Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between structures mechanics and aircraft structure 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 structures mechanic and an aircraft structure mechanic. Additionally, an aircraft structure mechanic has an average salary of $62,809, which is higher than the $61,579 average annual salary of a structures mechanic.
The top three skills for a structures mechanic include safety regulations, jigs and ladders. The most important skills for an aircraft structure mechanic are calipers, jigs, and stabilizers.
| Structures Mechanic | Aircraft Structure Mechanic | |
| Yearly salary | $61,579 | $62,809 |
| Hourly rate | $29.61 | $30.20 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 38,406 | 36,380 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 36% | Associate Degree, 37% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A Structures Mechanic maintains the frame and structural components of machinery. They fabricate and repair metallic and nonmetallic materials, as well as perform inspections and supervision of machinery.
Aircraft structure mechanics are skilled professionals who are responsible for maintaining and repairing aircraft components and airframe structural supports. These mechanics are required to use hand tools and testing equipment to perform repairs and troubleshoot aircraft components. They must conduct inspections and troubleshooting of aircraft systems and related aviation equipment to isolate faults and determine the required repairs or replacements. Aircraft structure mechanics must also interpret maintenance manuals so that they can determine the feasibility and method of repairing malfunctioning components.
Structures mechanics and aircraft structure mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Structures Mechanic | Aircraft Structure Mechanic | |
| Average salary | $61,579 | $62,809 |
| Salary range | Between $45,000 And $84,000 | Between $46,000 And $85,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fairbanks, AK | Lakewood, WA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Aviation Technology Group | Erickson |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a structures mechanic and an aircraft structure mechanic in terms of educational background:
| Structures Mechanic | Aircraft Structure Mechanic | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 36% | Associate Degree, 37% |
| Most common major | Aviation | Aviation |
| Most common college | Purdue University | Purdue University |
Here are the differences between structures mechanics' and aircraft structure mechanics' demographics:
| Structures Mechanic | Aircraft Structure Mechanic | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.3% Female, 7.7% | Male, 91.7% Female, 8.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 23.3% 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, 23.3% Asian, 6.8% White, 55.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |