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The differences between aircraft technicians and aircraft electricians 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 technician and an aircraft electrician. Additionally, an aircraft electrician has an average salary of $54,605, which is higher than the $50,212 average annual salary of an aircraft technician.
The top three skills for an aircraft technician include FAA, airframe and aircraft components. The most important skills for an aircraft electrician are electrical systems, hazardous materials, and diagnose malfunctions.
| Aircraft Technician | Aircraft Electrician | |
| Yearly salary | $50,212 | $54,605 |
| Hourly rate | $24.14 | $26.25 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 28,265 | 19,166 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 39% | Associate Degree, 36% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
An Aircraft Technician inspects, maintains, and addresses any issues that arise with an aircraft. Their primary duties include diagnosing electrical issues, replacing defective parts, and maintaining aircraft standards.
An aircraft electrician specializes in installing and repairing electrical systems in an aircraft, ensuring quality and efficiency. Their responsibilities typically include running diagnostic tests and examinations, troubleshooting problems, replacing and fixing components, understanding diagrams, and keeping records. There are also instances where they must solder wires, climb up high places, and perform regular maintenance checks. Moreover, an aircraft electrician typically works in a team setting, which requires an active communication line for an efficient and safe workflow.
Aircraft technicians and aircraft electricians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Aircraft Technician | Aircraft Electrician | |
| Average salary | $50,212 | $54,605 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $69,000 | Between $38,000 And $77,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Edgewood, MD |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Aviation Technology Group | Northrop Grumman |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between an aircraft technician and an aircraft electrician in terms of educational background:
| Aircraft Technician | Aircraft Electrician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 39% | Associate Degree, 36% |
| Most common major | Aviation | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | SUNY Farmingdale | Purdue University |
Here are the differences between aircraft technicians' and aircraft electricians' demographics:
| Aircraft Technician | Aircraft Electrician | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.1% Female, 5.9% | Male, 92.0% Female, 8.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 23.4% Asian, 6.8% White, 54.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 22.7% Asian, 6.9% White, 55.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |