How to hire an aircraft electrician

How to hire an aircraft electrician, step by step

Here's a step-by-step aircraft electrician hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an aircraft electrician job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new aircraft electrician
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an aircraft electrician do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring an aircraft electrician, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them an aircraft electrician to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire an aircraft electrician that fits the bill.

   This list presents aircraft electrician salaries for various positions.

   Type of Aircraft Electrician	Description	Hourly rate
   Aircraft Electrician	Aircraft and avionics equipment mechanics and technicians repair and perform scheduled maintenance on aircraft. They also may perform aircraft inspections as required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).	$18-37
   Systems Mechanic	A systems mechanic specializes in repairing and maintaining systems, ensuring machines operate smoothly and efficiently. Although the extent of their responsibilities varies upon their company or place of employment, it typically includes meeting with clients to identify their needs, inspecting machinery, troubleshooting problems, replacing and fixing wirings, and recommending other services when necessary... Show more	$24-43
   Helicopter Mechanic	A helicopter mechanic is tasked with making sure all a helicopter's parts are good and working well. They thoroughly inspect and ensure that the helicopter and other aircraft meet standard regulations and are fit for flight... Show more	$21-41

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Electrical Systems
   • Hazardous Materials
   • Diagnose Malfunctions
   • Switchboards
   • Hand Tools
   • Troubleshoot
   • Test Equipment
   • Electrical Components
   • Environmental Systems
   • Safety Procedures
   • Maintenance Procedures
   • Support Equipment
   • Technical Manuals
   • Technical Data

   Check all skills

   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

   More aircraft electrician duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your aircraft electrician job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An aircraft electrician salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, aircraft electricians' average salary in hawaii is 56% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level aircraft electricians earn 51% less than senior-level aircraft electricians.
   • Certifications. An aircraft electrician with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in an aircraft electrician's salary.

   Average aircraft electrician salary

   $54,605yearly

   $26.25 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level aircraft electrician salary

   $38,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 23, 2026

   Average aircraft electrician salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Maryland	$67,696	$33
   2	California	$64,675	$31
   3	Massachusetts	$61,477	$30
   4	Minnesota	$57,609	$28
   5	Rhode Island	$57,435	$28
   6	Virginia	$55,420	$27
   7	Wisconsin	$54,002	$26
   8	South Carolina	$52,080	$25
   9	South Dakota	$49,580	$24
   10	Iowa	$48,406	$23
   11	Missouri	$47,002	$23
   12	North Carolina	$46,872	$23
   13	Alabama	$46,109	$22
   14	Oklahoma	$45,692	$22
   15	Georgia	$44,707	$21
   16	Kansas	$44,568	$21
   17	Maine	$43,408	$21
   18	Utah	$42,042	$20
   19	Hawaii	$34,603	$17

   Average aircraft electrician salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Northrop Grumman	$59,044	$28.39	26
   2	Boeing	$57,706	$27.74	50
   3	Aerotek	$56,470	$27.15	211
   4	Lockheed Martin	$56,090	$26.97	86
   5	Stratolaunch	$55,780	$26.82	1
   6	United States Army War College	$55,286	$26.58
   7	Army National Guard	$52,881	$25.42
   8	Tyonek Native	$52,653	$25.31	21
   9	Air National Guard	$52,621	$25.30
   10	Moseley Technical Services	$52,563	$25.27
   11	LAUNCH Technical Workforce Solutions	$51,990	$25.00
   12	Kay Management Co	$51,066	$24.55	56

4. Writing an aircraft electrician job description

   An aircraft electrician job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of an aircraft electrician job description:

   Aircraft electrician job description example

   If you enjoy working with electrical and electronic equipment and problem-solving, join the Army National Guard as an Aircraft Electrician. You will inspect, service, and repair electrical systems on Army aircraft, ranging from airplanes to helicopters to ensure that they remain operational and safe for any mission.
   Diagnose malfunctions in electrical and electronic components
   Maintain electrical/electronic elements of assemblies nickel-cadmium batteries
   Use and maintain common/special tools
   Maintain facilities for storage of flammable and hazardous materials
   Prepare requests for turn-ins and repair parts
   
   Some of the Skills You'll Learn
   Electrical theory and system maintenance
   Troubleshooting procedures
   
   Helpful Skills
   Preference for mathematics and shop mechanics
   Ability to use hand and power tools
   
   Through your training, you will develop the skills and experience to enjoy a civilian career with aircraft manufacturers, commercial airlines, and government agencies.
   
   Earn While You Learn
   Instead of paying to learn these skills, get paid to learn. In the Army National Guard, you will learn these valuable job skills while earning a regular paycheck and qualifying for tuition assistance.
   
   Job training for Soldiers in the Aircraft Electrician specialty consists of 10 weeks of Basic Combat Training, plus 19 weeks of Advanced Individual Training. During this time, you will learn essential Soldiering skills and refine your Aircraft Electrician abilities in the field and the classroom.
   
   Benefits/Requirements
   
   Benefits
   Paid training A monthly paycheck Montgomery GI Bill Federal and State tuition assistance Retirement benefits for part-time service Low-cost life insurance (up to $400,000 in coverage) 401(k)-type savings plan Student Loan Repayment Program (up to $50,000, for existing loans) Health care benefits available VA home loans Bonuses, if applicable Most non-prior service candidates will earn between $200 and $250 per drill weekend, subject to change
   Requirements Military enlistment in the Army National Guard Must be at least a junior in high school, or have a high school diploma or a GED certificate Must be between the ages of 17 and 35 Must be able to pass a physical exam and meet legal and moral standards Must meet citizenship requirements (see NATIONALGUARD.com for details)
   
   Requires military enlistment. Programs and benefits are subject to change. Ask your Army National Guard recruiter for the most up-to-date information. Actual MOS assignment may depend on MOS availability.
   
   Other Job Information
   
   Job Category: Aviation
   Age Requirements: Must be between the ages of 17 and 35 engine airplane inspector mechanic aviation lead repair align calibrate power distribution aerospace aeronautics avionics line maintenance component overhaul standard wiring practices

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right aircraft electrician for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your aircraft electrician job on Zippia to find and recruit aircraft electrician candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting aircraft electricians requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new aircraft electrician

   Once you have selected a candidate for the aircraft electrician position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new aircraft electrician. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire an aircraft electrician?