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The differences between aircraft technicians and structures 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 structures mechanic. Additionally, a structures mechanic has an average salary of $61,579, 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 structures mechanic are safety regulations, jigs, and ladders.
| Aircraft Technician | Structures Mechanic | |
| Yearly salary | $50,212 | $61,579 |
| Hourly rate | $24.14 | $29.61 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 28,265 | 38,406 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| 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.
A Structures Mechanic maintains the frame and structural components of machinery. They fabricate and repair metallic and nonmetallic materials, as well as perform inspections and supervision of machinery.
Aircraft technicians and structures mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Aircraft Technician | Structures Mechanic | |
| Average salary | $50,212 | $61,579 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $69,000 | Between $45,000 And $84,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Fairbanks, AK |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Aviation Technology Group | Aviation Technology Group |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between an aircraft technician and a structures mechanic in terms of educational background:
| Aircraft Technician | Structures Mechanic | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 39% | Associate Degree, 36% |
| Most common major | Aviation | Aviation |
| Most common college | SUNY Farmingdale | Purdue University |
Here are the differences between aircraft technicians' and structures mechanics' demographics:
| Aircraft Technician | Structures Mechanic | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.1% Female, 5.9% | Male, 92.3% Female, 7.7% |
| 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, 9.1% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 23.3% Asian, 6.8% White, 55.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |