Avionics Technician Career

avionics-tech-500Avionics technicians are responsible for performing the highly important scheduled maintenance and repairs on all types of aircraft. It is also not uncommon for these highly trained professionals to complete the required aircraft inspections as regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration, or FAA.

If you are interested in aviation but cannot or do not want to actually fly, then becoming an avionics technician could be the right choice for you. The most successful people in this field are typically highly responsible and dependable, which is necessary since so many people’s lives depend on the safety of the aircraft in which they travel.

Avionics Technician Career Snapshot

While avionics technicians can work for major airlines or smaller private aviation firms, all of them work in some sort of hangar. If you enjoy physical work that also allows you to use your technical and time management skills, then you should consider entering this field. You should know that this career does not offer a typical nine-to-five schedule, but overtime is not unusual so your pay will reflect your hard work.

Further details on a career as a avionics technician are listed below (statistics from the May 2015 Bureau of Labor Statistics and Onet Online):

$58,540

is the average yearly salary for avionics technicians.

0%

change in employment between 2014 and 2024.

50%

have a Post-secondary certificate while 18% have a High school diploma or equivalent.

Avionics Technician Education

There are several paths to a career as an avionics technician. While many choose to earn an associate’s degree from an FAA-approved school, others may use their military experience or take advantage of the on-the-job training offered by some companies. Regardless of how they entered the field, most avionics technicians earn the appropriate certifications and licenses in order to advance in their careers.

Avionics Technician Job Duties

Avionics technicians spend their days maintaining and repairing various types of aircraft. This involves the bending, stooping, kneeling, and reaching that make up the actual physical work, but technicians must also use computer software and mechanical equipment to test, troubleshoot, and keep the required records.

Avionics Technician Salaries

Avionics technicians can expect to earn between $36,960 and $87,570 with the median salary hovering around $58,540 as reported by the BSL.gov May 2015 statistics. Technicians who hold the most highly regarded certifications and who have the most extensive experience in the field tend to earn the highest salaries.

Avionics Technician Job Outlook

The outlook for avionics technicians is currently stable with very little change, if any, expected in the next seven years. It would be best to earn your Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) certification if you want a job in this field since certified technicians have a better chance of getting one of the available positions.

Avionics Technician Skills & Traits

Avionics Technician Skill Set:Required Abilities:Tools Used by Avionics Technicians:Typical Work Activities:
• Equipment Maintenance
• Repairing
• Troubleshooting
• Critical Thinking
• Operation Monitoring
• Written Comprehension
• Ordering Information
• Near Vision
• Oral Comprehension
• Problem Sensitivity
• Hex keys
• Power meters
• Center punches
• Screwdrivers
• Voltage or current meters
• Recording Information
• Using Relevant Knowledge
• Getting Information
• Working with Computers

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