How to hire an aircraft structure mechanic

How to hire an aircraft structure mechanic, step by step

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

What does an aircraft structure mechanic do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring an aircraft structure 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

   An aircraft structure mechanic's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, aircraft structure mechanics from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of aircraft structure mechanic salaries for various roles:

   Type of Aircraft Structure Mechanic	Description	Hourly rate
   Aircraft Structure 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).	$22-40
   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
   Power Plant Technician	Power plant technicians, paid at an average of $790K per year, must have skills in concentration, dexterity, mechanics, and problem-solving. They will need a high school diploma or GED at the very least, though some employers do prefer a college or vocational school degree, as well as strong math and science backgrounds... Show more	$14-34

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Calipers
   • Jigs
   • Stabilizers
   • Hand Tools
   • Engineering Drawings
   • Airframe
   • Torque Wrenches
   • Technical Data
   • Ladders
   • FAA
   • Landing Gear
   • Maintenance Manuals
   • Safety Procedures
   • Technical Manuals

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage QA programs to include aircraft turn-up and monitoring and FOD prevention
   • Work from SRM, TRM, AMM, EO and various other aircraft documentation to accomplish repair objectives.
   • Work as an aircraft mechanic in the USAF.
   • Act as liaison between USAF shop personnel and company management.
   • Follow appropriate safety instructions, such as requirements by OSHA.
   • Drill precision holes using drill bushings, core drills, reamers.

   More aircraft structure mechanic duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your aircraft structure mechanic job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. An aircraft structure mechanic can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, aircraft structure mechanics' average salary in nebraska is 52% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level aircraft structure mechanics 46% less than senior-level aircraft structure mechanics.
   • Certifications. An aircraft structure mechanic with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in an aircraft structure mechanic's salary.

   Average aircraft structure mechanic salary

   $62,809yearly

   $30.20 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level aircraft structure mechanic salary

   $46,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 19, 2025

   Average aircraft structure mechanic salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$76,000	$37
   2	California	$69,605	$33
   3	Texas	$69,196	$33
   4	Louisiana	$64,882	$31
   5	Alabama	$60,852	$29
   6	Florida	$60,499	$29
   7	Virginia	$59,900	$29
   8	Utah	$59,434	$29
   9	Missouri	$58,487	$28
   10	Kansas	$54,238	$26
   11	North Carolina	$53,948	$26

   Average aircraft structure mechanic salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Erickson	$85,095	$40.91	4
   2	Textron	$63,927	$30.73	113
   3	TAD PGS	$63,900	$30.72	3
   4	Boeing	$63,224	$30.40	123
   5	Aerotek	$63,161	$30.37	209
   6	Zenetex	$62,429	$30.01
   7	Pacific Architects and Engineers	$62,383	$29.99
   8	ICONMA	$62,266	$29.94
   9	Northrop Grumman	$62,072	$29.84	26
   10	Affordable Engineering Services	$61,945	$29.78
   11	Tyonek Native	$61,502	$29.57	25
   12	(i)Structure	$61,497	$29.57
   13	PDS Tech	$61,432	$29.53	25
   14	Kay Management Co	$60,591	$29.13	47
   15	Aviation Technical Services	$60,331	$29.01	9
   16	Modern Technology Solutions	$60,146	$28.92	2
   17	Lockheed Martin	$59,211	$28.47	85

4. Writing an aircraft structure mechanic job description

   An aircraft structure mechanic job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of an aircraft structure mechanic job description:

   Aircraft structure mechanic job description example

   Contractors will be performing Modifications on CH-47 aircraft, structures mechanics will be modifying, fabricating and installing the new parts needed. They may be moved to different projects down the line as well. NO TOOLS REQUIRED! If interested, please APPLY ASAP OR CALL !!

   Shift :

   1st shift - Monday - Friday 6:30 AM - 2:30 PM (No OT Available - 40 hour weeks)

   Terms :

   6+ month contract (could bring top performers direct down the line)

   Requirements :

   • 4+ years of Aircraft Sheet Metal experience with at least 2 years of recent (last 5 years) military aircraft experience.
   • Helicopter experience preferred, but not required
   • Modification experience preferred, but not required
   • Military Vets with Helicopter experience HIGHLY Desired
   • CH-47 experience is nice to have

   Pay Rate :

   $30.00 - $34.00 an hour

   Per Diem Breakdown :

   $15.00 taxable / $15.00 - $19.00 Per Diem

   About Aerotek:

   We know that a company's success starts with its employees. We also know that an individual's success starts with the right career opportunity. As a Best of Staffing Client and Talent leader, Aerotek's people-focused approach yields competitive advantage for our clients and rewarding careers for our contract employees. Since 1983, Aerotek has grown to become a leader in recruiting and staffing services. With more than 250 non-franchised offices, Aerotek's 8,000 internal employees serve more than 300,000 contract employees and 18,000 clients every year. Aerotek is an Allegis Group company, the global leader in talent solutions. Learn more at

   The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regards to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find aircraft structure mechanics for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any aircraft structure mechanics they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level aircraft structure mechanics with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your aircraft structure mechanic job on Zippia to find and recruit aircraft structure mechanic candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit aircraft structure mechanics, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you 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 structure mechanic

   Once you've decided on a perfect aircraft structure 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.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is 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 structure mechanic?