Armament mechanic vs aircraft mechanic

The differences between armament mechanics 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 armament mechanic and an aircraft mechanic. Additionally, an aircraft mechanic has an average salary of $60,496, which is higher than the $56,680 average annual salary of an armament mechanic.

The top three skills for an armament mechanic include electrical systems, aircraft maintenance and F-16. The most important skills for an aircraft mechanic are hand tools, airframe, and FAA.

Armament mechanic vs aircraft mechanic overview

	Armament Mechanic	Aircraft Mechanic
Yearly salary	$56,680	$60,496
Hourly rate	$27.25	$29.08
Growth rate	6%	6%
Number of jobs	33,671	35,667
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 60%	Associate Degree, 38%
Average age	33	40
Years of experience	4	4

Armament mechanic vs aircraft mechanic salary

Armament mechanics and aircraft mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Armament Mechanic	Aircraft Mechanic
Average salary	$56,680	$60,496
Salary range	Between $38,000 And $84,000	Between $41,000 And $87,000
Highest paying City	-	Newport News, VA
Highest paying state	-	Maryland
Best paying company	-	AECOM
Best paying industry	-	Government

Differences between armament mechanic and aircraft mechanic education

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

	Armament Mechanic	Aircraft Mechanic
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 60%	Associate Degree, 38%
Most common major	Criminal Justice	Aviation
Most common college	Stanford University	Purdue University

Armament mechanic vs aircraft mechanic demographics

Here are the differences between armament mechanics' and aircraft mechanics' demographics:

	Armament Mechanic	Aircraft Mechanic
Average age	33	40
Gender ratio	Male, 92.9% Female, 7.1%	Male, 93.1% Female, 6.9%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 5.7% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 23.8% Asian, 4.4% White, 59.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%	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	14%	2%

Differences between armament mechanic and aircraft mechanic duties and responsibilities

Armament mechanic example responsibilities.

Document repairs, modifications and inspections in accordance with FAA requirements on both paper and in an automate maintenance information database.
Receive and implement combat orders and direct deployment of personnel in offensive, defensive operations.

Aircraft mechanic example responsibilities.

Work from SRM, TRM, AMM, EO and various other aircraft documentation to accomplish repair objectives.
Perform scheduled maintenance tasks in accordance with manufacturer and FAA guidelines.
Conduce problem analysis, correction/repairs and operational checks of aircraft avionics, electrical, propulsion and hydraulic systems.
Train in OSHA and HAZMAT.
Change cables and pulleys command.
Obtain and continue MSHA training.

Armament mechanic vs aircraft mechanic skills

Common armament mechanic skills

Electrical Systems, 50%
Aircraft Maintenance, 33%
F-16, 12%
Maintenance Procedures, 5%

Common aircraft mechanic skills

Hand Tools, 11%
Airframe, 6%
FAA, 5%
Aircraft Systems, 5%
Landing Gear, 5%
Technical Data, 4%

Armament Mechanic vs. similar jobs

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Installation, Maintenance and Repair Industry
Armament Mechanic
Armament Mechanic vs Aircraft Mechanic

Updated January 8, 2025

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