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Aircraft engine specialist vs helicopter mechanic

The differences between aircraft engine specialists and helicopter 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 engine specialist and a helicopter mechanic. Additionally, a helicopter mechanic has an average salary of $61,876, which is higher than the $38,619 average annual salary of an aircraft engine specialist.

The top three skills for an aircraft engine specialist include test equipment, technical data and fighter. The most important skills for a helicopter mechanic are hand tools, safety procedures, and FAA.

Aircraft engine specialist vs helicopter mechanic overview

Aircraft Engine SpecialistHelicopter Mechanic
Yearly salary$38,619$61,876
Hourly rate$18.57$29.75
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs4,78733,954
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 35%High School Diploma, 37%
Average age4040
Years of experience44

Aircraft engine specialist vs helicopter mechanic salary

Aircraft engine specialists and helicopter mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.

Aircraft Engine SpecialistHelicopter Mechanic
Average salary$38,619$61,876
Salary rangeBetween $22,000 And $65,000Between $44,000 And $86,000
Highest paying City-Hollister, CA
Highest paying state-Alaska
Best paying company-Apple
Best paying industry-Manufacturing

Differences between aircraft engine specialist and helicopter mechanic education

There are a few differences between an aircraft engine specialist and a helicopter mechanic in terms of educational background:

Aircraft Engine SpecialistHelicopter Mechanic
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 35%High School Diploma, 37%
Most common majorFire Science And ProtectionAviation
Most common collegeStanford UniversityPurdue University

Aircraft engine specialist vs helicopter mechanic demographics

Here are the differences between aircraft engine specialists' and helicopter mechanics' demographics:

Aircraft Engine SpecialistHelicopter Mechanic
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 89.1% Female, 10.9%Male, 93.0% Female, 7.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 20.3% Asian, 7.3% White, 56.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 23.4% Asian, 6.3% White, 55.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage2%2%

Differences between aircraft engine specialist and helicopter mechanic duties and responsibilities

Aircraft engine specialist example responsibilities.

  • Perform schedule and unschedule maintenance on communication, radar, instrument, electrical/power distribution, and integrate weapons delivery systems.
  • Diagnose and troubleshot malfunctions in electrical and electronic components, including solid state and transistorize subsystems on UH-60A aircraft.

Helicopter mechanic example responsibilities.

  • Used drills, countersinks, deburr tools, and wedge lock guns.
  • Test, troubleshoot and repair advance aircraft hydraulic systems.
  • Complete all repairs and maintenance work to company and FAA standards.
  • Document logs to ensure company compliance of OSHA standards and employee safety.
  • Inspect completed work to certify that it meet FAA standards and that assets are functional.
  • Confer with inspectors, OSHA, EPA, and engineering firms on all construction/code relate issues/developments.
  • Show more

Aircraft engine specialist vs helicopter mechanic skills

Common aircraft engine specialist skills
  • Test Equipment, 15%
  • Technical Data, 9%
  • Fighter, 8%
  • Technical Orders, 7%
  • Airframe, 7%
  • FAA, 6%
Common helicopter mechanic skills
  • Hand Tools, 9%
  • Safety Procedures, 9%
  • FAA, 6%
  • Maintenance Manuals, 5%
  • Helicopter Maintenance, 5%
  • Landing Gear, 4%

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