Aircraft and avionics equipment mechanics and technicians
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Aircraft and avionics equipment mechanics and technicians in the United States earn a median salary of $79,870 per year — about $38 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 161K people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of +5%.
AI & Automation Risk
The core of this occupation involves physical labor, manual dexterity, and real-time troubleshooting in a physical environment, which provides a strong barrier against AI automation. While AI will significantly enhance diagnostic capabilities, predictive maintenance, and the interpretation of flight data, the actual repair, assembly, and FAA-regulated physical inspections must still be performed by human technicians.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJBEST VALUE | $127,140 | Above avg (112.6) | $112,950 |
| Hammond, LA | $87,170 | Below avg (84.5) | $103,209 |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $101,660 | Average (99.8) | $101,886 |
| Lafayette, LA | $87,630 | Below avg (87.2) | $100,483 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $92,180 | Below avg (92.2) | $100,001 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $100,500 | Average (100.8) | $99,742 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $101,590 | Above avg (103.2) | $98,459 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $98,300 | Average (100.1) | $98,243 |
| Bismarck, ND | $88,570 | Below avg (91.0) | $97,304 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $100,610 | Above avg (103.6) | $97,119 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $100,940 | Above avg (104.5) | $96,605 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $85,700 | Below avg (90.6) | $94,621 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $103,900 | Above avg (111.1) | $93,492 |
| Mobile, AL | $82,260 | Below avg (88.1) | $93,373 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $91,600 | Average (98.2) | $93,320 |
Education & Requirements
Related Careers
Find Aircraft and avionics equipment mechanics and technicians Jobs
Search open positions across the US
Search Jobs →