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Salary comparison

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians vs. Airfield Operations Specialists: Who Earns More?

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicianss out-earn Airfield Operations Specialistss by $22K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2024. Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicianss land at $78,680 and Airfield Operations Specialistss at $56,750. The education gap is real: aircraft mechanics and service technician programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while airfield operations specialist programs require no formal educational credential. Top-paying state for Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicianss is New Jersey ($97,730); for Airfield Operations Specialistss it's Washington ($82,540).

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians
Airfield Operations Specialists
Median salary
$78,680
$56,750
Hourly rate
$37.83/hr
$27.28/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$47,790
$35,200
Senior level (90th %)
$120,080
$111,030
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
No formal educational credential
U.S. employment
136,390
16,640
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
N/A
Category
Repair & Maintenance
Transportation
Top-paying state
New Jersey
Washington

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians median pay.

State
Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians
Airfield Operations Specialists
Nevada
$97,690
$60,250
Maryland
$97,660
$64,480
Alabama
$86,780
$78,270
Alaska
$85,840
$66,250
Washington
$85,010
$82,540
California
$84,910
$61,100
Oregon
$81,570
$75,710
Texas
$80,320
$77,460
Arizona
$77,130
$80,260
Florida
$75,460
$62,600
Oklahoma
$72,360
$74,290
Pennsylvania
$72,240
$59,480
Michigan
$69,370
$60,990
Utah
$65,980
$61,400
Montana
$62,990
$61,550

Source: BLS OEWS May 2024. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicianss or Airfield Operations Specialistss?

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicianss earn more nationally. The median is $78,680 for Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicianss versus $56,750 for Airfield Operations Specialistss, a difference of $22K. Per BLS OEWS May 2024.

Which has better job growth, Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians or Airfield Operations Specialists?

BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.

Which requires more education, Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians or Airfield Operations Specialists?

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. Airfield Operations Specialists requires no formal educational credential. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicianss get paid the most?

New Jersey is the top-paying state for Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicianss at $97,730/year, per BLS OEWS May 2024. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians vs. Airfield Operations Specialists pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Nevada, Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicianss earn $97,690 vs. $60,250 for Airfield Operations Specialistss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians salary breakdownView →Full Airfield Operations Specialists salary breakdownView →Best cities for Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicianss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Airfield Operations Specialistss by take-home payExplore →How to become a aircraft mechanics and service techniciansGuide →How to become a airfield operations specialistsGuide →