Jet engine mechanic vs airframe mechanic

The differences between jet engine 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 jet engine mechanic and an airframe mechanic. Additionally, a jet engine mechanic has an average salary of $61,098, which is higher than the $60,976 average annual salary of an airframe mechanic.

The top three skills for a jet engine mechanic include test equipment, test stands and aircraft engines. The most important skills for an airframe mechanic are landing gear, safety procedures, and hand tools.

Jet engine mechanic vs airframe mechanic overview

	Jet Engine Mechanic	Airframe Mechanic
Yearly salary	$61,098	$60,976
Hourly rate	$29.37	$29.32
Growth rate	6%	6%
Number of jobs	36,953	34,067
Job satisfaction	5	-
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 34%	High School Diploma, 41%
Average age	40	40
Years of experience	4	4

Jet engine mechanic vs airframe mechanic salary

Jet engine mechanics and airframe mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Jet Engine Mechanic	Airframe Mechanic
Average salary	$61,098	$60,976
Salary range	Between $46,000 And $80,000	Between $43,000 And $86,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between jet engine mechanic and airframe mechanic education

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

	Jet Engine Mechanic	Airframe Mechanic
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 34%	High School Diploma, 41%
Most common major	Aviation	Aviation
Most common college	SUNY Farmingdale	Purdue University

Jet engine mechanic vs airframe mechanic demographics

Here are the differences between jet engine mechanics' and airframe mechanics' demographics:

	Jet Engine Mechanic	Airframe Mechanic
Average age	40	40
Gender ratio	Male, 88.1% Female, 11.9%	Male, 94.6% Female, 5.4%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 21.7% Asian, 6.8% White, 55.1% 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 jet engine mechanic and airframe mechanic duties and responsibilities

Jet engine mechanic example responsibilities.

Manage aerospace propulsion functions and activities.
Complete course in mechanical diagnosis and repair techniques.
Flight line work include engine changes, removal and installation of engine parts, and APU parts and unit.
Communicate to customers the diagnosis and repair estimates.
Perform engine run operation on install and uninstal engines, troubleshoot malfunctions or verify findings.
Remove, inspect and repair gearboxes and all gearbox mount components.

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.

Jet engine mechanic vs airframe mechanic skills

Common jet engine mechanic skills

Test Equipment, 18%
Test Stands, 12%
Aircraft Engines, 7%
Aerospace, 5%
Maintenance Manuals, 3%
Maintenance Practices, 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
Jet Engine Mechanic
Jet Engine Mechanic vs Airframe Mechanic

Updated January 8, 2025

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