GraduateSmart
GraduateSmart
No 4-year degree required — and that's a feature, not a fallback
Skilled trades typically start earning $45-75K straight out of high school with little or no debt. Many trades earn more than the median college grad by age 30. Look for paid apprenticeships (IBEW for electricians, UA for plumbers/pipefitters, local trade unions) — you earn while you learn instead of paying tuition.
$89K/yr
Average Salary
1 years
Years of Education
+5%
Job Growth
139K+
Total Jobs
Repair and perform scheduled maintenance on aircraft. Diagnose faults in aircraft engines and assemblies such as hydraulic and pneumatic systems, then adjust, repair, or overhaul them.
$58K
Starting
$89K
Average
$120K
Senior
High School Diploma or GED
Foundation requirement for all pathways
Trade / Vocational Program
6–18 months of hands-on technical training
Apprenticeship or License
State licensing exam required for most trade careers
Start your career
Entry-level positions and internships
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FAA A&P Mechanic License
Required to practiceFederal Aviation Administration
Field
Aviation & Transportation
Required Degree
Certificate
Time in School
1 years
Job Demand
10-Year Job Growth
+5%
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Create free account →Federal labor-market data for Aircraft Mechanic
Pay range
$58K–$120K
10th–90th percentile
Job growth
+5%
projected 2024–2034
Number of jobs
139K
in 2024
As fast as average
Moderate demand growth expected. Projected to grow from 139K to 146K jobs by 2034.
Typical duties
Read the full duties, work environment, and education requirements on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Open BLS page →
OOH covers 49-3011 (aircraft mechanics) and 49-2091 (avionics). Used aircraft-mechanic-specific data.