How to hire a helicopter mechanic

How to hire a helicopter mechanic, step by step

Here's a step-by-step helicopter mechanic hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a helicopter mechanic job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new helicopter mechanic
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a helicopter mechanic do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The helicopter mechanic hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A helicopter mechanic's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, helicopter mechanics from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents helicopter mechanic salaries for various positions.

   Type of Helicopter Mechanic	Description	Hourly rate
   Helicopter Mechanic	Aircraft and avionics equipment mechanics and technicians repair and perform scheduled maintenance on aircraft. They also may perform aircraft inspections as required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).	$21-41
   Aircraft Fueler	Aircraft fuelers' primary role is to ensure the proper refueling of aircraft before and after a flight. The position is essential, as proper refueling determines the safety of an aircraft... Show more	$12-21
   Aircraft Electrician	An aircraft electrician specializes in installing and repairing electrical systems in an aircraft, ensuring quality and efficiency. Their responsibilities typically include running diagnostic tests and examinations, troubleshooting problems, replacing and fixing components, understanding diagrams, and keeping records... Show more	$18-37

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Hand Tools
   • Safety Procedures
   • FAA
   • Maintenance Manuals
   • Helicopter Maintenance
   • Landing Gear
   • Gearboxes
   • Technical Data
   • Technical Manuals
   • Unscheduled Maintenance
   • Preventative Maintenance
   • Gear Boxes
   • Maintenance Tasks
   • Hydraulic Systems

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Used drills, countersinks, deburr tools, and wedge lock guns.
   • Test, troubleshoot and repair advance aircraft hydraulic systems.
   • Complete all repairs and maintenance work to company and FAA standards.
   • Document logs to ensure company compliance of OSHA standards and employee safety.
   • Inspect completed work to certify that it meet FAA standards and that assets are functional.
   • Confer with inspectors, OSHA, EPA, and engineering firms on all construction/code relate issues/developments.

   More helicopter mechanic duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your helicopter mechanic job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A helicopter mechanic salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a helicopter mechanic in Idaho may be lower than in Alaska, and an entry-level helicopter mechanic usually earns less than a senior-level helicopter mechanic. Additionally, a helicopter mechanic with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average helicopter mechanic salary

   $61,876yearly

   $29.75 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level helicopter mechanic salary

   $44,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 22, 2025

   Average helicopter mechanic salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$83,257	$40
   2	Virginia	$70,152	$34
   3	New Jersey	$68,805	$33
   4	Arizona	$62,966	$30
   5	Tennessee	$58,598	$28
   6	Pennsylvania	$57,105	$27
   7	Missouri	$56,740	$27
   8	Iowa	$55,494	$27

   Average helicopter mechanic salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Apple	$104,622	$50.30
   2	City of Los Angeles	$88,603	$42.60	5
   3	Department of Public Social Services	$74,596	$35.86
   4	City of Pasadena	$72,717	$34.96	2
   5	Wilson Construction	$63,468	$30.51	6
   6	Aerotek	$60,670	$29.17	162
   7	Air Methods	$60,073	$28.88	103
   8	(i)Structure	$59,179	$28.45
   9	County Of Los Angeles Public Library	$58,580	$28.16
   10	LAUNCH Technical Workforce Solutions	$57,311	$27.55	1
   11	HQ Aero Management	$57,152	$27.48
   12	Lockheed Martin	$56,962	$27.39	68

4. Writing a helicopter mechanic job description

   A helicopter mechanic job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a helicopter mechanic job description:

   Helicopter mechanic job description example

   • Contract 12 mos. - potential for extended term
   • SHIFT/SCHEDULE
   • 10 hour shifts, plus over time if needed
     Start time: 5:00 AM
     End time: 3:30 PM
   • Medical, dental, and vision plan with United Healthcare
   • Robust 401K
   • Potential for bonuses
   • Sick pay, and holiday pay for those who qualify

   Summary:

   • This individual must be able to perform teardown, inspection, build-up and test of assemblies and sub-assemblies on various components associated with the AH-64D Longbow Apache.
   • Perform all maintenance and repair tasks within the budgeted hours and scheduled time allotted for completion.
   • Clearly and precisely document all maintenance and repair actions using electronic or written means.
   • Able to read and interpret schematics, assembly drawings, process specifications, technical manuals, written instructions, test procedures, etc.

   Desired Skills:

   • Applicable and appropriate educational/certification credentials from an accredited institution and/or equivalent experience is required.
   • Must be computer literate and able to navigate computer.
   • Successfully completing training is a contingency for this assignment.

   The Structures Company is a national staffing firm specializing in contract, contract to hire, and direct hire placement opportunities. Our clients rely on us to support their engineering, IT, Production, Maintenance & Repair, and support staff. Our niche recruiting team is one of our biggest strengths and is why we are a top provider of talented professionals to the majority of our clients. They will help you identify the opportunity that best fits your interests while also providing industry-leading customer service.

   We support the majority of aerospace OEM's and tier 1 suppliers across the United States.

   The Structures Company LLC is an Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer (or AA/ EOE)

   Keywords: aerospace, aviation, aircraft, aerospace, aviation, aircraft, maintenance assembly, disassembly, install, test and troubleshooting, mechanical and electrical assemblies and sub-assemblies on Apache Longbow Helicopters or helicopters with similar systems.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find helicopter mechanics for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your helicopter mechanic job on Zippia to find and recruit helicopter mechanic candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit helicopter mechanics, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new helicopter mechanic

   Once you have selected a candidate for the helicopter mechanic position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new helicopter mechanic. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a helicopter mechanic?