Aircraft Mechanic Salary (2025) — National Average Pay
Here is what aircraft mechanics earn across the United States, broken down by experience level, union status, and state. All figures reflect base pay before overtime, bonuses, or benefits.
Aircraft Mechanic Pay by Experience Level
Your pay as a aircraft mechanic depends heavily on where you are in your career. Apprentices start at the lower end, but wages climb quickly as you gain experience and credentials.
| Experience Level | Hourly Rate | Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Apprentice | $20.10/hr | $41,800/yr |
| Journeyman | $33.50/hr | $69,700/yr |
| Master | $43.55/hr | $90,600/yr |
| Foreman | $46.90/hr | $97,600/yr |
Apprentice
Hourly
$20.10
Annual
$41,800
Journeyman
Hourly
$33.50
Annual
$69,700
Master
Hourly
$43.55
Annual
$90,600
Foreman
Hourly
$46.90
Annual
$97,600
Union vs. Non-Union Pay
Union aircraft mechanics consistently out-earn their non-union peers. The gap widens further when you factor in pension contributions, healthcare, and other benefits that most union contracts include.
Union vs. Non-Union Pay
Average hourly rate for aircraft mechanics
Union aircraft mechanics earn $5.03/hr more (15.5% premium)
Aircraft Mechanic Salary by Specialty
Not all aircraft mechanic roles pay the same. Here’s how estimated pay varies by specialization, based on the national median.
| Specialty | Est. Hourly | Est. Annual | vs. Median |
|---|---|---|---|
Avionics Technician FCC License, FAA Repairman Certificate | $38.52/hr | $80,200 | +15% |
Helicopter Mechanic FAA A&P Certificate, Helicopter Type-Specific Training | $36.85/hr | $76,700 | +10% |
Powerplant Mechanic FAA Powerplant Rating (A&P) | $33.50/hr | $69,700 | +0% |
Airframe Mechanic FAA Airframe Rating (A&P) | $31.82/hr | $66,200 | -5% |
Avionics Technician
+15%$38.52/hr
$80,200/yr
Helicopter Mechanic
+10%$36.85/hr
$76,700/yr
Powerplant Mechanic
+0%$33.50/hr
$69,700/yr
Airframe Mechanic
-5%$31.82/hr
$66,200/yr
Aircraft Mechanic Salary by State
Aircraft Mechanic pay varies significantly by state. Cost of living, union presence, and local demand all play a role. Click any state to see the full breakdown.
| # | State | Median Hourly | Median Annual | Jobs | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $43.38/hr | $90,200 | 9,279 | +6.0% |
| 2 | California | $42.87/hr | $89,200 | 16,870 | +7.0% |
| 3 | Hawaii | $42.88/hr | $89,200 | 675 | +6.0% |
| 4 | Washington | $42.70/hr | $88,800 | 4,218 | +7.5% |
| 5 | Alaska | $41.88/hr | $87,100 | 506 | +6.5% |
| 6 | Connecticut | $41.53/hr | $86,400 | 1,856 | +6.0% |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $40.87/hr | $85,000 | 3,711 | +6.5% |
| 8 | Illinois | $39.53/hr | $82,200 | 7,085 | +5.5% |
| 9 | New Jersey | $38.53/hr | $80,100 | 4,724 | +6.0% |
| 10 | Maryland | $36.85/hr | $76,600 | 2,868 | +6.5% |
| 11 | Colorado | $36.18/hr | $75,300 | 3,205 | +7.5% |
| 12 | Oregon | $36.18/hr | $75,300 | 2,193 | +7.0% |
| 13 | Minnesota | $35.18/hr | $73,200 | 3,037 | +6.5% |
| 14 | Nevada | $35.18/hr | $73,200 | 1,687 | +8.5% |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $35.18/hr | $73,200 | 6,748 | +6.0% |
