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The differences between aircraft electricians and aviation maintenance technicians 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 aviation maintenance technician. Additionally, an aircraft electrician has an average salary of $54,605, which is higher than the $51,794 average annual salary of an aviation maintenance technician.
The top three skills for an aircraft electrician include electrical systems, hazardous materials and diagnose malfunctions. The most important skills for an aviation maintenance technician are electrical troubleshooting, FAA, and maintenance procedures.
| Aircraft Electrician | Aviation Maintenance Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $54,605 | $51,794 |
| Hourly rate | $26.25 | $24.90 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 19,166 | 102,259 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 36% | Associate Degree, 37% |
| Average age | 40 | 33 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
An aircraft electrician specializes in installing and repairing electrical systems in an aircraft, ensuring quality and efficiency. Their responsibilities typically include running diagnostic tests and examinations, troubleshooting problems, replacing and fixing components, understanding diagrams, and keeping records. There are also instances where they must solder wires, climb up high places, and perform regular maintenance checks. Moreover, an aircraft electrician typically works in a team setting, which requires an active communication line for an efficient and safe workflow.
An Aviation Maintenance Technician carries out repairs and maintenance on all sorts of aircraft, like airplanes and helicopters. They ensure that aircraft are in perfect working condition.
Aircraft electricians and aviation maintenance technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Aircraft Electrician | Aviation Maintenance Technician | |
| Average salary | $54,605 | $51,794 |
| Salary range | Between $38,000 And $77,000 | Between $35,000 And $75,000 |
| Highest paying City | Edgewood, MD | - |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | - |
| Best paying company | Northrop Grumman | - |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | - |
There are a few differences between an aircraft electrician and an aviation maintenance technician in terms of educational background:
| Aircraft Electrician | Aviation Maintenance Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 36% | Associate Degree, 37% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Aviation |
| Most common college | Purdue University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between aircraft electricians' and aviation maintenance technicians' demographics:
| Aircraft Electrician | Aviation Maintenance Technician | |
| Average age | 40 | 33 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.0% Female, 8.0% | Male, 91.3% Female, 8.7% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 8.6% Unknown, 6.7% Hispanic or Latino, 29.3% Asian, 4.9% White, 50.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 14% |