Inspect, maintain, and repair aircraft engines, systems, and structures to keep planes safe to fly.
Hangars, airfields, and repair stations; loud, sometimes at heights.
Full-time; shift work, nights, and weekends are common.
May 2024–25 BLS wage 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.
Certificate program
Training path: FAA-approved program (~18–24 months).
Most jobs require FAA certification as an Airframe and Powerplant mechanic.
Airlines are short thousands of mechanics — hiring bonuses are common.
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Standard Occupational Classification 49-3011. Pay, employment, and outlook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wage survey and 2024–34 employment projections). See something off? Tell us.