Avionics technician vs avionics test technician

The differences between avionics technicians and avionics test 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 avionics technician and an avionics test technician. Additionally, an avionics test technician has an average salary of $73,606, which is higher than the $55,545 average annual salary of an avionics technician.

The top three skills for an avionics technician include FAA, hand tools and electrical systems. The most important skills for an avionics test technician are hand tools, test equipment, and RF.

Avionics technician vs avionics test technician overview

	Avionics Technician	Avionics Test Technician
Yearly salary	$55,545	$73,606
Hourly rate	$26.70	$35.39
Growth rate	6%	6%
Number of jobs	25,603	25,166
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 41%	Bachelor's Degree, 46%
Average age	33	33
Years of experience	4	4

Avionics technician vs avionics test technician salary

Avionics technicians and avionics test technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Avionics Technician	Avionics Test Technician
Average salary	$55,545	$73,606
Salary range	Between $40,000 And $75,000	Between $50,000 And $106,000
Highest paying City	Everett, WA	-
Highest paying state	Washington	-
Best paying company	Aerotek	-
Best paying industry	Manufacturing	-

Differences between avionics technician and avionics test technician education

There are a few differences between an avionics technician and an avionics test technician in terms of educational background:

	Avionics Technician	Avionics Test Technician
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 41%	Bachelor's Degree, 46%
Most common major	Electrical Engineering	Electrical Engineering
Most common college	Purdue University	Purdue University

Avionics technician vs avionics test technician demographics

Here are the differences between avionics technicians' and avionics test technicians' demographics:

	Avionics Technician	Avionics Test Technician
Average age	33	33
Gender ratio	Male, 91.7% Female, 8.3%	Male, 94.7% Female, 5.3%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 8.0% Unknown, 6.6% Hispanic or Latino, 27.5% Asian, 5.4% White, 52.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%	Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 6.6% Hispanic or Latino, 23.8% Asian, 7.3% White, 53.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	14%	14%

Differences between avionics technician and avionics test technician duties and responsibilities

Avionics technician example responsibilities.

Work regularly on the radar and GPS for helicopters while simultaneously dealing and managing supplies by keeping track of all equipment.
Repair vhf, uhf, dme, lru, and radios.Uses various hand tools.
Maintain GPS navigation systems, flight guidance controls, radar, entertainment systems, and aircraft self defense systems.
Utilize aircraft technical manuals, and technical drawings to troubleshoot, and maintain aircraft systems in a flyable status.
Test and troubleshoot avionics systems upon completion of modification process.
License airframe and power plant technician responsible for aircraft avionics and electrical systems.

Avionics test technician example responsibilities.

Work regularly on the radar and GPS for helicopters while simultaneously dealing and managing supplies by keeping track of all equipment.
Log data for all testing and repair issues that meet or exceed FAA guidelines.
Install, adjust and calibrate all avionics instruments and components to FAA and customer specifications.
Gain experience in troubleshooting/repairing amplifier and logic circuits, RF equipment, servomechanisms, video displays and power supply circuits.
Provide quality standards by Gulfstream that are implemented for safety- conscious, quality-orient and skil workforce.
Manufacture wiring harnesses for installation on S92A helicopter aircraft.

Avionics technician vs avionics test technician skills

Common avionics technician skills

FAA, 11%
Hand Tools, 10%
Electrical Systems, 7%
Engineering Drawings, 4%
Avionics Equipment, 4%
Maintenance Manuals, 4%

Common avionics test technician skills

Hand Tools, 23%
Test Equipment, 20%
RF, 17%
Test Procedures, 10%
Support Equipment, 5%
Electronic Equipment, 5%

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Avionics Technician
Avionics Technician vs Avionics Test Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

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