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Aircraft electrician vs airframe mechanic

The differences between aircraft electricians and airframe mechanics can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an aircraft electrician and an airframe mechanic. Additionally, an airframe mechanic has an average salary of $60,976, which is higher than the $54,605 average annual salary of an aircraft electrician.

The top three skills for an aircraft electrician include electrical systems, hazardous materials and diagnose malfunctions. The most important skills for an airframe mechanic are landing gear, safety procedures, and hand tools.

Aircraft electrician vs airframe mechanic overview

Aircraft ElectricianAirframe Mechanic
Yearly salary$54,605$60,976
Hourly rate$26.25$29.32
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs19,16634,067
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 36%High School Diploma, 41%
Average age4040
Years of experience44

Aircraft electrician vs airframe mechanic salary

Aircraft electricians and airframe mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.

Aircraft ElectricianAirframe Mechanic
Average salary$54,605$60,976
Salary rangeBetween $38,000 And $77,000Between $43,000 And $86,000
Highest paying CityEdgewood, MD-
Highest paying stateAlaska-
Best paying companyNorthrop Grumman-
Best paying industryManufacturing-

Differences between aircraft electrician and airframe mechanic education

There are a few differences between an aircraft electrician and an airframe mechanic in terms of educational background:

Aircraft ElectricianAirframe Mechanic
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 36%High School Diploma, 41%
Most common majorElectrical EngineeringAviation
Most common collegePurdue UniversityPurdue University

Aircraft electrician vs airframe mechanic demographics

Here are the differences between aircraft electricians' and airframe mechanics' demographics:

Aircraft ElectricianAirframe Mechanic
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 92.0% Female, 8.0%Male, 94.6% Female, 5.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 22.7% Asian, 6.9% White, 55.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Black or African American, 11.0% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 21.0% Asian, 5.3% White, 56.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage2%2%

Differences between aircraft electrician and airframe mechanic duties and responsibilities

Aircraft electrician example responsibilities.

  • Remove, analyze, identify issue install properly working pressure transducers, effectively accomplishing priorities to go underway.
  • Comply with Cessna and FAA specs.
  • Prepare and load live ammunition onto aircraft.
  • Set up and mark wires per FAA specifications.
  • Clean helicopter/turbojet transmissions, gearboxes, drive shafts and relate components.
  • Inspect work for quality defects as well as prevent FOD mishaps -Report unsafe work conditions/actions to supervisors
  • Show more

Airframe mechanic example responsibilities.

  • Utilize and reference additional supporting documentation including FAA approve engineering data/drawings, supporting company policies/procedures and supervisory instructions.
  • Line maintenance on ATR-42s and Embraer Brazilias.
  • Design and implement tracking checklist for each helicopter to track progress of each modification installation.

Aircraft electrician vs airframe mechanic skills

Common aircraft electrician skills
  • Electrical Systems, 27%
  • Hazardous Materials, 16%
  • Diagnose Malfunctions, 8%
  • Switchboards, 6%
  • Hand Tools, 6%
  • Troubleshoot, 5%
Common airframe mechanic skills
  • Landing Gear, 9%
  • Safety Procedures, 8%
  • Hand Tools, 8%
  • Structural Repairs, 8%
  • Maintenance Tasks, 4%
  • Maintenance Manuals, 4%

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