9% |
Georgia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Macon | $41,000 | 160 | +150% |
| Warner Robins | $49,000 | 1,110 | +2966% |
Hawaii
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu | $55,000 | 820 | +145% |
Idaho
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise | $47,000 | 350 | +78% |
Illinois
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $62,000 | 1,740 | -40% |
| Rockford | $52,000 | 160 | +56% |
Indiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Wayne | $57,000 | 70 | -54% |
| Gary | $57,000 | 50 | -75% |
| Indianapolis | $63,000 | 1,070 | +55% |
Iowa
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines | $44,000 | 370 | +48% |
| Sioux City | $49,000 | 70 | +38% |
Kansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topeka | $55,000 | 110 | +39% |
| Wichita | $51,000 | 1,990 | +817% |
Louisiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge | $54,000 | 110 | -61% |
| Houma | $51,000 | 170 | +152% |
| Lafayette | $50,000 | 270 | +159% |
| Lake Charles | $47,000 | 190 | +205% |
| Shreveport | $51,000 | 400 | +201% |
Maine
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangor | $50,000 | 90 | +114% |
| Portland | $52,000 | 40 | -73% |
Maryland
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $55,000 | 550 | -46% |
| Hagerstown | $59,000 | 130 | +88% |
Massachusetts
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $58,000 | 560 | -58% |
| Springfield | $63,000 | 740 | +229% |
Michigan
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit | $57,000 | 540 | +5% |
| Lansing | $57,000 | 40 | -73% |
| Warren | $55,000 | 320 | -61% |
Minnesota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth | 70 | -26% | |
| Minneapolis | $57,000 | 1,240 | -10% |
Mississippi
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gulfport | $53,000 | 220 | +185% |
| Jackson | $45,000 | 110 | -42% |
Missouri
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joplin | $40,000 | 100 | +81% |
| Kansas City | $57,000 | 800 | +2% |
| Springfield | $44,000 | 60 | -58% |
| St Louis | $55,000 | 1,420 | +38% |
Montana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings | $42,000 | 60 | +1% |
| Great Falls | $51,000 | 120 | +403% |
| Missoula | $37,000 | 30 | -15% |
Nebraska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha | $45,000 | 200 | -44% |
Nevada
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas | $59,000 | 970 | +49% |
| Reno | $58,000 | 160 | +13% |
New Hampshire
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashua | $56,000 | 30 | -70% |
| Portsmouth | $66,000 | 60 | +53% |
New Jersey
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City | $61,000 | 110 | +4% |
| Camden | $61,000 | 190 | -53% |
| Edison | $56,000 | 170 | -79% |
| Trenton | $48,000 | 60 | -65% |
| Vineland | $73,000 | 40 | -3% |
New Mexico
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $52,000 | 520 | +77% |
| Las Cruces | $52,000 | 80 | +81% |
| Santa Fe | $51,000 | 40 | -6% |
New York
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo | $59,000 | 110 | -74% |
| Nassau | $57,000 | 220 | -77% |
| New York | $55,000 | 1,910 | -52% |
| Poughkeepsie | $61,000 | 170 | -8% |
| Rochester | $60,000 | 90 | -77% |
| Syracuse | $56,000 | 80 | -66% |
North Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville | $40,000 | 50 | -62% |
| Fayetteville | $47,000 | 320 | +249% |
| Goldsboro | 100 | +276% | |
| Greensboro | $45,000 | 350 | +29% |
| Jacksonville | $52,000 | 100 | +255% |
| Raleigh | $56,000 | 310 | -22% |
North Dakota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo | $45,000 | 60 | -32% |
Ohio
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | $48,000 | 180 | -26% |
| Cincinnati | $55,000 | 430 | -45% |
| Cleveland | $50,000 | 430 | -45% |
| Columbus | $52,000 | 590 | -17% |
| Dayton | $52,000 | 230 | -21% |
| Toledo | $60,000 | 90 | -60% |
| Youngstown | $53,000 | 110 | -35% |
Oklahoma
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City | $48,000 | 2,120 | +379% |
| Tulsa | $49,000 | 3,020 | +821% |
Oregon
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $53,000 | 780 | -1% |
| Salem | $54,000 | 70 | -36% |
Pennsylvania
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown | $63,000 | 30 | -89% |
| Harrisburg | $56,000 | 80 | -67% |
| Johnstown | $45,000 | 120 | +214% |
| Lancaster | $43,000 | 70 | -60% |
| Philadelphia | $50,000 | 1,840 | +25% |
| Reading | $50,000 | 50 | -59% |
| Scranton | $39,000 | 40 | -80% |
Rhode Island
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | $53,000 | 90 | -79% |
South Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $53,000 | 170 | -22% |
| Columbia | $52,000 | 210 | -21% |
| Florence | $45,000 | 40 | -28% |
| Greenville | $48,000 | 620 | +174% |
South Dakota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City | $54,000 | 30 | -32% |
| Sioux Falls | $55,000 | 100 | -2% |
Tennessee
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $75,000 | 1,650 | +249% |
| Nashville | $48,000 | 290 | -49% |
Texas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amarillo | $52,000 | 90 | +18% |
| Austin | $50,000 | 230 | -62% |
| Corpus Christi | $56,000 | 1,120 | +748% |
| Dallas | $53,000 | 3,400 | +110% |
| Fort Worth | $53,000 | 3,490 | +425% |
| Houston | $55,000 | 2,480 | +22% |
| Killeen | $47,000 | 320 | +242% |
| San Antonio | $44,000 | 2,420 | +260% |
Utah
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ogden | $53,000 | 970 | +554% |
Vermont
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington | $58,000 | 90 | +12% |
Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | $50,000 | 130 | -72% |
| Virginia Beach | $47,000 | 470 | -19% |
Washington
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $54,000 | 4,390 | +306% |
| Spokane | $48,000 | 470 | +208% |
| Tacoma | $61,000 | 280 | +41% |
West Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $53,000 | 30 | -72% |
Wisconsin
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | $48,000 | 140 | -45% |
| Milwaukee | $53,000 | 280 | -56% |