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Alamo Colleges DistrictCareer Explorer

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians

Part of Transportation, Distribution & Logistics, in the Facility and Mobile Equipment Maintenance pathway.

Job zone 3: medium preparationO*NET 49-3011.00

What the work is

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

On a typical day

  • Read and interpret maintenance manuals, service bulletins, and other specifications to determine the feasibility and method of repairing or replacing malfunctioning or damaged components.
  • Inspect completed work to certify that maintenance meets standards and that aircraft are ready for operation.
  • Maintain repair logs, documenting all preventive and corrective aircraft maintenance.
  • Conduct routine and special inspections as required by regulations.
  • Examine and inspect aircraft components, including landing gear, hydraulic systems, and deicers to locate cracks, breaks, leaks, or other problems.
  • Inspect airframes for wear or other defects.

What it pays

$78,240
Median pay per year, San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX metro
New workers start near $58,570
Experienced workers reach $84,900
  1. $59k10th
  2. $69k25th
  3. $78kMedian
  4. $85k75th
  5. $85k90th
Wage percentiles: 10th $58,570, 25th $69,330, Median $78,240, 75th $84,900, 90th $84,900

About 2,180 people do this job in the San Antonio area.

Job outlook

Alamo region (Bexar and 12 surrounding counties), Texas Workforce Commission projection 2024 to 2034. U.S. figures from the BLS for comparison.

+4.8%

employment change in the Alamo region, 1,879 to 1,970 jobs · U.S. +4%

155

openings a year in the Alamo region, from growth and people leaving · U.S. 11,300

1,879

employed in the Alamo region in 2024 · U.S. 139,400

Typical entry education: Postsecondary nondegree award

Skills this career uses

The skills O*NET rates most important for the job, with how much of each the work needs on a 1 to 7 scale.

  1. Equipment Maintenance4.8
  2. Repairing4.3
  3. Operations Monitoring4.0
  4. Troubleshooting4.0
  5. Critical Thinking4.0
  6. Complex Problem Solving3.9
  7. Quality Control Analysis3.9
  8. Reading Comprehension4.0

Education people in this job have

Share of workers by highest education, from O*NET surveys. It shows what others did, not what you must do.

  1. High school or less12%
  2. Certificate60%
  3. Associate degree25%
  4. Bachelor's degree2%

Job zone 3, medium preparation: Training, an associate degree, or a few years of related experience.

Alamo programs that lead here

  • St. Philip's
  1. Aircraft Technician

    Degree · Certificate · Advanced Manufacturing & Logistics

Apply to Alamo Colleges

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