How To Become An Aviation Structural Mechanic: What It Is and Career Path

What is an aviation structural mechanic and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

The average aviation structural mechanic salary is $61,535. The most common degree is a high school diploma degree with an aviation major. It usually takes 2-4 years of experience to become an aviation structural mechanic. Aviation structural mechanics with a Certified Aviation Manager (CAM) certification earn more money. Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 6% and produce 9,000 job opportunities across the U.S.

ScoreAviation Structural MechanicUS Average

Salary

4.8

Avg. Salary $61,535

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.8

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

8.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.62%

Asian 6.59%

Black or African American 9.33%

Hispanic or Latino 23.68%

Unknown 5.07%

White 54.71%

Gender

female 12.63%

male 87.37%

Age - 39

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 39

Stress level

7.8

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

6.9

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.2

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become an aviation structural mechanic

Explore aviation structural mechanic education requirements

Most common aviation structural mechanic degrees

High School Diploma

40.6 %

Bachelor's

26.6 %

Associate

21.1 %

Start to develop specific aviation structural mechanic skills

Skills	Percentages
Landing Gear	10.05%
Aircraft Airframe	6.13%
Structural Components	5.35%
Pneumatic Systems	4.91%
Ground Support Equipment	4.78%

Complete relevant aviation structural mechanic training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New aviation structural mechanics learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an aviation structural mechanic based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real aviation structural mechanic resumes.

Research aviation structural mechanic duties and responsibilities

Attain CDI, work center supervisor, and hydraulic contamination qualifications along with numerous others.
Work from SRM, TRM, AMM, EO and various other aircraft documentation to accomplish repair objectives.
Reinforce junior personnel's ability to utilize technical publications while performing maintenance thus increasing their ability to troubleshoot and repair discrepancies.
Maintain HAZMAT inventory as primary for AIMD.

Prepare your aviation structural mechanic resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your aviation structural mechanic resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an aviation structural mechanic resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable aviation structural mechanic resume templates

Build a professional aviation structural mechanic resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your aviation structural mechanic resume.