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Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians

	Median Wage (USD, 2024)	Projected Job Openings (2023-2033)	Projected Growth (2023-2033)
National Statistics	$78,680	11500	5.2%
State Statistics	-	-	-
City Statistics	-	-	-

Statistics

National

State

City

State

City

$78,680

Median Wage (USD, 2023)

11500

Projected Job Openings (2023-2033)

5.2%

Projected Growth (2023-2033)

Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul aircraft engines and assemblies, such as hydraulic and pneumatic systems.

Experience Requirements Overview

Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Education, Training and Experience

Required Level of Education: Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)

Related Work Experience: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years

On-Site or In-Plant Training: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months

On-the-Job Training: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year

Detailed Work Activities

Read technical information needed to perform maintenance or repairs.
Interpret blueprints, specifications, or diagrams to inform installation, development or operation activities.
Inspect completed work to ensure proper functioning.
Maintain repair or maintenance records.
Inspect mechanical components of vehicles to identify problems.
Inspect mechanical components of vehicles to identify problems.
Inspect structural components of vehicles to identify problems.
Repair worn, damaged, or defective mechanical parts.
Inspect mechanical equipment to locate damage, defects, or wear.
Replace worn, damaged, or defective mechanical parts.
Repair worn, damaged, or defective mechanical parts.
Inspect mechanical components of vehicles to identify problems.
Assemble electrical components, subsystems, or systems.
Install electrical components, equipment, or systems.
Install piping for installation or maintenance activities.
Test mechanical equipment to ensure proper functioning.
Test fluids to identify contamination or other problems.
Reassemble equipment after repair.
Read work orders or descriptions of problems to determine repairs or modifications needed.
Interpret blueprints, specifications, or diagrams to inform installation, development or operation activities.
Install machine or equipment replacement parts.
Align equipment or machinery.
Lay out work according to specifications.
Clean equipment, parts, or tools to repair or maintain them in good working order.
Clean equipment, parts, or tools to repair or maintain them in good working order.
Lubricate equipment to allow proper functioning.
Service vehicles to maintain functionality.
Inspect mechanical components of vehicles to identify problems.
Operate cranes, hoists, or other moving or lifting equipment.
Move large objects using heavy equipment.
Maintain inventories of materials, equipment, or products.
Order materials, supplies, or equipment.
Fabricate parts or components.
Remove parts or components from equipment.
Drill holes in parts, equipment, or materials.
Clean equipment, parts, or tools to repair or maintain them in good working order.
Service vehicles to maintain functionality.
Communicate with coworkers to coordinate installations or repairs.
Cut materials according to specifications or needs.
Clean equipment, parts, or tools to repair or maintain them in good working order.
Paint surfaces or equipment.
Apply protective coverings to objects or surfaces near work areas.
Inspect structural components of vehicles to identify problems.
Disassemble equipment to inspect for deficiencies.
Determine operational criteria or specifications.
Operate heating or drying equipment.
Observe equipment in operation to detect potential problems.
Troubleshoot equipment or systems operation problems.
Inspect mechanical components of vehicles to identify problems.
Remove parts or components from equipment.
Repair worn, damaged, or defective mechanical parts.

Work Values

Achievement

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Working Conditions

Recognition

Relationships

Support

Independence

Tasks

Inspect completed work to certify that maintenance meets standards and that aircraft are ready for operation.
Read and interpret maintenance manuals, service bulletins, and other specifications to determine the feasibility and method of repairing or replacing malfunctioning or damaged components.
Maintain repair logs, documenting all preventive and corrective aircraft maintenance.
Examine and inspect aircraft components, including landing gear, hydraulic systems, and deicers to locate cracks, breaks, leaks, or other problems.
Conduct routine and special inspections as required by regulations.
Replace or repair worn, defective, or damaged components, using hand tools, gauges, and testing equipment.
Inspect airframes for wear or other defects.
Check for corrosion, distortion, and invisible cracks in the fuselage, wings, and tail, using x-ray and magnetic inspection equipment.
Measure parts for wear, using precision instruments.
Remove or install aircraft engines, using hoists or forklift trucks.
Service and maintain aircraft and related apparatus by performing activities such as flushing crankcases, cleaning screens, and or moving parts.
Test operation of engines and other systems, using test equipment, such as ignition analyzers, compression checkers, distributor timers, or ammeters.
Assemble and install electrical, plumbing, mechanical, hydraulic, and structural components and accessories, using hand or power tools.
Reassemble engines following repair or inspection and reinstall engines in aircraft.
Maintain, repair, and rebuild aircraft structures, functional components, and parts, such as wings and fuselage, rigging, hydraulic units, oxygen systems, fuel systems, electrical systems, gaskets, or seals.
Measure the tension of control cables.
Read and interpret pilots' descriptions of problems to diagnose causes.
Obtain fuel and oil samples and check them for contamination.
Examine engines through specially designed openings while working from ladders or scaffolds, or use hoists or lifts to remove the entire engine from an aircraft.
Listen to operating engines to detect and diagnose malfunctions, such as sticking or burned valves.
Remove or cut out defective parts or drill holes to gain access to internal defects or damage, using drills and punches.
Communicate with other workers to coordinate fitting and alignment of heavy parts, or to facilitate processing of repair parts.
Inventory and requisition or order supplies, parts, materials, and equipment.
Clean, refuel, and change oil in line service aircraft.
Modify aircraft structures, space vehicles, systems, or components, following drawings, schematics, charts, engineering orders, and technical publications.
Clean engines, sediment bulk and screens, and carburetors, adjusting carburetor float levels.
Install and align repaired or replacement parts for subsequent riveting or welding, using clamps and wrenches.
Accompany aircraft on flights to make in-flight adjustments and corrections.
Locate and mark dimensions and reference lines on defective or replacement parts, using templates, scribes, compasses, and steel rules.
Spread plastic film over areas to be repaired to prevent damage to surrounding areas.
Fabricate defective sections or parts, using metal fabricating machines, saws, brakes, shears, and grinders.
Clean, strip, prime, and sand structural surfaces and materials to prepare them for bonding.
Determine repair limits for engine hot section parts.
Disassemble engines and inspect parts, such as turbine blades or cylinders, for corrosion, wear, warping, cracks, and leaks, using precision measuring instruments, x-rays, and magnetic inspection equipment.
Remove, inspect, repair, and install in-flight refueling stores and external fuel tanks.
Trim and shape replacement body sections to specified sizes and fits and secure sections in place, using adhesives, hand tools, and power tools.
Cure bonded structures, using portable or stationary curing equipment.
Prepare and paint aircraft surfaces.

Work Styles

Achievement/Effort

Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

Persistence

Initiative

Leadership

Cooperation

Concern for Others

Social Orientation

Self-Control

Stress Tolerance

Adaptability/Flexibility

Dependability

Attention to Detail

Integrity

Independence

Innovation

Analytical Thinking

Data Source: This page includes information from the O*NET 30.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This page includes Employment Projections program, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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