How to become an aircraft assembler or aircraft assembly inspector
Official title: Aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors
Also called: Aircraft assembler, Airframe assembler, Fuselage assembler, Aircraft wing assembler, Airframe unit assembler, Aircraft assembly rigger, Aircraft bench assembler, Aircraft control assembler, Rigger - aircraft assembly, Sealer - aircraft assembly, Aircraft assembly inspector, Aircraft structure assembler
Aircraft assemblers assemble, fit and install prefabricated parts to manufacture fixed wing or rotary wing aircraft or aircraft subassemblies. Aircraft assembly inspectors inspect aircraft assemblies for adherence to engineering specifications. They are employed by aircraft and aircraft subassembly manufacturers.
Main tasks
- Aircraft assemblers
- Read and interpret aircraft assembly diagrams
- Assemble and fit pre-fabricated parts to form subassemblies, working at benches or directly on an aircraft structure
- Assemble, fit and install pre-fabricated parts and subassemblies such as aircraft skins, flight controls, rigging, hydraulics and other mechanical systems
- Aircraft assembly inspectors
- Inspect aircraft assemblies, using measuring and testing equipment, for adherence to engineering specifications
- Inspect assemblies for alignment, symmetry, dimensions, fit and quality of workmanship
- Complete detailed inspection documentation
How to become one
Completion of secondary school is required. Completion of a college or other program in aviation or aeronautical technology, with emphasis in aircraft manufacturing, may be required. Aircraft assemblers receive several months of on-the-job and classroom training. Aircraft assembly inspectors require experience as an aircraft assembler.
Ways in
- College or CEGEP: College or CEGEP program. 29% of workers hold a college or other non-degree diploma (Census 2021). Common fields: Vehicle maintenance and repair technologies/technicians; Air transportation; Precision metal working.
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $66,300 a year The middle half earn $51,675 to $78,000.
- About 9,900 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 10,500 are projected by 2033. (+6.1%)
- Projected labour market to 2033: balance.
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Questions people ask
How do I become an aircraft assembler or aircraft assembly inspector?
Completion of secondary school is required. Completion of a college or other program in aviation or aeronautical technology, with emphasis in aircraft manufacturing, may be required. Aircraft assemblers receive several months of on-the-job and classroom training. Aircraft assembly inspectors require experience as an aircraft assembler.
How much does an aircraft assembler or aircraft assembly inspector earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $66,300 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $51,675 to $78,000.
Is an aircraft assembler or aircraft assembly inspector a growing career in Canada?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 6% by 2033, from about 9,900 to about 10,500 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).
Do you need a degree to become an aircraft assembler or aircraft assembly inspector?
Usually not. Only 9% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: College or CEGEP program.
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03