How much does a aviation mechanic make?

Answer 1

AnswerI am taking Aviation Structures in College right now and they make 20-32 an hour (Canadian) my father was a mechanic and worked on private light aircraft as a mechanic and would make 300 to 800 per inspection (as he had his own business). In the shop under an employer (like Boeing etc) you can be looking at high figures but I am not sure how much exactly. It also depends what company you work for, how skilled you are, what kind of planes you work on, best guess anywhere between 30 to 40 an hour at top rated pay.

Answer 2:

As an AAL AMT you make $32.00Hr (After you pay benefits / fund retirement figure about $25Hr) *** Yes this is what AA pays! what a joke huh?

UPS AMT $48Hr they are projected to hit over 50. "They are in Negotiations now"

Fed Ex $32.68Hr

LUV (Southwest) AMT's $43Hr

DL AMT's $32Hr (Delta) (The AMT's that are left)

Most your sweatshops like TRAMCO, D-HOWARD pay $18.00 - 20.00Hr (IF you have a license)

*** Aviation has become a smeltering pot unless you work for the big guys like UPS or Southwest Airlines!! otherwise consider Med School, Aviation is a dead end career.

***FedEx licence premiums bump the pay up closer to UPS. Aviation is far from a dead end career. There are many areas to specialize in, Avionics, Powerplant, Structures and Management just to name a few. There are also corporate, manufacturing and general aviation careers although they generally don't pay as well as the majors. Another approach that may appeal to some is contract maintenance. With some experience you can free-lance and travel around the world! There are downsides. The industry is cyclic and it tends to run on a 5 year cycle. Choose an employer wisely. Some weaker businesses will lay off at the drop of a hat. Shifts can be all over the clock. You may have to move to land that dream job. Starting pay is low until you gain experience. However, for 2 years training and earning your license and 2 more gaining experience it can be a well paying rewarding career. I've been a flight line mechanic for 15+ years and I still enjoy it as much as the day I started. If you're willing to make the sacrifice and this kind of work appeals to you, go for it. Figure out who you want to work for (this is critical) and what they require. Get a part time job there while you're in school. Get a game plan together and make it work. I talked to an FAA auditor recently and he said they are worried there will be a shortage of A&P's because so many schools have closed and there are not nearly enough mechanics to back fill the retirements. As long as there are planes flying, they will need mechanics. If you like planes and are interested how they work get an A&P license and go for it!