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The differences between aircraft technicians and aircraft fuelers 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 fueler. Additionally, an aircraft technician has an average salary of $50,212, which is higher than the $34,395 average annual salary of an aircraft fueler.
The top three skills for an aircraft technician include FAA, airframe and aircraft components. The most important skills for an aircraft fueler are basic math, commercial vehicles, and aircraft weight.
| Aircraft Technician | Aircraft Fueler | |
| Yearly salary | $50,212 | $34,395 |
| Hourly rate | $24.14 | $16.54 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 28,265 | 10,728 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 39% | High School Diploma, 48% |
| 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.
Aircraft fuelers' primary role is to ensure the proper refueling of aircraft before and after a flight. The position is essential, as proper refueling determines the safety of an aircraft. An aircraft fueler manages refueling equipment, transports fuel, and ensures adherence to safety protocols. They are also responsible for monitoring the functionality of all equipment and ordering repairs. This position requires a high level of safety-consciousness.
Aircraft technicians and aircraft fuelers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Aircraft Technician | Aircraft Fueler | |
| Average salary | $50,212 | $34,395 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $69,000 | Between $25,000 And $45,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | North Las Vegas, NV |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | Nevada |
| Best paying company | Aviation Technology Group | FlightSafety International |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Transportation |
There are a few differences between an aircraft technician and an aircraft fueler in terms of educational background:
| Aircraft Technician | Aircraft Fueler | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 39% | High School Diploma, 48% |
| Most common major | Aviation | Business |
| Most common college | SUNY Farmingdale | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between aircraft technicians' and aircraft fuelers' demographics:
| Aircraft Technician | Aircraft Fueler | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.1% Female, 5.9% | Male, 94.3% Female, 5.7% |
| 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, 9.2% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 23.6% Asian, 6.8% White, 54.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |