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Diesel engine mechanic vs aviation maintenance technician

The differences between diesel engine mechanics and aviation maintenance technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a diesel engine mechanic, becoming an aviation maintenance technician takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an aviation maintenance technician has an average salary of $51,794, which is higher than the $49,463 average annual salary of a diesel engine mechanic.

The top three skills for a diesel engine mechanic include troubleshoot, hand tools and cranes. The most important skills for an aviation maintenance technician are electrical troubleshooting, FAA, and maintenance procedures.

Diesel engine mechanic vs aviation maintenance technician overview

Diesel Engine MechanicAviation Maintenance Technician
Yearly salary$49,463$51,794
Hourly rate$23.78$24.90
Growth rate4%6%
Number of jobs87,152102,259
Job satisfaction4-
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 38%Associate Degree, 37%
Average age4233
Years of experience24

Diesel engine mechanic vs aviation maintenance technician salary

Diesel engine mechanics and aviation maintenance technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Diesel Engine MechanicAviation Maintenance Technician
Average salary$49,463$51,794
Salary rangeBetween $36,000 And $66,000Between $35,000 And $75,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between diesel engine mechanic and aviation maintenance technician education

There are a few differences between a diesel engine mechanic and an aviation maintenance technician in terms of educational background:

Diesel Engine MechanicAviation Maintenance Technician
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 38%Associate Degree, 37%
Most common majorAutomotive TechnologyAviation
Most common college-Stanford University

Diesel engine mechanic vs aviation maintenance technician demographics

Here are the differences between diesel engine mechanics' and aviation maintenance technicians' demographics:

Diesel Engine MechanicAviation Maintenance Technician
Average age4233
Gender ratioMale, 93.5% Female, 6.5%Male, 91.3% Female, 8.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.2% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 2.4% White, 64.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 6.7% Hispanic or Latino, 29.3% Asian, 4.9% White, 50.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage2%14%

Differences between diesel engine mechanic and aviation maintenance technician duties and responsibilities

Diesel engine mechanic example responsibilities.

  • Document repairs, modifications and inspections in accordance with FAA requirements on both paper and in an automate maintenance information database.
  • Perform complete overhauls on transmissions, steering units, repair or remove and replace in diesel trucks and marine environments.

Aviation maintenance technician example responsibilities.

  • Use technical specifications, sketches, manuals, drawings, engineering notices, and FAA forms and publications to accomplish work.
  • Perform scheduled and unschedule maintenance using RF electronic equipment and specialize test equipment.
  • Experience with oxygen/acetylene, Mapp gas brazing.
  • Certify in all power tools, lifts and scaffolding.
  • Utilize PLC and DCS systems to troubleshoot and improve boiler controls.
  • Load daily encryption codes for all cryptographic communication and GPS equipment.
  • Show more

Diesel engine mechanic vs aviation maintenance technician skills

Common diesel engine mechanic skills
  • Troubleshoot, 14%
  • Hand Tools, 14%
  • Cranes, 9%
  • Diagnosis, 7%
  • Safety Procedures, 6%
  • Safety Devices, 5%
Common aviation maintenance technician skills
  • Electrical Troubleshooting, 18%
  • FAA, 13%
  • Maintenance Procedures, 10%
  • Airframe, 10%
  • Aircraft Maintenance, 8%
  • Maintenance Manuals, 7%

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