Vehicle and Mobile Equipment Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers

How to become an Aircraft Mechanic or Service Technician

Official title: Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians

Also called: Aircraft Maintainer, Aircraft Maintenance Technician (Aircraft Maintenance Tech), Aircraft Mechanic, Aircraft Restorer, Aircraft Service Technician (Aircraft Service Tech), Aircraft Technician (Aircraft Tech), Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic (A and P Mechanic), Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT), Aviation Mechanic, Helicopter Mechanic

Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul aircraft engines and assemblies, such as hydraulic and pneumatic systems.

Main tasks

Inspect completed work to certify that maintenance meets standards and that aircraft are ready for operation.
Read and interpret maintenance manuals, service bulletins, and other specifications to determine the feasibility and method of repairing or replacing malfunctioning or damaged components.
Maintain repair logs, documenting all preventive and corrective aircraft maintenance.
Examine and inspect aircraft components, including landing gear, hydraulic systems, and deicers to locate cracks, breaks, leaks, or other problems.
Conduct routine and special inspections as required by regulations.
Replace or repair worn, defective, or damaged components, using hand tools, gauges, and testing equipment.
Inspect airframes for wear or other defects.
Check for corrosion, distortion, and invisible cracks in the fuselage, wings, and tail, using x-ray and magnetic inspection equipment.

How to become one

Aircraft and avionics equipment mechanics and technicians typically need postsecondary education, such as a certificate from a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-approved program. Some enter the occupation with an associate's degree; others have a high school diploma and train on the job or in the military.

Typical education to start: Postsecondary nondegree award

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

Apprenticeship: Airframe Mechanic.
Apprenticeship: Airframe & Powerplant Mechanic.
Apprenticeship: Powerplant Mechanic.
Certificate or associate's degree: Postsecondary nondegree award. Programs such as Agricultural Mechanics and Equipment/Machine Technology/Technician; Airframe Mechanics and Aircraft Maintenance Technology/Technician; Aircraft Powerplant Technology/Technician
Licence: A licence is required in 10 states.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $79,870 a year The middle half earn $62,630 to $99,130.
About 140,000 people work in this job now, and about 147,600 are projected by 2035. (+5.4%)
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Questions people ask

How do I become an Aircraft Mechanic or Service Technician?

How much does an Aircraft Mechanic or Service Technician earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $79,870 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $62,630 to $99,130.

Is an Aircraft Mechanic or Service Technician a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5% by 2035, from about 140,000 to about 147,600 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become an Aircraft Mechanic or Service Technician?

Usually not. Only 13% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Postsecondary nondegree award; Airframe Mechanic.

Will AI change the work of an Aircraft Mechanic or Service Technician?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.