How To Become A Structures Mechanic: What It Is and Career Path

What is a structures mechanic and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

A structures mechanic is responsible for a wide range of structural assembly operations of machinery in a production department. He/She or she performs assembly, fabrications, repairs, and fittings of parts and structures to ensures that they meet the required specifications. They also carry out inspections to check how machines are operating and then create and maintain repair logs and records.

Structures mechanics mostly work in the manufacturing industry. In order to succeed in their role, they should have the relevant technical skills such as engineering. They should also have analytical skills, strong attention to detail, problem-solving skills, manual dexterity, communication skills, and the ability to work in a team.

Structures mechanics typically work 40 hours a week Monday to Friday from 9 to 5. They mostly work in a factory setting and may occasionally work long hours as well as over the weekends to complete urgent projects.

ScoreStructures MechanicUS Average

Salary

4.8

Avg. Salary $61,579

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.8

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

8.1

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.62%

Asian 6.79%

Black or African American 9.13%

Hispanic or Latino 23.35%

Unknown 5.05%

White 55.07%

Gender

female 7.74%

male 92.26%

Age - 39

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 39

Stress level

7.8

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

6.9

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.2

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a structures mechanic

Explore structures mechanic education requirements

Most common structures mechanic degrees

Associate

36.4 %

High School Diploma

26.7 %

Bachelor's

19.4 %

Start to develop specific structures mechanic skills

Skills	Percentages
Safety Regulations	11.48%
Jigs	9.49%
Ladders	8.32%
Math	6.94%
Structural Repairs	6.35%

Complete relevant structures mechanic training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New structures mechanics learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a structures mechanic based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real structures mechanic resumes.

Research structures mechanic duties and responsibilities

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Operate air tools, rivet guns, sanders, angle grinders, and other miscellaneous tools require.
Work with materials such as graphite, fiberglass and corefil.
Move locomotives and equipment throughout yard and into maintenance areas.

Prepare your structures mechanic resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your structures mechanic resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a structures mechanic resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable structures mechanic resume templates

Build a professional structures mechanic resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your structures mechanic resume.