Aviation
.
Aerospace

Airfield Systems Technician

Also posted as Airfield Lighting Technician; Airfield Maintenance Technician; Airport Systems Technician

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Median wage range
$57k–$85k
National median · per year
Outlook
Growing
Entry barrier
Certificate
No degree required
Overview

What is a Airfield Systems Technician

An airfield systems technician maintains runway and taxiway lighting, signs, sensors, control cabinets, and electrical systems that support safe airfield operations. It's hands-on work in airports, airfield maintenance departments, lighting vaults, and operations-critical field environments, where technical instructions, safety procedures, troubleshooting, and accurate documentation all matter.

Below: what it pays, what you'd do, the skills you need, and how to become one.

Airfield Systems Technician
Role Snapshot

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.

Median wage range
$57k–$85k
Typical annual pay based on national and industry data.
O*NET codes
49-2094.0047-2111.00
Primary and secondary occupational codes mapping this role to national labor data.
Cluster type
Aerospace
The broader industry group this role belongs to within the technician economy.
Context tags
Where and how this role is commonly applied.
Core skills
Airfield System MaintenanceRunway / Taxiway LightingSensors / Signage
Essential competencies to perform this role effectively.
Canonical Role ID
UNMUDL-AV-019
A unique identifier linking this role across training, jobs, and employer systems.
Pay & Outlook

How much does it pay?

Airfield Systems Technician in this role earns a median of $57k–$85k a year. Here's how pay typically grows with experience.

$57k–$85k
National wage proxy range from the mapped SOC/O*NET occupation. Actual pay varies by employer, location, shift, credential, aircraft/system type, and experience.
Wage ranges are illustrative, based on national and industry data. Actual pay varies by employer, location, certification, and experience.
Entry
Experienced
Specialized
On The Job

What does a Airfield Systems Technician do?

Explore the core responsibilities of this role, from daily operations and equipment handling to safety, quality, and performance requirements.

01

Maintain airfield lighting

Inspect and service runway, taxiway, approach, sign, and obstruction lighting systems.

02

Troubleshoot control cabinets

Use diagrams, meters, and controller data to isolate faults in regulators, circuits, relays, sensors, or signage systems.

03

Repair field equipment

Replace lamps, fixtures, cables, sensors, connectors, boards, and related airfield components.

04

Document system status

Record inspections, outages, repairs, tests, and safety-critical updates for airport operations.

Skills You Will Build

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.

Airfield System Maintenance

Maintaining lighting, signs, regulators, control systems, and field equipment that support airfield safety.

Runway / Taxiway Lighting

Servicing runway, taxiway, approach, and guidance lighting systems used by pilots and airport operations.

Sensors / Signage

Troubleshooting airfield signs, sensors, control circuits, and associated field devices.

Your next step

How to become one.

Take a short, hands-on course to build the core skills, then apply to jobs hiring near you, all in one place, powered by the Unmudl Skills-to-Jobs® Network.

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Common Questions

Airfield Systems Technician, FAQ

An airfield systems technician maintains runway and taxiway lighting, signs, sensors, control cabinets, and electrical systems that support safe airfield operations. The role usually combines hands-on equipment work, technical manuals, inspection or test procedures, safety controls, and maintenance documentation.
The mapped national wage proxy range is about $56,750–$85,160 per year, with a median around $71,300. Pay varies by location, employer, shift, overtime, credentials, and the aircraft or system being supported.
Most people start with an aviation maintenance, electronics, manufacturing, inspection, or related technical program, then build hands-on experience with Airfield System Maintenance and Runway / Taxiway Lighting. Some roles may require FAA, NDT, electrical, manufacturer, or employer-specific credentials.
A four-year degree is usually not the main requirement. Employers commonly value a focused certificate, associate-level technical training, military or apprenticeship experience, and proof that you can follow safety-critical procedures accurately.
Yes, it can be a strong technician career for people who like hands-on, safety-critical systems work. The skills can transfer into related aviation, MRO, airport infrastructure, aerospace manufacturing, or advanced mobility roles as airports and aviation infrastructure need reliable equipment, uptime, and safety-critical maintenance.

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