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Salary comparison

Aircraft Service Attendants vs. Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers: Who Earns More?

Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers out-earn Aircraft Service Attendants by $25K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Aircraft Service Attendants land at $40,450 and Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers at $65,380. The education gap is real: aircraft service attendant programs typically require no formal educational credential, while aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assembler programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Aircraft Service Attendants is Maryland ($71,740); for Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers it's Washington ($110,470).

Aircraft Service Attendants
Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers
Median salary
$40,450
$65,380
Hourly rate
$19.45/hr
$31.43/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$33,830
$47,310
Senior level (90th %)
$57,610
$107,500
Education required
No formal educational credential
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
31,300
34,020
Job growth (10-year)
5.1%
-14.5%
Category
Transportation
Production & Manufacturing
Top-paying state
Maryland
Washington

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Aircraft Service Attendants median pay.

State
Aircraft Service Attendants
Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers
Tennessee
$56,620
$66,390
Washington
$50,520
$110,470
California
$46,800
$63,640
Kansas
$45,960
$59,850
Colorado
$44,500
$70,870
Arizona
$43,780
$73,930
Alabama
$43,090
$58,990
Georgia
$42,630
$72,550
Oregon
$39,820
$58,050
Connecticut
$39,230
$78,630
Pennsylvania
$38,830
$81,680
Texas
$38,720
$76,640
Florida
$38,400
$64,580
Nebraska
$37,530
$64,530
Missouri
$36,610
$58,600

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

Common questions

Who earns more, Aircraft Service Attendants or Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers?

Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers earn more nationally. The median is $40,450 for Aircraft Service Attendants versus $65,380 for Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers, a difference of $25K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Aircraft Service Attendants or Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers?

Aircraft Service Attendants has the better 10-year outlook at 5.1% projected growth, compared to -14.5% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Aircraft Service Attendants or Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers?

Aircraft Service Attendants typically requires no formal educational credential. Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Aircraft Service Attendants get paid the most?

Maryland is the top-paying state for Aircraft Service Attendants at $71,740/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Aircraft Service Attendants vs. Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Tennessee, Aircraft Service Attendants earn $56,620 vs. $66,390 for Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Aircraft Service Attendants salary breakdownView →Full Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Aircraft Service Attendants by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers by take-home payExplore →How to become a aircraft service attendantsGuide →How to become a aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblersGuide →