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Aircraft worker vs aviation mechanic

The differences between aircraft workers and aviation 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 aviation mechanic. Additionally, an aviation mechanic has an average salary of $54,534, 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 aviation mechanic are safety procedures, hand tools, and airframe.

Aircraft worker vs aviation mechanic overview

Aircraft WorkerAviation Mechanic
Yearly salary$41,205$54,534
Hourly rate$19.81$26.22
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs24,26935,647
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 33%High School Diploma, 32%
Average age4040
Years of experience44

Aircraft worker vs aviation mechanic salary

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

Aircraft WorkerAviation Mechanic
Average salary$41,205$54,534
Salary rangeBetween $23,000 And $71,000Between $34,000 And $85,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between aircraft worker and aviation mechanic education

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

Aircraft WorkerAviation Mechanic
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 33%High School Diploma, 32%
Most common majorAviationAviation
Most common collegeSUNY FarmingdaleSUNY Farmingdale

Aircraft worker vs aviation mechanic demographics

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

Aircraft WorkerAviation Mechanic
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 85.6% Female, 14.4%Male, 90.7% Female, 9.3%
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, 9.0% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 23.2% Asian, 6.7% White, 55.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage2%2%

Differences between aircraft worker and aviation 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.

Aviation mechanic example responsibilities.

  • Perform installation, analysis, repair and troubleshooting of integrate avionics systems and aircraft electrical / mechanical systems.
  • Provide support functions for assign internal and external QA audits and reviews.
  • Repair aircraft wings, horizontal/vertical stabilizers, and aircraft panels.
  • Remove and replace ailerons, stabilizers, aileron servos and stabilizer servos.
  • Perform organizational maintenance on anti-submarine/Utility helicopters.

Aircraft worker vs aviation mechanic skills

Common aircraft worker skills
  • Hand Tools, 13%
  • Landing Gear, 8%
  • Aircraft Maintenance, 7%
  • Safety Rules, 7%
  • Ventilation, 6%
  • Ladders, 6%
Common aviation mechanic skills
  • Safety Procedures, 9%
  • Hand Tools, 8%
  • Airframe, 7%
  • FAA, 7%
  • Routine Maintenance, 4%
  • Landing Gear, 4%

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