Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians Salary
The median pay for a aircraft mechanics and service technicians in Trenton-Princeton, NJ is $101,590/year ($48.84/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $70K at the entry level to $126K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.18), that's roughly $98,459 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,950/month, about 31.2% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $102K get you in Trenton-Princeton?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Trenton-Princeton’s Regional Price Parity (103.18). 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 Trenton-Princeton
Trenton-Princeton sits well above the national pay line for aircraft mechanics and service technicians, local pay runs about 27% higher than the U.S. median of $80K. Rent runs $1,950/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 103.18) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for aircraft mechanics and service technicians in metros near Trenton-Princeton, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | $127K | $113K |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $84K | $82K |
| Pittsburgh | $72K | $76K |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $75K | $75K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Trenton-Princeton, NJ
Entry-level aircraft mechanics and service technicians (10th percentile) start around $70K. Mid-career wages sit at $102K. Top earners bring in $126K or more, a $56K 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 with published data
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 Trenton-Princeton numbers change.
Related careers in Repair & Maintenance
Frequently asked questions
Can a aircraft mechanics and service technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Trenton-Princeton?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $102K, rent takes 31% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,950/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,900/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 Trenton-Princeton?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new aircraft mechanics and service technicians typically earn — is $70K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,217/month. At HUD’s $1,950/month FMR, rent would take 46% 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 Trenton-Princeton?
Local pay is 27% above the national median — $102K here vs. $80K nationally.
How does Trenton-Princeton compare to the national average for aircraft mechanics and service technicians?
Trenton-Princeton pays $102K median vs. the U.S. average of $80K — that’s +27%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.18), the purchasing-power equivalent is $98K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do aircraft mechanics and service technicians make in Trenton-Princeton, NJ?
The median is $101,590 a year, that works out to about $49 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $70,290, and experienced aircraft mechanics and service technicians can clear $126,380. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $102K enough to live in Trenton-Princeton?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,292/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,950/month, which eats 31% 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 Trenton-Princeton?
Trenton-Princeton has a Regional Price Parity of 103.18 (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 $98,459 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.