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The differences between maintenance engineers and aircraft 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 maintenance engineer and an aircraft mechanic. Additionally, an aircraft mechanic has an average salary of $60,496, which is higher than the $47,133 average annual salary of a maintenance engineer.
The top three skills for a maintenance engineer include plumbing, HVAC and guest rooms. The most important skills for an aircraft mechanic are hand tools, airframe, and FAA.
| Maintenance Engineer | Aircraft Mechanic | |
| Yearly salary | $47,133 | $60,496 |
| Hourly rate | $22.66 | $29.08 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 97,957 | 35,667 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 48% | Associate Degree, 38% |
| Average age | 47 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A maintenance engineer is responsible for the maintenance of industrial machinery and inspects equipment defects for immediate troubleshooting or replacement as needed. Maintenance engineers install and upgrade system components to improve system optimization and perform diagnostic systems to locate any adjustments. They also conduct routine checks, assist clients with technical faults, and ensure that the equipment works safely for certain operations. A maintenance engineer must have excellent knowledge of the mechanical industry to address technical malfunctions immediately.
An aircraft mechanic is responsible for regularly checking and maintaining aircraft systems to ensure its safety and stability during operations. Aircraft mechanics should have extensive knowledge of troubleshooting and detecting system malfunctions. They are also required to adhere strictly with the standard protocols and regulations of the company, guaranteeing smooth procedures and efficient solutions. Aircraft mechanics must possess excellent decision-making and critical-thinking skills to perform diagnosis and inspection under minimal supervision. An aircraft mechanic should be able to utilize aviation tools and equipment, document resources, and report findings for safety concerns.
Maintenance engineers and aircraft mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Maintenance Engineer | Aircraft Mechanic | |
| Average salary | $47,133 | $60,496 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $74,000 | Between $41,000 And $87,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Newport News, VA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Maryland |
| Best paying company | Halliburton | AECOM |
| Best paying industry | - | Government |
There are a few differences between a maintenance engineer and an aircraft mechanic in terms of educational background:
| Maintenance Engineer | Aircraft Mechanic | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 48% | Associate Degree, 38% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Aviation |
| Most common college | - | Purdue University |
Here are the differences between maintenance engineers' and aircraft mechanics' demographics:
| Maintenance Engineer | Aircraft Mechanic | |
| Average age | 47 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.6% Female, 5.4% | Male, 93.1% Female, 6.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.9% Asian, 4.4% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% | Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 23.3% Asian, 6.6% White, 54.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |