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Aircraft worker vs airframe mechanic

The differences between aircraft workers and airframe 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 airframe mechanic. Additionally, an airframe mechanic has an average salary of $60,976, 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 airframe mechanic are landing gear, safety procedures, and hand tools.

Aircraft worker vs airframe mechanic overview

Aircraft WorkerAirframe Mechanic
Yearly salary$41,205$60,976
Hourly rate$19.81$29.32
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs24,26934,067
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 33%High School Diploma, 41%
Average age4040
Years of experience44

Aircraft worker vs airframe mechanic salary

Aircraft workers and airframe mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.

Aircraft WorkerAirframe Mechanic
Average salary$41,205$60,976
Salary rangeBetween $23,000 And $71,000Between $43,000 And $86,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between aircraft worker and airframe mechanic education

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

Aircraft WorkerAirframe Mechanic
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 33%High School Diploma, 41%
Most common majorAviationAviation
Most common collegeSUNY FarmingdalePurdue University

Aircraft worker vs airframe mechanic demographics

Here are the differences between aircraft workers' and airframe mechanics' demographics:

Aircraft WorkerAirframe Mechanic
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 85.6% Female, 14.4%Male, 94.6% Female, 5.4%
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, 11.0% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 21.0% Asian, 5.3% White, 56.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage2%2%

Differences between aircraft worker and airframe mechanic 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.

Airframe mechanic example responsibilities.

  • Utilize and reference additional supporting documentation including FAA approve engineering data/drawings, supporting company policies/procedures and supervisory instructions.
  • Line maintenance on ATR-42s and Embraer Brazilias.
  • Design and implement tracking checklist for each helicopter to track progress of each modification installation.

Aircraft worker vs airframe mechanic skills

Common aircraft worker skills
  • Hand Tools, 13%
  • Landing Gear, 8%
  • Aircraft Maintenance, 7%
  • Safety Rules, 7%
  • Ventilation, 6%
  • Ladders, 6%
Common airframe mechanic skills
  • Landing Gear, 9%
  • Safety Procedures, 8%
  • Hand Tools, 8%
  • Structural Repairs, 8%
  • Maintenance Tasks, 4%
  • Maintenance Manuals, 4%

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