Post job

Aircraft refueler vs airframe mechanic

The differences between aircraft refuelers and airframe 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 refueler and an airframe mechanic. Additionally, an airframe mechanic has an average salary of $60,976, which is higher than the $32,978 average annual salary of an aircraft refueler.

The top three skills for an aircraft refueler include customer service, FBO and private aircraft. The most important skills for an airframe mechanic are landing gear, safety procedures, and hand tools.

Aircraft refueler vs airframe mechanic overview

Aircraft RefuelerAirframe Mechanic
Yearly salary$32,978$60,976
Hourly rate$15.85$29.32
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs3,25434,067
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 44%High School Diploma, 41%
Average age4040
Years of experience44

Aircraft refueler vs airframe mechanic salary

Aircraft refuelers and airframe mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.

Aircraft RefuelerAirframe Mechanic
Average salary$32,978$60,976
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $43,000Between $43,000 And $86,000
Highest paying CityReno, NV-
Highest paying stateWashington-
Best paying companyAtlantic Companies Holding Corporation-
Best paying industryGovernment-

Differences between aircraft refueler and airframe mechanic education

There are a few differences between an aircraft refueler and an airframe mechanic in terms of educational background:

Aircraft RefuelerAirframe Mechanic
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 44%High School Diploma, 41%
Most common majorBusinessAviation
Most common collegeSUNY FarmingdalePurdue University

Aircraft refueler vs airframe mechanic demographics

Here are the differences between aircraft refuelers' and airframe mechanics' demographics:

Aircraft RefuelerAirframe Mechanic
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 90.5% Female, 9.5%Male, 94.6% Female, 5.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 22.9% Asian, 6.9% White, 54.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Black or African American, 11.0% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 21.0% Asian, 5.3% White, 56.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage2%2%

Differences between aircraft refueler and airframe mechanic duties and responsibilities

Aircraft refueler example responsibilities.

  • Manage the organization of information of FAA correspondence and provide communication support to team members.
  • Maintain daily FAA and corporate require logs.
  • Perform schedule and unschedule maintenance on communication, radar, instrument, electrical/power distribution, and integrate weapons delivery systems.
  • Work directly with VIP, and their staff, VIP events.
  • Maintain and perform maintenance on assign VIP aircraft.

Airframe mechanic example responsibilities.

  • Utilize and reference additional supporting documentation including FAA approve engineering data/drawings, supporting company policies/procedures and supervisory instructions.
  • Line maintenance on ATR-42s and Embraer Brazilias.
  • Design and implement tracking checklist for each helicopter to track progress of each modification installation.

Aircraft refueler vs airframe mechanic skills

Common aircraft refueler skills
  • Customer Service, 53%
  • FBO, 32%
  • Private Aircraft, 5%
  • Fuel Trucks, 4%
  • Aircraft Fuel, 2%
  • Safety Procedures, 1%
Common airframe mechanic skills
  • Landing Gear, 9%
  • Safety Procedures, 8%
  • Hand Tools, 8%
  • Structural Repairs, 8%
  • Maintenance Tasks, 4%
  • Maintenance Manuals, 4%

Browse installation, maintenance and repair jobs