Aircraft Mechanic - Federal Salaries of 2022
Pay Rates for "Aircraft Mechanic"
How much does an Aircraft Mechanic in the federal government get paid? $81,496.09* *Based on the 2022 average.Aircraft Mechanic was the 355th most popular job in the U.S. Government in 2022, with 141 employed. The most common payscale was the nonsupervisory pay schedules - federal wage system payscale.
In 2022, the U.S. Coast Guard hired the most employees titled Aircraft Mechanic, with an average salary of $79,742.
Government Aircraft Mechanic jobs are classified under the Federal Wage Schedule, Wage Grade (FWS) payscale. Remember that the starting and maximum yearly pay listed above reflect base pay only - your actual salary will be higher based on the Locality Pay Adjustment for the area in which you work.
Aircraft Mechanics are primarily responsible for keeping aircrafts in good operating condition. They must possess a comprehensive knowledge of the different parts and components of an aircraft and how the entire system works. They are responsible for the troubleshooting and repair of mechanical and electrical problems of aircrafts. They perform routine maintenance work, overhaul and modification of fixed and rotary wing aircraft systems and airframes They are required to thoroughly inspect components such as the landing gear, brakes, and electrical systems, as well as pay attention to even the smallest parts of an aircraft.
Aircraft Mechanics are responsible for operating a variety of diagnostic equipment to troubleshoot an aircraft. They also need to determine the appropriate tools and techniques for performing repair and maintenance work. They test the working condition of the different parts and components of an aircraft with the use of circuit testers, oscilloscopes and voltmeters. Technical knowledge of both the components of aircrafts and the tools and equipment used to examine, repair and maintain them is imperative for professionals in this occupation.
Aircraft Mechanics are often servicing different types of aircrafts. They are required to familiarize themselves with the mechanisms of the aircrafts under their care by reading maintenance manuals. They also observe the regulations of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on the scheduling of maintenance work for different operations. Aircraft Mechanics also perform inspections of completed work to make sure that the work meets performance criteria. They make sure that all repair and maintenance work are documented and records are properly maintained.
Aircraft Mechanics may specialize in certain areas of aircraft maintenance by gaining the necessary experience and certification. There are those who specialize in the examination, repair, maintenance and modification of aircraft engines. There are those who specialize in the repair and maintenance of an aircraft’s hydraulic, pneumatic, oxygen and fuel systems. There are also those who specialize in certain types of aircraft.
The work of Aircraft Mechanics requires substantive knowledge of airframes, and an aircraft’s mechanical, pneudraulic, and electrical systems and their interrelationships. Aircraft Mechanics in most cases receive the necessary education and training from an aviation maintenance technician school duly approved by the FAA. There are those who enter the occupation with a high school diploma or equivalent and gain the necessary experience on the job until they are able to pass the FAA exam and be certified themselves. There are also those who acquired this experience from the training they received in the military. The FAA requires that aircraft maintenance should be done by a certified mechanic or under the supervision of such.
The Federal Government employed 12% of the jobs held by aircraft mechanics and service technicians. The median salary of Aircraft Mechanics in the Federal Government for 2021 was $64,710. The percent change in employment for Aircraft Mechanics is expected to grow at a rate of 12% over ten years from 2020 - 2030. The demand for Aircraft Mechanics is expected to grow in relation to the expected increase in air traffic in the coming decade.
Agencies that have hired an Aircraft Mechanic
Agency | Employees Hired | Average Salary |
---|---|---|
U.S. Coast Guard | 131 | $79,741.98 |
Department of Energy | 5 | $123,972.80 |
Office of the Secretary of the Interior | 4 | $82,439.75 |
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | 1 | $95,125.00 |
Aircraft Mechanic Pay Distribution
The average pay for an Aircraft Mechanic is $81,496.09. The highest paid Aircraft Mechanic made $146,536 in 2022.
Common Aircraft Mechanic Payscales
Payscale | Number of Aircraft Mechanic Employees |
---|---|
WG - Nonsupervisory Pay Schedules - Federal Wage System | 91 |
WL - Leader Pay Schedule - Federal Wage System | 20 |
WS - Supervisory Pay Schedules - Federal Wage System | 18 |
WD - Production Facilitating Non-supervisory - Federal Wage System | 7 |
BB - Nonsupervisory - Negotiated Pay Employees | 4 |
BS - Supervisory - Negotiated Pay Employees | 1 |
Occupation Family: | AIRCRAFT OVERHAUL FAMILY |
Average Aircraft Mechanic Pay Trend from 2004 to 2022
In 2004, the average pay for an Aircraft Mechanic was $45,508. Since then, the average pay has increased to $81,496 in 2022.
Data Sources
The information provided on these pages is sourced from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Enterprise Human Resources Integration (EHRI)
dataset. Postal Service data is managed exclusively by the USPS
. All information is displayed unmodified and as provided by the source agency.
Federal employee salaries are public information under open government laws (5 U.S.C. § 552). FederalPay provides this data in the interest of government transparency — employee data may not be used for commercial soliciting or vending of any kind. Learn more about the FederalPay Employees Dataset here.
The series code of this occupation is 8852
.