Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between aircraft refuelers and helicopter 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 a helicopter mechanic. Additionally, a helicopter mechanic has an average salary of $61,876, 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 a helicopter mechanic are hand tools, safety procedures, and FAA.
| Aircraft Refueler | Helicopter Mechanic | |
| Yearly salary | $32,978 | $61,876 |
| Hourly rate | $15.85 | $29.75 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 3,254 | 33,954 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 44% | High School Diploma, 37% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Primarily, aircraft fuelers are responsible for fueling and maintaining aircraft of different sizes. The fuelers make sure that the fuel of the aircraft is ready for takeoff. They safely hook up and unhook the equipment, fill fuel for the airplane's wings, and fill out its fuel transaction forms. Their job includes quality control of the aircraft equipment on a daily basis. They must be comfortable in using numbers for the calculation of fuel weight and volume.
A helicopter mechanic is tasked with making sure all a helicopter's parts are good and working well. They thoroughly inspect and ensure that the helicopter and other aircraft meet standard regulations and are fit for flight. A helicopter mechanic is well versed in mechanics and has excellent problem-solving and computer skills. They repair and maintain both civilian and military helicopters. They may work at airfields or runways.
Aircraft refuelers and helicopter mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Aircraft Refueler | Helicopter Mechanic | |
| Average salary | $32,978 | $61,876 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $43,000 | Between $44,000 And $86,000 |
| Highest paying City | Reno, NV | Hollister, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Atlantic Companies Holding Corporation | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Government | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between an aircraft refueler and a helicopter mechanic in terms of educational background:
| Aircraft Refueler | Helicopter Mechanic | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 44% | High School Diploma, 37% |
| Most common major | Business | Aviation |
| Most common college | SUNY Farmingdale | Purdue University |
Here are the differences between aircraft refuelers' and helicopter mechanics' demographics:
| Aircraft Refueler | Helicopter Mechanic | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.5% Female, 9.5% | Male, 93.0% Female, 7.0% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 9.1% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 23.4% Asian, 6.3% White, 55.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |