Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians Salary
The median pay for a aircraft mechanics and service technicians in Missoula, MT is $77,790/year ($37.4/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $51K at the entry level to $141K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 96.44), that's roughly $80,662 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,361/month, or 26.6% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $78K get you in Missoula?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Missoula’s Regional Price Parity (96.44). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About aircraft mechanics and service technicians
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What this looks like in Missoula
Aircraft mechanics and service technicians pay in Missoula tracks closely to the national median, $78K locally vs. $80K nationwide, a 3% difference. Rent runs $1,361/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 96.44) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for aircraft mechanics and service technicians in metros near Missoula, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Billings | $64K | $68K |
| Great Falls | $61K | $63K |
| Helena | $81K | $85K |
| Bozeman | $65K | $63K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Missoula, MT
Entry-level aircraft mechanics and service technicians (10th percentile) start around $51K. Mid-career wages sit at $78K. Top earners bring in $141K or more, a $90K spread from bottom to top.
Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $105K | +32% | 1,900 |
| New York | $103K | +29% | 4,300 |
| Maryland | $101K | +26% | 1,070 |
| Washington | $99K | +24% | 4,480 |
| Connecticut | $97K | +21% | 1,430 |
| Nevada | $95K | +19% | 2,570 |
| Massachusetts | $93K | +16% | 1,410 |
| Alaska | $91K | +14% | 1,470 |
| Hawaii | $91K | +14% | 1,150 |
| California | $86K | +8% | 12,590 |
| New Mexico | $84K | +6% | 860 |
| Texas | $84K | +6% | 16,850 |
| Delaware | $84K | +5% | 240 |
| Oregon | $83K | +4% | 1,080 |
| Alabama | $82K | +3% | 4,310 |
| Virginia | $82K | +3% | 2,260 |
| Colorado | $82K | +3% | 2,690 |
| Minnesota | $82K | +3% | 2,390 |
| Illinois | $82K | +2% | 3,370 |
| Tennessee | $81K | +1% | 4,670 |
| Ohio | $81K | +1% | 2,840 |
| Kansas | $80K | +1% | 1,440 |
| Louisiana | $80K | -0% | 1,150 |
| New Hampshire | $80K | -0% | 190 |
| Pennsylvania | $78K | -2% | 2,080 |
| North Dakota | $78K | -3% | 200 |
| North Carolina | $77K | -4% | 4,700 |
| Florida | $77K | -4% | 14,850 |
| Vermont | $76K | -4% | 160 |
| South Dakota | $76K | -5% | 150 |
| Georgia | $76K | -5% | 6,720 |
| Arizona | $75K | -6% | 5,670 |
| South Carolina | $75K | -6% | 1,660 |
| Michigan | $75K | -6% | 3,380 |
| Mississippi | $75K | -6% | 1,360 |
| Oklahoma | $74K | -7% | 8,550 |
| Wisconsin | $74K | -7% | 1,270 |
| Missouri | $71K | -11% | 1,700 |
| Rhode Island | $71K | -11% | 120 |
| Utah | $70K | -12% | 2,080 |
| Iowa | $70K | -12% | 330 |
| Kentucky | $68K | -15% | 1,680 |
| Maine | $68K | -15% | 190 |
| Arkansas | $65K | -18% | 720 |
| Montana | $64K | -20% | 310 |
| Nebraska | $64K | -20% | 410 |
| Indiana | $63K | -21% | 1,500 |
| Idaho | $61K | -23% | 600 |
| Wyoming | $57K | -29% | 340 |
| West Virginia | $45K | -43% | 590 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track aircraft mechanics and service technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Missoula numbers change.
Related careers in Repair & Maintenance
Frequently asked questions
Can a aircraft mechanics and service technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Missoula?
Yes — at the median salary of $78K, rent takes 27.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,361/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for aircraft mechanics and service technicians in Missoula?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new aircraft mechanics and service technicians typically earn — is $51K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,074/month. At HUD’s $1,361/month FMR, rent would take 44% 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 Missoula?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $78K locally vs. $80K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Missoula compare to the national average for aircraft mechanics and service technicians?
Missoula pays $78K median vs. the U.S. average of $80K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 96.44), the purchasing-power equivalent is $81K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do aircraft mechanics and service technicians make in Missoula, MT?
The median is $77,790 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $51,240, and experienced aircraft mechanics and service technicians can clear $140,750. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $78K enough to live in Missoula?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,969/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,361/month, which eats 27.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a aircraft mechanics and service technicians salary go in Missoula?
Missoula has a Regional Price Parity of 96.44 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median aircraft mechanics and service technicians salary is worth about $80,662 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.