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What is an aircraft maintenance technician and how to become one
As an Aircraft Maintenance Technician, you will be making helicopters and airplanes safe for passengers and crew members. You will ensure that the aircraft meets or adheres to the Federal Aviation Regulations.
You have an important job as an Aircraft Maintenance Technician. People's lives are in your hands; therefore, you need to be skilled and knowledgeable in what you do. Firstly, you need to be detail-oriented. There is little to no room for mistakes as an Aircraft Maintenance Technician. Next is dexterity; you will mostly use your hands when working, so you should be skilled in using those. Lastly, customer service skills are also essential. You will be dealing with a lot of people with different personalities, so you need to be able to communicate properly and efficiently regardless of the person you're talking to.
As an Aircraft Maintenance Technician, you have the chance to earn around $51,482 per year, and you also have the opportunity to explore other tasks or roles. For example, you can be an Aircraft Mechanic, Lead Mechanic, Maintenance Supervisor, and Maintenance Director.
Avg. Salary $53,026
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 6%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.62%
Asian 6.59%
Black or African American 9.42%
Hispanic or Latino 23.10%
Unknown 5.08%
White 55.18%
Genderfemale 6.41%
male 93.59%
Age - 39American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 39Stress level is high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is challenging
7 - challenging
Work life balance is poor
6.4 - fair
Aircraft maintenance technician career paths
Key steps to become an aircraft maintenance technician
Explore aircraft maintenance technician education requirements
Start to develop specific aircraft maintenance technician skills
Skills Percentages FAA 10.74% Airframe 10.61% Powerplant 8.97% Ladders 5.72% Hand Tools 4.85% Complete relevant aircraft maintenance technician training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New aircraft maintenance technicians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an aircraft maintenance technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real aircraft maintenance technician resumes.Gain additional aircraft maintenance technician certifications
More About CertificationsAircraft maintenance technician certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific aircraft maintenance technician certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.
The most common certifications for aircraft maintenance technicians include Certified Aviation Manager (CAM) and Unmanned Systems Aircraft Maintenance.
Research aircraft maintenance technician duties and 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.
Prepare your aircraft maintenance technician resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your aircraft maintenance technician resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an aircraft maintenance technician resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable aircraft maintenance technician resume templates
Build a professional aircraft maintenance technician resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your aircraft maintenance technician resume.
Apply for aircraft maintenance technician jobs
Now it's time to start searching for an aircraft maintenance technician job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first aircraft maintenance technician job
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Average aircraft maintenance technician salary
The average aircraft maintenance technician salary in the United States is $53,026 per year or $25 per hour. Aircraft maintenance technician salaries range between $37,000 and $75,000 per year.
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Aircraft maintenance technician reviews
Troubleshooting complex systems to repair faults.
The hours. Most of the maintenance occurs at night, since the majority of aircraft fly during the day and sit overnight at airports.
Updated January 8, 2025
