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Maintenance craftsman vs aircraft maintenance technician

The differences between maintenance craftsmen and aircraft maintenance 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 maintenance craftsman and an aircraft maintenance technician. Additionally, an aircraft maintenance technician has an average salary of $53,026, which is higher than the $32,902 average annual salary of a maintenance craftsman.

The top three skills for a maintenance craftsman include plumbing, ladders and troubleshoot. The most important skills for an aircraft maintenance technician are FAA, airframe, and powerplant.

Maintenance craftsman vs aircraft maintenance technician overview

Maintenance CraftsmanAircraft Maintenance Technician
Yearly salary$32,902$53,026
Hourly rate$15.82$25.49
Growth rate5%6%
Number of jobs88,894105,268
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 51%Associate Degree, 43%
Average age4740
Years of experience44

What does a maintenance craftsman do?

A maintenance craftsman is a flexible and diverse career as they provide different services to their client. They are often responsible for monitoring, operating, and maintaining good quality equipment and machinery. They also perform the repair and construction of materials that are needed in a particular industry or field. Craftsmen are also responsible for facilitating systems and technology on a day-to-day basis. Requirements include broad knowledge and skills in crafting and repairing materials that are used in businesses.

What does an aircraft maintenance technician do?

Aircraft Maintenance Technicians make commercial, government/private airplanes, and helicopters safe for their crew and passengers. They ensure that aircrafts meet Federal Aviation Regulations.

Maintenance craftsman vs aircraft maintenance technician salary

Maintenance craftsmen and aircraft maintenance technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Maintenance CraftsmanAircraft Maintenance Technician
Average salary$32,902$53,026
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $42,000Between $37,000 And $75,000
Highest paying CitySpringfield, MASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateMinnesotaNevada
Best paying companyEmersonCiti
Best paying industryManufacturingGovernment

Differences between maintenance craftsman and aircraft maintenance technician education

There are a few differences between a maintenance craftsman and an aircraft maintenance technician in terms of educational background:

Maintenance CraftsmanAircraft Maintenance Technician
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 51%Associate Degree, 43%
Most common majorAviationAviation
Most common college-Purdue University

Maintenance craftsman vs aircraft maintenance technician demographics

Here are the differences between maintenance craftsmen' and aircraft maintenance technicians' demographics:

Maintenance CraftsmanAircraft Maintenance Technician
Average age4740
Gender ratioMale, 92.9% Female, 7.1%Male, 93.6% Female, 6.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 4.6% White, 61.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 23.1% Asian, 6.6% White, 55.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage2%2%

Differences between maintenance craftsman and aircraft maintenance technician duties and responsibilities

Maintenance craftsman example responsibilities.

  • Manage 22 active duty hydraulic technicians in support of 32 of USAF's 59 KC-10A aircraft.
  • Inspect, install, repair, maintain, troubleshoot, service and modify tactical aircraft systems, components and aircraft-instal components.
  • Review require customer and FAA paperwork to ensure proper maintenance updates and compliance with applicable regulations and customer requirements.
  • Maintain plastic extrusion equipment.Other maintenance duties as required

Aircraft maintenance technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage the FOD prevention program to reduce costly repairs and increase the participation in FOD awareness and FOD walk downs.
  • Work in building maintenance HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems.
  • Develop lesson plans using ISD utilizing PowerPoint, excel and word documents.
  • Prepare daily lesson plans, handout materials, overhead transparencies, PowerPoint slides, and other training aids.
  • Install, repair, troubleshoot aviation and navigation systems install on military aircraft
  • Maintain all photo and etch equipment.
  • Show more

Maintenance craftsman vs aircraft maintenance technician skills

Common maintenance craftsman skills
  • Plumbing, 10%
  • Ladders, 8%
  • Troubleshoot, 7%
  • Maintenance Tasks, 7%
  • HVAC, 6%
  • Maintenance Actions, 5%
Common aircraft maintenance technician skills
  • FAA, 11%
  • Airframe, 11%
  • Powerplant, 9%
  • Ladders, 6%
  • Hand Tools, 5%
  • Aircraft Components, 5%

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