Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians Salary
The median pay for a aircraft mechanics and service technicians in California is $86,100/year ($41.4/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $54K at the entry level to $117K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $81,119 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,471/month, about 45.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $86K get you in California?
About aircraft mechanics and service technicians
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What this looks like in California
Aircraft mechanics and service technicians pay in California tracks closely to the national median, $86K locally vs. $80K nationwide, a 8% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,471/month, which is 45.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level aircraft mechanics and service technicians (10th percentile) start around $54K. Mid-career wages sit at $86K. Top earners bring in $117K or more, a $63K spread from bottom to top.
Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians salary by metro in California
17 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $99K | +15% | 260 |
| Yuba City | $97K | +13% | 80 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $93K | +8% | 940 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $92K | +7% | 710 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $88K | +2% | 1,720 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $85K | -1% | 110 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $85K | -1% | 170 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $83K | -3% | 5,020 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $82K | -4% | 510 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $81K | -5% | 1,120 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $80K | -7% | 40 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $80K | -8% | 210 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $78K | -9% | 80 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $75K | -13% | 120 |
| Fresno | $71K | -17% | 320 |
| Redding | $70K | -19% | 30 |
| Visalia | $64K | -26% | 40 |
Showing 1–10 of 17 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a aircraft mechanics and service technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $86K, rent takes 45.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,600/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for aircraft mechanics and service technicians in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new aircraft mechanics and service technicians typically earn — is $54K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,232/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 76% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is aircraft mechanics and service technician a high-paying job in California?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $86K locally vs. $80K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does California compare to the national average for aircraft mechanics and service technicians?
California pays $86K median vs. the U.S. average of $80K — that’s +8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $81K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do aircraft mechanics and service technicians make in California?
The median is $86,100 a year, that works out to about $41 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $53,860, and experienced aircraft mechanics and service technicians can clear $116,690. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $86K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,401/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 45.8% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a aircraft mechanics and service technicians salary go in California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median aircraft mechanics and service technicians salary is worth about $81,119 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do aircraft mechanics and service technicians get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.