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The differences between aircraft structure mechanics and aviation maintenance technicians 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 structure mechanic and an aviation maintenance technician. Additionally, an aircraft structure mechanic has an average salary of $62,809, which is higher than the $51,794 average annual salary of an aviation maintenance technician.
The top three skills for an aircraft structure mechanic include calipers, jigs and stabilizers. The most important skills for an aviation maintenance technician are electrical troubleshooting, FAA, and maintenance procedures.
| Aircraft Structure Mechanic | Aviation Maintenance Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $62,809 | $51,794 |
| Hourly rate | $30.20 | $24.90 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 36,380 | 102,259 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 37% | Associate Degree, 37% |
| Average age | 40 | 33 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Aircraft structure mechanics are skilled professionals who are responsible for maintaining and repairing aircraft components and airframe structural supports. These mechanics are required to use hand tools and testing equipment to perform repairs and troubleshoot aircraft components. They must conduct inspections and troubleshooting of aircraft systems and related aviation equipment to isolate faults and determine the required repairs or replacements. Aircraft structure mechanics must also interpret maintenance manuals so that they can determine the feasibility and method of repairing malfunctioning components.
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.
Aircraft structure mechanics and aviation maintenance technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Aircraft Structure Mechanic | Aviation Maintenance Technician | |
| Average salary | $62,809 | $51,794 |
| Salary range | Between $46,000 And $85,000 | Between $35,000 And $75,000 |
| Highest paying City | Lakewood, WA | - |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | - |
| Best paying company | Erickson | - |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | - |
There are a few differences between an aircraft structure mechanic and an aviation maintenance technician in terms of educational background:
| Aircraft Structure Mechanic | Aviation Maintenance Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 37% | Associate Degree, 37% |
| Most common major | Aviation | Aviation |
| Most common college | Purdue University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between aircraft structure mechanics' and aviation maintenance technicians' demographics:
| Aircraft Structure Mechanic | Aviation Maintenance Technician | |
| Average age | 40 | 33 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.7% Female, 8.3% | Male, 91.3% Female, 8.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 23.3% Asian, 6.8% White, 55.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 6.7% Hispanic or Latino, 29.3% Asian, 4.9% White, 50.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 14% |