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Aviation mechanic vs power plant technician

The differences between aviation 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 aviation mechanic and a power plant technician. Additionally, an aviation mechanic has an average salary of $54,534, which is higher than the $46,681 average annual salary of a power plant technician.

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

Aviation mechanic vs power plant technician overview

Aviation MechanicPower Plant Technician
Yearly salary$54,534$46,681
Hourly rate$26.22$22.44
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs35,64736,418
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 32%Associate Degree, 38%
Average age4040
Years of experience44

Aviation mechanic vs power plant technician salary

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

Aviation MechanicPower Plant Technician
Average salary$54,534$46,681
Salary rangeBetween $34,000 And $85,000Between $30,000 And $71,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between aviation mechanic and power plant technician education

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

Aviation MechanicPower Plant Technician
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 32%Associate Degree, 38%
Most common majorAviationAviation
Most common collegeSUNY FarmingdalePurdue University

Aviation mechanic vs power plant technician demographics

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

Aviation MechanicPower Plant Technician
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 90.7% Female, 9.3%Male, 95.2% Female, 4.8%
Race ratioBlack 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%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 aviation mechanic and power plant technician duties and responsibilities

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.

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.

Aviation mechanic vs power plant technician skills

Common aviation mechanic skills
  • Safety Procedures, 9%
  • Hand Tools, 8%
  • Airframe, 7%
  • FAA, 7%
  • Routine Maintenance, 4%
  • Landing Gear, 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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