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Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assembler

What You Need to Know About Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assembler

Career Description Assemble, fit, fasten, and install parts of airplanes, space vehicles, or missiles, such as tails, wings, fuselage, bulkheads, stabilizers, landing gear, rigging and control equipment, or heating and ventilating systems.

Life As an Aircraft Structure Assembler

  • Swage fittings onto cables, using swaging machines.
  • Cut, trim, file, bend, or smooth parts to ensure proper fit and clearance.
  • Install accessories in swaging machines, using hand tools.
  • Assemble prefabricated parts to form subassemblies.
  • Monitor robotic assembly equipment, such as snake-arm robots, used to assemble, seal, or swage aircraft structures.
  • Read blueprints, illustrations, or specifications to determine layouts, sequences of operations, or identities or relationships of parts.

Qualities of an Aircraft Structure Assembler

Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.

Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Types of Aircraft Structure Assembler Jobs

  • Metal Bonder
  • Powerplant Operator
  • Helicopter Technician
  • Skin Fitter
  • Aircraft Fuselage Framer

Are There Job Opportunities for Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers?

There were about 41,800 jobs for Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assembler in 2016 (in the United States). There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assembler. There will be an estimated 3,200 positions for Aircraft Structure Assembler per year.

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The states with the most job growth for Aircraft Structure Assembler are Utah, Nebraska, and Alabama. Watch out if you plan on working in Ohio, Arkansas, or West Virginia. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Salary for an Aircraft Structure Assembler

The typical yearly salary for Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers is somewhere between $32,250 and $82,390.

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Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers who work in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, or Texas, make the highest salaries.

How much do Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers make in different U.S. states?

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $50,830
Arizona $50,910
Arkansas $56,110
California $49,600
Colorado $50,620
Connecticut $74,500
Florida $48,390
Georgia $58,750
Illinois $51,050
Indiana $47,900
Michigan $52,260
New Jersey $48,760
New York $49,750
Ohio $44,240
Oklahoma $48,270
Pennsylvania $77,540
Texas $60,010
West Virginia $51,180

What Tools do Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers may use on a daily basis:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Office
  • Data entry software
  • Word processing software
  • Spreadsheet software
  • Computer aided design CAD software
  • Enterprise resource planning ERP software

How to Become an Aircraft Structure Assembler

Individuals working as an Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assembler have obtained the following education levels:

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How many years of work experience do I need?

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Where do Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers Work?

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The table below shows the approximate number of Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers employed by various industries.

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Other Jobs You May be Interested In

Those thinking about becoming an Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assembler might also be interested in the following careers:

References:

Image Credit: Airman 1st Class Nigel Sandridge via Public domain

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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