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The differences between aircraft maintenance technicians and aircraft electricians 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 technician and an aircraft electrician. Additionally, an aircraft electrician has an average salary of $54,605, which is higher than the $53,026 average annual salary of an aircraft maintenance technician.
The top three skills for an aircraft maintenance technician include FAA, airframe and powerplant. The most important skills for an aircraft electrician are electrical systems, hazardous materials, and diagnose malfunctions.
| Aircraft Maintenance Technician | Aircraft Electrician | |
| Yearly salary | $53,026 | $54,605 |
| Hourly rate | $25.49 | $26.25 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 105,268 | 19,166 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 43% | Associate Degree, 36% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Aircraft Maintenance Technicians make commercial, government/private airplanes, and helicopters safe for their crew and passengers. They ensure that aircrafts meet Federal Aviation Regulations.
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.
Aircraft maintenance technicians and aircraft electricians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Aircraft Maintenance Technician | Aircraft Electrician | |
| Average salary | $53,026 | $54,605 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $75,000 | Between $38,000 And $77,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Edgewood, MD |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Citi | Northrop Grumman |
| Best paying industry | Government | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between an aircraft maintenance technician and an aircraft electrician in terms of educational background:
| Aircraft Maintenance Technician | Aircraft Electrician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 43% | Associate Degree, 36% |
| Most common major | Aviation | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Purdue University | Purdue University |
Here are the differences between aircraft maintenance technicians' and aircraft electricians' demographics:
| Aircraft Maintenance Technician | Aircraft Electrician | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.6% Female, 6.4% | Male, 92.0% Female, 8.0% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |