Inspect, maintain, and repair aircraft engines, systems, and structures to keep planes safe to fly.
You may also see this posted as: Aircraft Maintenance Technician (Aircraft Maintenance Tech), Aircraft Technician (Aircraft Tech), Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic (A and P Mechanic), Aircraft Maintainer, Aircraft Restorer, Aircraft Service Technician (Aircraft Service Tech).
Hangars, airfields, and repair stations; loud, sometimes at heights.
Full-time; shift work, nights, and weekends are common.
Realistic
working with tools, equipment, materials, or the physical world
Conventional
organizing information, following systems, and getting details right
Investigative
solving problems, analyzing evidence, and figuring out how things work
O*NET job zone 3 of 5
Medium preparation—often vocational training, an associate degree, or substantial experience—is usually needed.
Examples employers report—not a checklist you must already know.
May 2025 BLS wage & employment data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.
Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.
“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.
Statewide medians are a better starting point than the national number. Your city and experience still matter.
Certificate program
Training path: FAA-approved program (~18–24 months).
Related work experience: None.
On-the-job training: None.
Most jobs require FAA certification as an Airframe and Powerplant mechanic.
Licensing rules and available programs change by state. These federal tools take you to the current official listings.
Airlines are short thousands of mechanics — hiring bonuses are common.
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Browse verified internships, fellowships, and programs — many paid — that lead into fields like this.
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Standard Occupational Classification 49-3011. Pay and employment from the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey; outlook and openings from the 2024–34 employment projections; job context from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; tasks, interests, work styles, software examples, and job zone from O*NET 30.3. See something off? Tell us.