Aircraft Maintenance Technician
Also posted as Aircraft Maintenance Technician; A&P Technician; Aviation Maintenance Technician; Aircraft Mechanic; Line Maintenance Technician
An aircraft maintenance technician inspects, maintains, and repairs aircraft to airworthiness standards, working airframe and powerplant systems where documentation and precision are everything. It's a hands-on job in hangars and on the line, and most people start through an FAA-approved certificate program, not a four-year degree.
Below: what it pays, what you'd do, the skills you need, and how to become one.
The role profile
Everything you need to know about this role, the same details employers use to post openings and colleges use to build training.
How much does it pay?
Explore the core responsibilities of this role, from daily operations and equipment handling to safety, quality, and performance requirements.
Inspect to airworthiness
Perform scheduled inspections that keep aircraft legal and safe to fly.
Maintain airframe and engines
Service structures, engines, and aircraft systems to the manual.
Troubleshoot squawks
Diagnose reported issues and repair them to return-to-service standards.
Sign for the work
Document every action to FAA standards, because your signature releases the aircraft.
What skills do you need?
Three core skills sit at the heart of this role. You can learn all of them through short, hands-on training.
Airframe Maintenance
Inspecting and maintaining aircraft structures to airworthiness standards.
Powerplant Systems
Servicing aircraft engines and powerplant systems to spec.
Inspection
Examining work and equipment against standards to catch defects early.
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