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Aircraft worker vs power plant technician

The differences between aircraft workers and power plant 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 a power plant technician. Additionally, a power plant technician has an average salary of $46,681, 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 a power plant technician are plant equipment, preventive maintenance, and gearboxes.

Aircraft worker vs power plant technician overview

Aircraft WorkerPower Plant Technician
Yearly salary$41,205$46,681
Hourly rate$19.81$22.44
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs24,26936,418
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 33%Associate Degree, 38%
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 a power plant technician do?

Power plant technicians, paid at an average of $790K per year, must have skills in concentration, dexterity, mechanics, and problem-solving. They will need a high school diploma or GED at the very least, though some employers do prefer a college or vocational school degree, as well as strong math and science backgrounds. Those who choose this career will be called on to controlling and monitoring -power plant equipment, like boilers, turbines, and generators.

Aircraft worker vs power plant technician salary

Aircraft workers and power plant technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Aircraft WorkerPower Plant Technician
Average salary$41,205$46,681
Salary rangeBetween $23,000 And $71,000Between $30,000 And $71,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between aircraft worker and power plant technician education

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

Aircraft WorkerPower Plant Technician
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 33%Associate Degree, 38%
Most common majorAviationAviation
Most common collegeSUNY FarmingdalePurdue University

Aircraft worker vs power plant technician demographics

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

Aircraft WorkerPower Plant Technician
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 85.6% Female, 14.4%Male, 95.2% Female, 4.8%
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, 9.1% 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 power plant 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.

Power plant technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage the FOD prevention program to reduce costly repairs and increase the participation in FOD awareness and FOD walk downs.
  • Maintain and repair industrial machinery such as power transmission components, hydraulics, pneumatics, plumbing systems, and electro-mechanical components.
  • Perform unschedule aircraft line maintenance on 76 assign Cessna 402-C Utiliners.

Aircraft worker vs power plant technician skills

Common aircraft worker skills
  • Hand Tools, 13%
  • Landing Gear, 8%
  • Aircraft Maintenance, 7%
  • Safety Rules, 7%
  • Ventilation, 6%
  • Ladders, 6%
Common power plant technician skills
  • Plant Equipment, 13%
  • Preventive Maintenance, 8%
  • Gearboxes, 7%
  • Electrical Equipment, 6%
  • Safety Procedures, 6%
  • Maintenance Procedures, 5%

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