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Aircraft maintenance supervisor vs aircraft maintenance technician

The differences between aircraft maintenance supervisors and aircraft 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 maintenance supervisor and an aircraft maintenance technician. Additionally, an aircraft maintenance supervisor has an average salary of $77,005, which is higher than the $53,026 average annual salary of an aircraft maintenance technician.

The top three skills for an aircraft maintenance supervisor include maintenance tasks, OSHA and airframe. The most important skills for an aircraft maintenance technician are FAA, airframe, and powerplant.

Aircraft maintenance supervisor vs aircraft maintenance technician overview

Aircraft Maintenance SupervisorAircraft Maintenance Technician
Yearly salary$77,005$53,026
Hourly rate$37.02$25.49
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs62,560105,268
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 38%Associate Degree, 43%
Average age4940
Years of experience44

What does an aircraft maintenance supervisor do?

An aircraft maintenance supervisor heads a team of mechanics and technicians that maintains aircraft. They ensure that all protocols mandated by aviation regulations and policies are followed. They are responsible for ensuring that maintenance personnel work efficiently, adhere to safety guidelines, and maintain all assigned aircraft. An aircraft maintenance supervisor must have experience in aviation as well as having good communication skills and organizational skills.

What does an aircraft maintenance technician do?

Aircraft Maintenance Technicians make commercial, government/private airplanes, and helicopters safe for their crew and passengers. They ensure that aircrafts meet Federal Aviation Regulations.

Aircraft maintenance supervisor vs aircraft maintenance technician salary

Aircraft maintenance supervisors and aircraft maintenance technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Aircraft Maintenance SupervisorAircraft Maintenance Technician
Average salary$77,005$53,026
Salary rangeBetween $60,000 And $97,000Between $37,000 And $75,000
Highest paying CityVictorville, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaNevada
Best paying companyAirborne Maintenance & Engineering ServicesCiti
Best paying industryProfessionalGovernment

Differences between aircraft maintenance supervisor and aircraft maintenance technician education

There are a few differences between an aircraft maintenance supervisor and an aircraft maintenance technician in terms of educational background:

Aircraft Maintenance SupervisorAircraft Maintenance Technician
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 38%Associate Degree, 43%
Most common majorAviationAviation
Most common collegeStanford UniversityPurdue University

Aircraft maintenance supervisor vs aircraft maintenance technician demographics

Here are the differences between aircraft maintenance supervisors' and aircraft maintenance technicians' demographics:

Aircraft Maintenance SupervisorAircraft Maintenance Technician
Average age4940
Gender ratioMale, 94.7% Female, 5.3%Male, 93.6% Female, 6.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.3% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 15.9% Asian, 2.1% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 23.1% Asian, 6.6% White, 55.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage4%2%

Differences between aircraft maintenance supervisor and aircraft maintenance technician duties and responsibilities

Aircraft maintenance supervisor example responsibilities.

  • Coordinate and manage required logistics support, and direct, document, and monitor aircraft cannibalization.
  • Perform data entries and maintain aircraft and engine component logbooks IAW FAA regulations and USAF technical orders and instructions.
  • Perform routine maintenance and inspections on HVAC systems.
  • Operate and maintain ground handling equipment used for moving and hoisting aircrafts.
  • Perform airfield crash and rescue firefighting tasks involving rotary and fix wing aircraft.
  • Interpret schematics and diagrams, technical publications, and fault isolation trees to perform maintenance, troubleshoot and repair malfunctioning systems.
  • Show more

Aircraft maintenance technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage the FOD prevention program to reduce costly repairs and increase the participation in FOD awareness and FOD walk downs.
  • Work in building maintenance HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems.
  • Develop lesson plans using ISD utilizing PowerPoint, excel and word documents.
  • Prepare daily lesson plans, handout materials, overhead transparencies, PowerPoint slides, and other training aids.
  • Install, repair, troubleshoot aviation and navigation systems install on military aircraft
  • Maintain all photo and etch equipment.
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Aircraft maintenance supervisor vs aircraft maintenance technician skills

Common aircraft maintenance supervisor skills
  • Maintenance Tasks, 8%
  • OSHA, 7%
  • Airframe, 6%
  • Hazardous Materials, 6%
  • Maintenance Functions, 5%
  • Landing Gear, 5%
Common aircraft maintenance technician skills
  • FAA, 11%
  • Airframe, 11%
  • Powerplant, 9%
  • Ladders, 6%
  • Hand Tools, 5%
  • Aircraft Components, 5%

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