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The differences between aircraft technicians and helicopter 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 a helicopter mechanic. Additionally, a helicopter mechanic has an average salary of $61,876, 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 a helicopter mechanic are hand tools, safety procedures, and FAA.
| Aircraft Technician | Helicopter Mechanic | |
| Yearly salary | $50,212 | $61,876 |
| Hourly rate | $24.14 | $29.75 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 28,265 | 33,954 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 39% | High School Diploma, 37% |
| 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.
A helicopter mechanic is tasked with making sure all a helicopter's parts are good and working well. They thoroughly inspect and ensure that the helicopter and other aircraft meet standard regulations and are fit for flight. A helicopter mechanic is well versed in mechanics and has excellent problem-solving and computer skills. They repair and maintain both civilian and military helicopters. They may work at airfields or runways.
Aircraft technicians and helicopter mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Aircraft Technician | Helicopter Mechanic | |
| Average salary | $50,212 | $61,876 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $69,000 | Between $44,000 And $86,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Hollister, CA |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Aviation Technology Group | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between an aircraft technician and a helicopter mechanic in terms of educational background:
| Aircraft Technician | Helicopter Mechanic | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 39% | High School Diploma, 37% |
| Most common major | Aviation | Aviation |
| Most common college | SUNY Farmingdale | Purdue University |
Here are the differences between aircraft technicians' and helicopter mechanics' demographics:
| Aircraft Technician | Helicopter Mechanic | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.1% Female, 5.9% | Male, 93.0% Female, 7.0% |
| 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, 9.1% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 23.4% Asian, 6.3% White, 55.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |