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The differences between aircraft technicians and aircraft 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 technician and an aircraft mechanic. Additionally, an aircraft mechanic has an average salary of $60,496, 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 mechanic are hand tools, airframe, and FAA.
| Aircraft Technician | Aircraft Mechanic | |
| Yearly salary | $50,212 | $60,496 |
| Hourly rate | $24.14 | $29.08 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 28,265 | 35,667 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 39% | Associate Degree, 38% |
| 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 mechanic is responsible for regularly checking and maintaining aircraft systems to ensure its safety and stability during operations. Aircraft mechanics should have extensive knowledge of troubleshooting and detecting system malfunctions. They are also required to adhere strictly with the standard protocols and regulations of the company, guaranteeing smooth procedures and efficient solutions. Aircraft mechanics must possess excellent decision-making and critical-thinking skills to perform diagnosis and inspection under minimal supervision. An aircraft mechanic should be able to utilize aviation tools and equipment, document resources, and report findings for safety concerns.
Aircraft technicians and aircraft mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Aircraft Technician | Aircraft Mechanic | |
| Average salary | $50,212 | $60,496 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $69,000 | Between $41,000 And $87,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Newport News, VA |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | Maryland |
| Best paying company | Aviation Technology Group | AECOM |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Government |
There are a few differences between an aircraft technician and an aircraft mechanic in terms of educational background:
| Aircraft Technician | Aircraft Mechanic | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 39% | Associate Degree, 38% |
| Most common major | Aviation | Aviation |
| Most common college | SUNY Farmingdale | Purdue University |
Here are the differences between aircraft technicians' and aircraft mechanics' demographics:
| Aircraft Technician | Aircraft Mechanic | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.1% Female, 5.9% | Male, 93.1% Female, 6.9% |
| 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, 23.3% Asian, 6.6% White, 54.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |