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What is a ground crew and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

The primary role of a ground crew is to ensure the safety and comfort of all passengers traveling through the airport. Within the airport terminal, they man the check-in counters that check departing passengers in for their flights. They also perform cabin services like cleaning and restocking to ensure that passengers are comfortable during their flights.

Outside the terminal, ground crews inspect the tarmac and take out any items found before the arrival or departure of the plane. Ground crews are also known as ground staff, and they work in the aviation industry. They are either avionics technicians, ramp agents, or flight dispatchers.

The job requires a diploma in administration or travel with a VCE certificate. Applicants must also have interpersonal, communication, multitasking, and computer skills. As expected, they must excel in customer care.

A ground crew makes an average salary of $27,650 per year, which is an hourly rate of $13.29. It often varies between $22,000 and $33,000.

ScoreGround CrewUS Average
Salary
2.6

Avg. Salary $33,390

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
6.2

Growth rate 5%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
9.9
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.29%

Asian 1.66%

Black or African American 8.26%

Hispanic or Latino 18.69%

Unknown 3.76%

White 66.34%

Gender

female 10.70%

male 89.30%

Age - 41
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 - 41
Stress level
6.2

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
6.0

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance
7.0

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Ground crew career paths

Key steps to become a ground crew

  1. Explore ground crew education requirements

    Most common ground crew degrees

    Bachelor's

    48.3 %

    High School Diploma

    26.6 %

    Associate

    15.0 %
  2. Start to develop specific ground crew skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Mowing22.21%
    GRASS14.47%
    Snow Removal6.58%
    Safety Procedures5.78%
    General Upkeep5.43%
  3. Research ground crew duties and responsibilities

    • Manage the maintenance for all generators: small Honda 4000 and Onan 6500K's.
    • Used hand saws and hand pruners as well as motorized saws to manage tree cuttings on the ground.
    • Used rakes, shovels, pruning saws, brush trimmers, axes, and other equipment.
    • Collect debris and refuge from tree trimming and removal operations into piles using shovels, rakes, and other tools.
  4. Prepare your ground crew resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your ground crew 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 a ground crew resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable ground crew resume templates

    Build a professional ground crew 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 ground crew resume.
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    Ground Crew Resume
    Ground Crew Resume
  5. Apply for ground crew jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a ground crew job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first ground crew job

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Average ground crew salary

The average ground crew salary in the United States is $33,390 per year or $16 per hour. Ground crew salaries range between $26,000 and $41,000 per year.

Average ground crew salary
$33,390 Yearly
$16.05 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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