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The differences between aircraft workers 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 worker and an aircraft mechanic. Additionally, an aircraft mechanic has an average salary of $60,496, 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 mechanic are hand tools, airframe, and FAA.
| Aircraft Worker | Aircraft Mechanic | |
| Yearly salary | $41,205 | $60,496 |
| Hourly rate | $19.81 | $29.08 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 24,269 | 35,667 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 33% | Associate Degree, 38% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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.
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 workers and aircraft mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Aircraft Worker | Aircraft Mechanic | |
| Average salary | $41,205 | $60,496 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $71,000 | Between $41,000 And $87,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Newport News, VA |
| Highest paying state | - | Maryland |
| Best paying company | - | AECOM |
| Best paying industry | - | Government |
There are a few differences between an aircraft worker and an aircraft mechanic in terms of educational background:
| Aircraft Worker | Aircraft Mechanic | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 33% | Associate Degree, 38% |
| Most common major | Aviation | Aviation |
| Most common college | SUNY Farmingdale | Purdue University |
Here are the differences between aircraft workers' and aircraft mechanics' demographics:
| Aircraft Worker | Aircraft Mechanic | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 85.6% Female, 14.4% | Male, 93.1% Female, 6.9% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 9.7% 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% |