Flight test mechanic vs airframe mechanic

The differences between flight test mechanics and airframe mechanics can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a flight test mechanic and an airframe mechanic. Additionally, an airframe mechanic has an average salary of $60,976, which is higher than the $59,974 average annual salary of a flight test mechanic.

The top three skills for a flight test mechanic include electrical systems, ground support equipment and aircraft structures. The most important skills for an airframe mechanic are landing gear, safety procedures, and hand tools.

Flight test mechanic vs airframe mechanic overview

	Flight Test Mechanic	Airframe Mechanic
Yearly salary	$59,974	$60,976
Hourly rate	$28.83	$29.32
Growth rate	6%	6%
Number of jobs	52,936	34,067
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 37%	High School Diploma, 41%
Average age	40	40
Years of experience	4	4

Flight test mechanic vs airframe mechanic salary

Flight test mechanics and airframe mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Flight Test Mechanic	Airframe Mechanic
Average salary	$59,974	$60,976
Salary range	Between $44,000 And $80,000	Between $43,000 And $86,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between flight test mechanic and airframe mechanic education

There are a few differences between a flight test mechanic and an airframe mechanic in terms of educational background:

	Flight Test Mechanic	Airframe Mechanic
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 37%	High School Diploma, 41%
Most common major	Aviation	Aviation
Most common college	Purdue University	Purdue University

Flight test mechanic vs airframe mechanic demographics

Here are the differences between flight test mechanics' and airframe mechanics' demographics:

	Flight Test Mechanic	Airframe Mechanic
Average age	40	40
Gender ratio	Male, 95.8% Female, 4.2%	Male, 94.6% Female, 5.4%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.1% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 21.6% Asian, 5.8% White, 56.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%	Black or African American, 11.0% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 21.0% Asian, 5.3% White, 56.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage	2%	2%

Differences between flight test mechanic and airframe mechanic duties and responsibilities

Flight test mechanic example responsibilities.

Work with FAA personnel inspecting aircraft upon arrival to airfield.
Inspect complete work to certify that maintenance meets FAA standards and that aircraft are ready for operation.
Work in there fleet department repairing and diagnosis on all emergency apparatuses and ambulances and police vehicles also include maintenance schedules.
Receive and implement combat orders and direct deployment of personnel in offensive, defensive operations.

Airframe mechanic example responsibilities.

Utilize and reference additional supporting documentation including FAA approve engineering data/drawings, supporting company policies/procedures and supervisory instructions.
Line maintenance on ATR-42s and Embraer Brazilias.
Design and implement tracking checklist for each helicopter to track progress of each modification installation.

Flight test mechanic vs airframe mechanic skills

Common flight test mechanic skills

Electrical Systems, 18%
Ground Support Equipment, 17%
Aircraft Structures, 7%
Hydraulic Systems, 5%
Aircraft Systems, 4%
Flight Control, 3%

Common airframe mechanic skills

Landing Gear, 9%
Safety Procedures, 8%
Hand Tools, 8%
Structural Repairs, 8%
Maintenance Tasks, 4%
Maintenance Manuals, 4%

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Installation, Maintenance and Repair Industry
Flight Test Mechanic
Flight Test Mechanic vs Airframe Mechanic

Updated January 8, 2025

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