| 16 | Rhode Island | $35.18/hr | $73,200 | 506 | +6.0% |
| 17 | Delaware | $34.17/hr | $71,100 | 506 | +6.5% |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $34.17/hr | $71,100 | 675 | +6.5% |
| 19 | Virginia | $34.17/hr | $71,100 | 4,218 | +6.5% |
| 20 | Texas | $33.83/hr | $70,400 | 14,340 | +8.0% |
| 21 | Arizona | $32.83/hr | $68,300 | 3,880 | +8.0% |
| 22 | Michigan | $32.83/hr | $68,300 | 5,061 | +5.5% |
| 23 | Vermont | $32.83/hr | $68,300 | 337 | +6.0% |
| 24 | Florida | $32.33/hr | $67,200 | 10,966 | +9.0% |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $32.16/hr | $66,900 | 3,037 | +6.0% |
| 26 | Maine | $31.83/hr | $66,200 | 675 | +6.0% |
| 27 | North Dakota | $31.83/hr | $66,200 | 506 | +7.0% |
| 28 | Ohio | $31.83/hr | $66,200 | 6,411 | +5.5% |
| 29 | Utah | $31.83/hr | $66,200 | 1,687 | +8.5% |
| 30 | Indiana | $31.16/hr | $64,800 | 3,711 | +6.5% |
| 31 | Missouri | $31.16/hr | $64,800 | 3,374 | +6.0% |
| 32 | Georgia | $30.82/hr | $64,100 | 5,398 | +7.5% |
| 33 | Louisiana | $30.82/hr | $64,100 | 2,699 | +6.0% |
| 34 | North Carolina | $30.82/hr | $64,100 | 5,061 | +7.5% |
| 35 | Wyoming | $30.82/hr | $64,100 | 337 | +6.5% |
| 36 | Kansas | $30.32/hr | $63,100 | 1,518 | +5.5% |
| 37 | Idaho | $30.15/hr | $62,700 | 1,012 | +8.0% |
| 38 | Iowa | $30.15/hr | $62,700 | 1,687 | +6.0% |
| 39 | Montana | $30.15/hr | $62,700 | 506 | +7.0% |
| 40 | Nebraska | $30.15/hr | $62,700 | 1,012 | +6.0% |
| 41 | Tennessee | $30.15/hr | $62,700 | 3,711 | +7.0% |
| 42 | New Mexico | $29.48/hr | $61,300 | 844 | +6.0% |
| 43 | Kentucky | $29.15/hr | $60,600 | 2,362 | +5.5% |
| 44 | South Carolina | $28.81/hr | $59,900 | 2,531 | +7.5% |
| 45 | Alabama | $28.48/hr | $59,200 | 2,531 | +5.0% |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $28.48/hr | $59,200 | 2,024 | +6.0% |
| 47 | South Dakota | $28.48/hr | $59,200 | 506 | +6.5% |
| 48 | Arkansas | $27.47/hr | $57,100 | 1,518 | +4.5% |
| 49 | West Virginia | $27.47/hr | $57,100 | 844 | +4.0% |
| 50 | Mississippi | $26.30/hr | $54,700 | 1,350 | +4.0% |
New York
9,279 jobs
$43.38/hr
$90,200/yr
California
16,870 jobs
$42.87/hr
$89,200/yr
Hawaii
675 jobs
$42.88/hr
$89,200/yr
Washington
4,218 jobs
$42.70/hr
$88,800/yr
Alaska
506 jobs
$41.88/hr
$87,100/yr
Connecticut
1,856 jobs
$41.53/hr
$86,400/yr
Massachusetts
3,711 jobs
$40.87/hr
$85,000/yr
Illinois
7,085 jobs
$39.53/hr
$82,200/yr
New Jersey
4,724 jobs
$38.53/hr
$80,100/yr
Maryland
2,868 jobs
$36.85/hr
$76,600/yr
Colorado
3,205 jobs
$36.18/hr
$75,300/yr
Oregon
2,193 jobs
$36.18/hr
$75,300/yr
Minnesota
3,037 jobs
$35.18/hr
$73,200/yr
Nevada
1,687 jobs
$35.18/hr
$73,200/yr
Pennsylvania
6,748 jobs
$35.18/hr
$73,200/yr
Rhode Island
506 jobs
$35.18/hr
$73,200/yr
Delaware
506 jobs
$34.17/hr
$71,100/yr
New Hampshire
675 jobs
$34.17/hr
$71,100/yr
Virginia
4,218 jobs
$34.17/hr
$71,100/yr
Texas
14,340 jobs
$33.83/hr
$70,400/yr
Arizona
3,880 jobs
$32.83/hr
$68,300/yr
Michigan
5,061 jobs
$32.83/hr
$68,300/yr
Vermont
337 jobs
$32.83/hr
$68,300/yr
Florida
10,966 jobs
$32.33/hr
$67,200/yr
Wisconsin
3,037 jobs
$32.16/hr
$66,900/yr
Maine
675 jobs
$31.83/hr
$66,200/yr
North Dakota
506 jobs
$31.83/hr
$66,200/yr
Ohio
6,411 jobs
$31.83/hr
$66,200/yr
Utah
1,687 jobs
$31.83/hr
$66,200/yr
Indiana
3,711 jobs
$31.16/hr
$64,800/yr
Missouri
3,374 jobs
$31.16/hr
$64,800/yr
Georgia
5,398 jobs
$30.82/hr
$64,100/yr
Louisiana
2,699 jobs
$30.82/hr
$64,100/yr
North Carolina
5,061 jobs
$30.82/hr
$64,100/yr
Wyoming
337 jobs
$30.82/hr
$64,100/yr
Kansas
1,518 jobs
$30.32/hr
$63,100/yr
Idaho
1,012 jobs
$30.15/hr
$62,700/yr
Iowa
1,687 jobs
$30.15/hr
$62,700/yr
Montana
506 jobs
$30.15/hr
$62,700/yr
Nebraska
1,012 jobs
$30.15/hr
$62,700/yr
Tennessee
3,711 jobs
$30.15/hr
$62,700/yr
New Mexico
844 jobs
$29.48/hr
$61,300/yr
Kentucky
2,362 jobs
$29.15/hr
$60,600/yr
South Carolina
2,531 jobs
$28.81/hr
$59,900/yr
Alabama
2,531 jobs
$28.48/hr
$59,200/yr
Oklahoma
2,024 jobs
$28.48/hr
$59,200/yr
South Dakota
506 jobs
$28.48/hr
$59,200/yr
Arkansas
1,518 jobs
$27.47/hr
$57,100/yr
West Virginia
844 jobs
$27.47/hr
$57,100/yr
Mississippi
1,350 jobs
$26.30/hr
$54,700/yr
Frequently Asked Questions
Aircraft Mechanic salaries in the United States vary based on experience, certifications, and whether you work union or non-union. Entry-level aircraft mechanics typically earn around 60-70% of the median wage, while experienced professionals and those with master-level credentials can earn 25-50% above the median.
Entry-level aircraft mechanics in the United States typically start at the lower end of the pay range, which reflects apprentice or helper-level positions. As you gain experience and complete your training program, your pay increases significantly within the first 2-3 years.
Yes. Union aircraft mechanics earn 15-30% more per hour on average than their non-union counterparts. When you factor in benefits like pensions, healthcare, and annuity contributions, the total compensation gap is even wider. However, union availability varies significantly by region.
The path to becoming a fully qualified aircraft mechanic depends on the route you take. Apprenticeship programs typically last 3-5 years and combine on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Trade school programs can be completed in 6-24 months, though you will still need field experience to reach journeyman level.
Aircraft Mechanic work offers solid pay, strong job security, and doesn't require a four-year degree. The national job outlook shows steady demand, and the ongoing skilled labor shortage means qualified aircraft mechanics have strong bargaining power. The work can be physically demanding, but many professionals find the trade rewarding and well-compensated.
Certifications can significantly boost a aircraft mechanic's earning potential. Industry-recognized credentials, advanced specializations, and safety certifications all help you stand out to employers and command higher hourly rates. Master-level licenses typically result in the biggest pay increases.
Sources & Methodology
Salary data sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program. Data reflects May 2024 estimates, the most recent available. Figures represent base pay before overtime, bonuses, or benefits.