Aircraft mechanic salary: pay by state and employer

How much do aircraft mechanics make?

Aircraft mechanics in the U.S. earned a median of $79,870 a year in May 2025, says the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). That is $38.40 an hour at the median, $40.74 on average. Half earned more than the median and half earned less. The top 10% made more than $128,890. About 138,090 people held this job.

BLS data, May 2025, all U.S. aircraft mechanics and service technicians. [BLS-OEWS-2025, national annual wage percentiles, p. OEUN0000000000000493011 (11 to 15)]

The average is higher than the median because a few big earners pull it up. The median is the better guide to what a typical mechanic makes. People also search for "aviation mechanic salary." It is the same job group and the same numbers.

What do new aircraft mechanics make?

BLS does not publish starting pay, and it does not split pay by years on the job. The closest guide in its data is the bottom 10%, who earned less than $48,780 a year in May 2025. Treat that as a rough floor for a new mechanic, not a promise. Your employer matters more, as the next table shows.

Which employers pay aircraft mechanics the most?

Airlines. In May 2025, mechanics at scheduled airlines averaged $100,770 a year. Mechanics at repair stations, FBOs and other airport service companies averaged $72,870. That is a gap of about $28,000 a year for the same trade. Where you work can matter more than where you live.

BLS data by industry, May 2025. Jobs are rounded by BLS. [BLS-OEWS-2025, national industry series, p. OEUN0000000{481100, 481200, 336400, 999100, 488100}493011]

BLS puts repair stations in a group called "support activities for air transportation." It employs the most aircraft mechanics of any group in this table, and it pays the least of them. If you are choosing your first job, ask what the pay looks like after three and five years, not just on day one.

Which states pay aircraft mechanics the most?

New York, with an average of $137,860 a year in May 2025. New Jersey was second at $110,880. A few big earners can pull an average up, so look at the median too. New York's median was $102,800. Then check the cost of living where you would work, since rent can eat a raise.

Where are the most aircraft mechanic jobs?

Texas, Florida and California had the most aircraft mechanic jobs in May 2025. Texas alone had about 16,850. More jobs means more places to get hired and more chances to move up without moving away.

See pay in all 50 states

Aircraft mechanic pay in every state, May 2025

State	Average pay	Median pay	Jobs
Alabama	$79,500	$82,260	4,310
Alaska	$89,990	$91,150	1,470
Arizona	$76,810	$75,300	5,670
Arkansas	$64,030	$65,420	720
California	$86,110	$86,100	12,590
Colorado	$90,620	$82,080	2,690
Connecticut	$96,200	$96,830	1,430
Delaware	$88,450	$83,550	240
Florida	$79,880	$76,940	14,850
Georgia	$80,370	$75,640	6,720
Hawaii	$91,830	$90,830	1,150
Idaho	$67,600	$61,250	600
Illinois	$88,650	$81,680	3,370
Indiana	$66,000	$63,400	1,500
Iowa	$63,880	$69,890	330
Kansas	$75,720	$80,270	1,440
Kentucky	$81,330	$67,920	1,680
Louisiana	$80,420	$79,780	1,150
Maine	$75,560	$67,890	190
Maryland	$94,270	$100,500	1,070
Massachusetts	$96,210	$93,040	1,410
Michigan	$76,090	$74,900	3,380
Minnesota	$90,160	$81,980	2,390
Mississippi	$71,030	$74,880	1,360
Missouri	$70,700	$71,470	1,700
Montana	$71,970	$64,170	310
Nebraska	$67,910	$64,020	410
Nevada	$91,000	$94,890	2,570
New Hampshire	$80,520	$79,610	190
New Jersey	$110,880	$105,370	1,900
New Mexico	$81,630	$84,440	860
New York	$137,860	$102,800	4,300
North Carolina	$79,320	$76,980	4,700
North Dakota	$76,970	$77,740	200
Ohio	$86,880	$80,570	2,840
Oklahoma	$78,570	$74,390	8,550
Oregon	$86,840	$82,850	1,080
Pennsylvania	$86,080	$78,000	2,080
Rhode Island	$70,790	$70,720	120
South Carolina	$70,460	$75,160	1,660
South Dakota	$75,360	$75,750	150
Tennessee	$90,060	$81,040	4,670
Texas	$85,480	$84,440	16,850
Utah	$74,900	$70,160	2,080
Vermont	$77,390	$76,370	160
Virginia	$86,570	$82,200	2,260
Washington	$94,040	$98,980	4,480
West Virginia	$53,580	$45,470	590
Wisconsin	$74,310	$73,930	1,270
Wyoming	$62,540	$56,680	340

BLS data by state, May 2025. BLS did not publish figures for the District of Columbia. [BLS-OEWS-2025, state series, p. OEUS{state}00000000000493011]

Do you need an A&P license to work as an aircraft mechanic?

Not to start. You can work under a certificated mechanic who watches your work closely and is close by to help. [14 CFR Part 43, § 43.3(d)] But only a certificated mechanic with the right rating can approve work for return to service. That means signing it off as fit to fly. The A&P is what lets you do that. [14 CFR Part 65, § 65.85, § 65.87]

BLS does not split pay by certificate, so no one can tell you from its data exactly what an A&P is worth in dollars. What the certificate does is let you sign your own work, supervise others, and move into jobs that need a signature. [14 CFR Part 65, § 65.81]

There is also a step after the A&P. Once you have held both ratings for at least 3 years and worked on aircraft for the last 2 years, you can apply for an Inspection Authorization (IA). You also have to meet the other rules in § 65.91. An IA can approve an aircraft for return to service after a major repair or major alteration. [14 CFR Part 65, § 65.91(c), § 65.95]

How do you get your A&P license?

There are three routes: work experience, military service, or a Part 147 school. Experience means 18 months for one rating or 30 months for both. All three routes end in the same tests: written tests, then an oral and practical test with an examiner. [14 CFR Part 65, § 65.75, § 65.77, § 65.79]

The written tests trip up a lot of people. In 2025, about 3 in 10 people failed the General written. [FAA-AKT-VOL-CY2025, CY2025, p. 1] Read how to get your A&P license for the full steps, and what the A&P costs for the fees.

Not sure if your work history counts? Check if you're eligible for your A&P. It takes about a minute. Already eligible? Take the free A&P practice test to see where you stand on the General.

Technical detailsShowHide

Source. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, SOC 49-3011 Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians. Pulled on 2026-11-01 from the BLS Public Data API and saved as a dated snapshot. [BLS-OEWS-2025, SOC 49-3011, p. OEUN0000000000000493011]

Series used. National: OEUN0000000000000493011 + 01 (jobs), 03 (hourly mean), 04 (annual mean), 08 (hourly median), 11 to 15 (annual 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th and 90th percentile). Industry: OEUN0000000 + 481100 (scheduled air transportation), 481200 (nonscheduled air transportation), 336400 (aerospace product and parts manufacturing), 999100 (federal executive branch), 488100 (support activities for air transportation) + 493011. State: OEUS + state code + 00000000000493011.

Mean vs median. The mean is the total pay divided by the number of workers. The median is the middle worker. Pay data leans high at the top, so the mean sits above the median.

Return to service. § 65.85(a) (airframe) and § 65.87(a) (powerplant) let a certificated mechanic approve for return to service after performing, supervising or inspecting the work, excluding major repairs and major alterations. § 43.3(d) lets a person work under a certificate holder who personally observes the work and is readily available in person. It does not cover required inspections or inspections after a major repair or alteration.