How to hire an Aircraft Mechanic

How to hire an aircraft mechanic, step by step

Here's a step-by-step aircraft mechanic 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 mechanic job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new aircraft mechanic
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an Aircraft Mechanic do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring an aircraft mechanic, 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 mechanic 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 mechanic that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of aircraft mechanics.

   Type Of Aircraft Mechanic	Description	Hourly Rate
   Aircraft Mechanic	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).	$19-41
   Aviation Maintenance Technician	An Aviation Maintenance Technician carries out repairs and maintenance on all sorts of aircraft, like airplanes and helicopters. They ensure that aircraft are in perfect working condition.	$16-36
   Light Wheel Mechanic	A light wheel mechanic is responsible for maintaining the optimal performance and efficiency of light-wheeled vehicles used for industrial operations, especially in a military setting. Light wheel mechanics inspect the condition of the vehicle's engine, perform preventive maintenance, replace defective components, assemble upgrade systems based on schematics and blueprints, and create resolution reports for reference... Show More	$12-32

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common Skills:

   • Hand Tools
   • Airframe
   • FAA
   • Aircraft Systems
   • Landing Gear
   • Technical Data
   • Test Equipment
   • Maintenance Manuals
   • Gearboxes
   • Ventilation
   • Service Aircraft
   • Ladders
   • Plumbing
   • Technical Publications

   Check All Skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Work from SRM, TRM, AMM, EO and various other aircraft documentation to accomplish repair objectives.
   • Perform scheduled maintenance tasks in accordance with manufacturer and FAA guidelines.
   • Conduce problem analysis, correction/repairs and operational checks of aircraft avionics, electrical, propulsion and hydraulic systems.
   • Train in OSHA and HAZMAT.
   • Change cables and pulleys command.
   • Obtain and continue MSHA training.

   More Aircraft Mechanic duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the aircraft mechanic job description is a good way to get more applicants. An aircraft mechanic salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for an aircraft mechanic in Arkansas may be lower than in Maryland, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level aircraft mechanic. Additionally, an aircraft mechanic with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average aircraft mechanic salary

   $60,496yearly

   $29.08 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level aircraft mechanic salary

   $41,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 13, 2025

   Average aircraft mechanic salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. Salary	Hourly Rate
   1	Virginia	$74,017	$36
   2	California	$69,524	$33
   3	South Carolina	$64,330	$31
   4	Minnesota	$64,161	$31
   5	Louisiana	$62,495	$30
   6	Florida	$61,222	$29
   7	Washington	$60,068	$29
   8	Texas	$57,656	$28
   9	Arizona	$57,656	$28
   10	Indiana	$57,365	$28
   11	Georgia	$55,254	$27
   12	Montana	$55,098	$26
   13	North Carolina	$55,060	$26
   14	Ohio	$54,844	$26
   15	Oklahoma	$54,621	$26
   16	Alabama	$53,806	$26
   17	Missouri	$53,645	$26
   18	Kansas	$51,947	$25
   19	Utah	$43,739	$21
   20	Alaska	$32,958	$16

   Average aircraft mechanic salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average Salary	Hourly Rate	Job Openings
   1	AECOM	$72,137	$34.68
   2	PACCAR	$66,939	$32.18	1
   3	Structure Group	$66,323	$31.89	31
   4	Erickson	$66,087	$31.77	9
   5	PAE	$65,976	$31.72
   6	Elbit Systems of America	$64,985	$31.24
   7	Pacific Architects and Engineers	$63,325	$30.44
   8	ICONMA	$62,455	$30.03
   9	Zenetex	$62,293	$29.95
   10	AerSale	$61,847	$29.73	3
   11	Surdex	$61,828	$29.73
   12	Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings	$61,806	$29.71	5
   13	Ishpi Information Technologies, Inc. (dba Ishpi)	$61,701	$29.66
   14	TAD PGS	$61,537	$29.59	2
   15	Lynden	$61,509	$29.57	7
   16	HEICO	$61,475	$29.56
   17	Hawthorne Global Aviation Services	$61,444	$29.54
   18	M.I.T. International, Inc.	$60,769	$29.22	2
   19	Techtronic Industries TTI	$60,701	$29.18
   20	Boeing	$59,669	$28.69	52

4. Writing an Aircraft Mechanic Job Description

   A good aircraft mechanic job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of an aircraft mechanic job description:

   Aircraft Mechanic job description example

   Precise Systems is a professional services company currently working for the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Air Force. Our core competencies include systems engineering, program and project management, logistics, information technology and cybersecurity, and software development services. We were founded in 1990, and since our establishment, we have been providing cutting-edge solutions and support to our warfighters. We understand and provide expert consultation on network and weapons systems acquisition programs, maintenance/modernization programs, and sustainment programs.
   
   CBA - Aircraft Mechanic - Naval Test Wing Atlantic (NTWL) - Patuxent River, MD Job Details/Description
   
   This requisition is only for incumbent (current) employees of the Program that are interested in the position with Precise Systems, Inc. when the program transitions. This requisition is for onboarding and rebadging purposes only. The actual Job Description and Qualifications will be validated IAW the respective CBA prior to the contract start date. Additionally, benefit offerings are guided by the corresponding CBA.
   Travel Required
   
   Yes . 10%
   
   Precise Systems, Inc. is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. Precise Systems, Inc. participates in E-Verify. Precise Systems, Inc. encourages and supports workplace diversity.
   
   The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)
   
   Required SkillsRequired Experience

   Copy This Example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right aircraft mechanic 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 mechanic job on Zippia to find and recruit aircraft mechanic candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit aircraft mechanics, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   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 mechanic

   Once you've decided on a perfect aircraft mechanic candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new aircraft mechanic. 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 mechanic?