Skip to content
AffordMap
Salary comparison

Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers vs. Animal Caretakers: Who Earns More?

Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers out-earn Animal Caretakers by $30K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers land at $65,380 and Animal Caretakers at $35,360. The education gap is real: aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assembler programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while animal caretaker programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers is Washington ($110,470); for Animal Caretakers it's District of Columbia ($44,210).

Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers
Animal Caretakers
Median salary
$65,380
$35,360
Hourly rate
$31.43/hr
$17/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$47,310
$27,250
Senior level (90th %)
$107,500
$50,060
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
34,020
266,910
Job growth (10-year)
-14.5%
12.1%
Category
Production & Manufacturing
Personal Care
Top-paying state
Washington
District of Columbia

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers median pay.

State
Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers
Animal Caretakers
Washington
$110,470
$40,570
Pennsylvania
$81,680
$31,360
Connecticut
$78,630
$37,310
Texas
$76,640
$32,730
Arizona
$73,930
$38,180
Colorado
$70,870
$37,430
Florida
$64,580
$34,150
Nebraska
$64,530
$31,680
California
$63,640
$38,700
Missouri
$58,600
$31,230
Oregon
$58,050
$36,580
North Carolina
$51,930
$30,870
Utah
$51,130
$34,750
Idaho
$50,100
$32,170
New York
$49,620
$37,840

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

Common questions

Who earns more, Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers or Animal Caretakers?

Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers earn more nationally. The median is $65,380 for Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers versus $35,360 for Animal Caretakers, a difference of $30K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers or Animal Caretakers?

Animal Caretakers has the better 10-year outlook at 12.1% projected growth, compared to -14.5% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers or Animal Caretakers?

Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. Animal Caretakers requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers get paid the most?

Washington is the top-paying state for Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers at $110,470/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

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

The gap varies significantly by state. In Washington, Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers earn $110,470 vs. $40,570 for Animal Caretakers. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers salary breakdownView →Full Animal Caretakers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Animal Caretakers by take-home payExplore →How to become a aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblersGuide →How to become a animal caretakersGuide →