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Aircraft worker vs aircraft maintenance technician

The differences between aircraft workers and aircraft maintenance technicians 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 worker and an aircraft maintenance technician. Additionally, an aircraft maintenance technician has an average salary of $53,026, which is higher than the $41,205 average annual salary of an aircraft worker.

The top three skills for an aircraft worker include hand tools, landing gear and aircraft maintenance. The most important skills for an aircraft maintenance technician are FAA, airframe, and powerplant.

Aircraft worker vs aircraft maintenance technician overview

Aircraft WorkerAircraft Maintenance Technician
Yearly salary$41,205$53,026
Hourly rate$19.81$25.49
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs24,269105,268
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 33%Associate Degree, 43%
Average age4040
Years of experience44

What does an aircraft worker do?

An aircraft worker has similar responsibilities to an aircraft mechanic; they focus on maintaining the aircraft, determining potential problems, and providing immediate solutions. An aircraft worker or mechanic is part of the maintenance team. They work to keep all aircraft under their custody in working order. This position requires full knowledge in aircraft engineering, expertise in engine maintenance, and knowledge of all aircraft safety protocols.

What does an aircraft maintenance technician do?

Aircraft Maintenance Technicians make commercial, government/private airplanes, and helicopters safe for their crew and passengers. They ensure that aircrafts meet Federal Aviation Regulations.

Aircraft worker vs aircraft maintenance technician salary

Aircraft workers and aircraft maintenance technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Aircraft WorkerAircraft Maintenance Technician
Average salary$41,205$53,026
Salary rangeBetween $23,000 And $71,000Between $37,000 And $75,000
Highest paying City-San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state-Nevada
Best paying company-Citi
Best paying industry-Government

Differences between aircraft worker and aircraft maintenance technician education

There are a few differences between an aircraft worker and an aircraft maintenance technician in terms of educational background:

Aircraft WorkerAircraft Maintenance Technician
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 33%Associate Degree, 43%
Most common majorAviationAviation
Most common collegeSUNY FarmingdalePurdue University

Aircraft worker vs aircraft maintenance technician demographics

Here are the differences between aircraft workers' and aircraft maintenance technicians' demographics:

Aircraft WorkerAircraft Maintenance Technician
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 85.6% Female, 14.4%Male, 93.6% Female, 6.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 24.1% Asian, 5.4% White, 55.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 23.1% Asian, 6.6% White, 55.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage2%2%

Differences between aircraft worker and aircraft maintenance technician duties and responsibilities

Aircraft worker example responsibilities.

  • Manage the FOD prevention program to reduce costly repairs and increase the participation in FOD awareness and FOD walk downs.
  • Refuel and defuel various models of civilian and DOD aircraft.
  • Practice good housekeeping standards, FOD awareness, tool control, and safety procedures at all times.
  • Perform schedule and unschedule maintenance on communication, radar, instrument, electrical/power distribution, and integrate weapons delivery systems.
  • Diagnose and troubleshot malfunctions in electrical and electronic components, including solid state and transistorize subsystems on UH-60A aircraft.

Aircraft maintenance technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage the FOD prevention program to reduce costly repairs and increase the participation in FOD awareness and FOD walk downs.
  • Work in building maintenance HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems.
  • Develop lesson plans using ISD utilizing PowerPoint, excel and word documents.
  • Prepare daily lesson plans, handout materials, overhead transparencies, PowerPoint slides, and other training aids.
  • Install, repair, troubleshoot aviation and navigation systems install on military aircraft
  • Maintain all photo and etch equipment.
  • Show more

Aircraft worker vs aircraft maintenance technician skills

Common aircraft worker skills
  • Hand Tools, 13%
  • Landing Gear, 8%
  • Aircraft Maintenance, 7%
  • Safety Rules, 7%
  • Ventilation, 6%
  • Ladders, 6%
Common aircraft maintenance technician skills
  • FAA, 11%
  • Airframe, 11%
  • Powerplant, 9%
  • Ladders, 6%
  • Hand Tools, 5%
  • Aircraft Components, 5%

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