Flight technician vs avionics technician

The differences between flight technicians and avionics 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 flight technician, becoming an avionics technician takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an avionics technician has an average salary of $55,545, which is higher than the $42,931 average annual salary of a flight technician.

The top three skills for a flight technician include troubleshoot, FAA and preventive maintenance. The most important skills for an avionics technician are FAA, hand tools, and electrical systems.

Flight technician vs avionics technician overview

	Flight Technician	Avionics Technician
Yearly salary	$42,931	$55,545
Hourly rate	$20.64	$26.70
Growth rate	6%	6%
Number of jobs	27,302	25,603
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 41%	Associate Degree, 41%
Average age	45	33
Years of experience	2	4

Flight technician vs avionics technician salary

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

	Flight Technician	Avionics Technician
Average salary	$42,931	$55,545
Salary range	Between $31,000 And $58,000	Between $40,000 And $75,000
Highest paying City	-	Everett, WA
Highest paying state	-	Washington
Best paying company	-	Aerotek
Best paying industry	-	Manufacturing

Differences between flight technician and avionics technician education

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

	Flight Technician	Avionics Technician
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 41%	Associate Degree, 41%
Most common major	Electrical Engineering	Electrical Engineering
Most common college	Purdue University	Purdue University

Flight technician vs avionics technician demographics

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

	Flight Technician	Avionics Technician
Average age	45	33
Gender ratio	Male, 90.1% Female, 9.9%	Male, 91.7% Female, 8.3%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.6% Asian, 7.5% White, 60.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	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%
LGBT Percentage	6%	14%

Differences between flight technician and avionics technician duties and responsibilities

Flight technician example responsibilities.

Recognize for enhancing EDP operations to boost productivity and meet schedules.
Resolve discrepancies report by training crews, the FAA, and support staff.
Perform require tasks to inspect, install, troubleshoot, maintain, repair, modify, and operate training devices.
Read schematics to troubleshoot and repair digital and analog electronics.
Perform in-flight avionics/communication systems operation.
Print and cut stripcharts on plotters.

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.

Flight technician vs avionics technician skills

Common flight technician skills

Troubleshoot, 15%
FAA, 11%
Preventive Maintenance, 7%
In-Flight, 7%
Aircraft Systems, 6%
Aircraft Maintenance, 5%

Common avionics technician skills

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

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Flight Technician vs Avionics Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

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