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Jet engine mechanic vs power plant technician

The differences between jet engine mechanics and power plant technicians 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 a power plant technician. Additionally, a jet engine mechanic has an average salary of $61,098, which is higher than the $46,681 average annual salary of a power plant technician.

The top three skills for a jet engine mechanic include test equipment, test stands and aircraft engines. The most important skills for a power plant technician are plant equipment, preventive maintenance, and gearboxes.

Jet engine mechanic vs power plant technician overview

Jet Engine MechanicPower Plant Technician
Yearly salary$61,098$46,681
Hourly rate$29.37$22.44
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs36,95336,418
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 34%Associate Degree, 38%
Average age4040
Years of experience44

Jet engine mechanic vs power plant technician salary

Jet engine mechanics and power plant technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Jet Engine MechanicPower Plant Technician
Average salary$61,098$46,681
Salary rangeBetween $46,000 And $80,000Between $30,000 And $71,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between jet engine mechanic and power plant technician education

There are a few differences between a jet engine mechanic and a power plant technician in terms of educational background:

Jet Engine MechanicPower Plant Technician
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 34%Associate Degree, 38%
Most common majorAviationAviation
Most common collegeSUNY FarmingdalePurdue University

Jet engine mechanic vs power plant technician demographics

Here are the differences between jet engine mechanics' and power plant technicians' demographics:

Jet Engine MechanicPower Plant Technician
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 88.1% Female, 11.9%Male, 95.2% Female, 4.8%
Race ratioBlack 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, 9.1% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 23.2% Asian, 6.7% White, 55.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage2%2%

Differences between jet engine mechanic and power plant technician 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.
  • Show more

Power plant technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage the FOD prevention program to reduce costly repairs and increase the participation in FOD awareness and FOD walk downs.
  • Maintain and repair industrial machinery such as power transmission components, hydraulics, pneumatics, plumbing systems, and electro-mechanical components.
  • Perform unschedule aircraft line maintenance on 76 assign Cessna 402-C Utiliners.

Jet engine mechanic vs power plant technician skills

Common jet engine mechanic skills
  • Test Equipment, 18%
  • Test Stands, 12%
  • Aircraft Engines, 7%
  • Aerospace, 5%
  • Maintenance Manuals, 3%
  • Maintenance Practices, 3%
Common power plant technician skills
  • Plant Equipment, 13%
  • Preventive Maintenance, 8%
  • Gearboxes, 7%
  • Electrical Equipment, 6%
  • Safety Procedures, 6%
  • Maintenance Procedures, 5%

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