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Airframe mechanic vs power plant technician

The differences between airframe mechanics 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 airframe mechanic and a power plant technician. Additionally, an airframe mechanic has an average salary of $60,976, which is higher than the $46,681 average annual salary of a power plant technician.

The top three skills for an airframe mechanic include landing gear, safety procedures and hand tools. The most important skills for a power plant technician are plant equipment, preventive maintenance, and gearboxes.

Airframe mechanic vs power plant technician overview

Airframe MechanicPower Plant Technician
Yearly salary$60,976$46,681
Hourly rate$29.32$22.44
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs34,06736,418
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 41%Associate Degree, 38%
Average age4040
Years of experience44

Airframe mechanic vs power plant technician salary

Airframe mechanics and power plant technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Airframe MechanicPower Plant Technician
Average salary$60,976$46,681
Salary rangeBetween $43,000 And $86,000Between $30,000 And $71,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between airframe mechanic and power plant technician education

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

Airframe MechanicPower Plant Technician
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 41%Associate Degree, 38%
Most common majorAviationAviation
Most common collegePurdue UniversityPurdue University

Airframe mechanic vs power plant technician demographics

Here are the differences between airframe mechanics' and power plant technicians' demographics:

Airframe MechanicPower Plant Technician
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 94.6% Female, 5.4%Male, 95.2% Female, 4.8%
Race ratioBlack 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%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 airframe mechanic and power plant technician duties and responsibilities

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.

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.

Airframe mechanic vs power plant technician skills

Common airframe mechanic skills
  • Landing Gear, 9%
  • Safety Procedures, 8%
  • Hand Tools, 8%
  • Structural Repairs, 8%
  • Maintenance Tasks, 4%
  • Maintenance Manuals, 4%
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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