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Salary comparison

Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders vs. Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers: Who Earns More?

Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers out-earn Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders by $19K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders land at $46,460 and Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers at $65,380. The education gap is real: adhesive bonding machine operators and tender programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assembler programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders is Utah ($65,500); for Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers it's Washington ($110,470).

Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders
Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers
Median salary
$46,460
$65,380
Hourly rate
$22.34/hr
$31.43/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$31,460
$47,310
Senior level (90th %)
$60,810
$107,500
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
11,500
34,020
Job growth (10-year)
1%
-14.5%
Category
Production & Manufacturing
Production & Manufacturing
Top-paying state
Utah
Washington

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders median pay.

State
Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders
Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers
Washington
$56,580
$110,470
Pennsylvania
$53,320
$81,680
Oregon
$50,050
$58,050
Colorado
$49,920
$70,870
Connecticut
$49,280
$78,630
Texas
$48,450
$76,640
Kansas
$47,490
$59,850
Georgia
$46,350
$72,550
Nebraska
$43,230
$64,530
Tennessee
$42,830
$66,390
Arizona
$41,600
$73,930
California
$40,440
$63,640
Missouri
$38,340
$58,600
Alabama
$37,790
$58,990
Florida
$34,650
$64,580

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders or Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers?

Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers earn more nationally. The median is $46,460 for Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders versus $65,380 for Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers, a difference of $19K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders or Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers?

Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders has the better 10-year outlook at 1% projected growth, compared to -14.5% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders or Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers?

Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders get paid the most?

Utah is the top-paying state for Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders at $65,500/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders vs. Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Washington, Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders earn $56,580 vs. $110,470 for Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders salary breakdownView →Full Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers by take-home payExplore →How to become a adhesive bonding machine operators and tendersGuide →How to become a aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblersGuide →