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Avionics Technicians: Career Profile
Install, inspect, test, adjust, or repair avionics equipment, such as radar, radio, navigation, and missile control systems in aircraft or space vehicles.
What Do Avionics Technicians Perform?
The day-to-day responsibilities of avionics technicians include:
- Test and troubleshoot instruments, components, and assemblies, using circuit testers, oscilloscopes, or voltmeters.
- Keep records of maintenance and repair work.
- Adjust, repair, or replace malfunctioning components or assemblies, using hand tools or soldering irons.
- Install electrical and electronic components, assemblies, and systems in aircraft, using hand tools, power tools, or soldering irons.
- Set up and operate ground support and test equipment to perform functional flight tests of electrical and electronic systems.
- Assemble components such as switches, electrical controls, and junction boxes, using hand tools or soldering irons.
- Lay out installation of aircraft assemblies and systems, following documentation such as blueprints, manuals, and wiring diagrams.
- Connect components to assemblies such as radio systems, instruments, magnetos, inverters, and in-flight refueling systems, using hand tools and soldering irons.
What Avionics Technicians Need to Know
Top avionics technicians combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The competencies most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Related Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Aircraft Armament Mechanic
- Aircraft Avionics Tech (Aircraft Avionics Technician)
- Aircraft Electrical Systems Specialist
- Aircraft Electrician
- Aircraft Instrument Mechanic
- Aircraft Technician
- Airplane Electrical Repairer
- Airplane Electrician
Employment and Demand
The U.S. employs around 463,973 avionics technicians working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +5.2% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Avionics Technicians Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $31,577 |
| Hourly median | $15.18 |
| 10th percentile | $20,000 |
| 25th percentile | $25,739 |
| 75th percentile | $37,414 |
| 90th percentile | $43,251 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $107,640 |
| New Jersey | $100,980 |
| Maryland | $99,180 |
| Connecticut | $94,220 |
| Nevada | $94,080 |
| Alabama | $92,100 |
| Hawaii | $91,110 |
| Pennsylvania | $91,080 |
| California | $90,270 |
| Vermont | $86,200 |
| Massachusetts | $84,840 |
| New Hampshire | $84,560 |
| Arizona | $84,550 |
| Oregon | $82,980 |
| New York | $82,340 |
| Virginia | $80,930 |
| Colorado | $80,290 |
| South Carolina | $79,930 |
| Louisiana | $79,830 |
| Missouri | $78,820 |
| Alaska | $78,370 |
| Texas | $78,150 |
| Florida | $76,900 |
| Oklahoma | $69,310 |
| Idaho | $69,030 |
| Georgia | $67,860 |
| Minnesota | $67,540 |
| Kansas | $66,770 |
| Mississippi | $66,580 |
| Illinois | $66,190 |
| Wisconsin | $64,130 |
| North Carolina | $62,060 |
| Indiana | $61,090 |
| Utah | $59,510 |
| Rhode Island | $59,090 |
| Ohio | $58,310 |
| Michigan | $56,590 |
| Tennessee | $52,370 |
| Arkansas | $48,190 |
| Kentucky | $46,490 |
| North Dakota | $43,500 |
| Puerto Rico | $33,660 |
Where Avionics Technicians Earn the Most
Pay for avionics technicians differ across the country. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $102,984 | 36.2% | 8.62 |
| Middle Atlantic | $94,357 | 3.0% | 0.32 |
| New England | $92,423 | 3.0% | 1.82 |
| Southwest | $77,809 | 12.8% | 1.10 |
| Southeast | $73,796 | 33.7% | 2.10 |
| Plains States | $70,432 | 2.0% | 0.58 |
| Rocky Mountains | $68,897 | 2.5% | 0.77 |
| Great Lakes | $61,209 | 5.7% | 0.42 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Avionics Technicians
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $110,250 | 70 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $109,030 | 4,870 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $106,540 | 40 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | PA | $105,790 | 100 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | OR | $104,630 | 100 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | MD | $101,640 | 90 |
| Lexington Park, MD | MD | $99,100 | 50 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $97,870 | 200 |
Top Industries Employing Avionics Technicians
The bulk of avionics technicians are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 9,030 | $87,640 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 7,530 | $75,070 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1,970 | $83,360 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 290 | $61,260 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 210 | $102,990 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 200 | $85,780 |
| Educational Services | 190 | $69,470 |
| Wholesale Trade | 120 | $58,680 |
Avionics Technicians work in the following industries:
Tools and Technology
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Object or component oriented development software: C++ (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Linux (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Object or component oriented development software: Oracle Java (hot technology)
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software: SAP software (hot technology)
- Operating system software: UNIX (hot technology)
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software: Workday software (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The on-the-job environment of avionics technicians tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Time Pressure
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
- Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
How to Become Avionics Technicians
Entry-level avionics technicians positions require some college, no degree as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Aerospace Engineers (Supplemental)
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer (Supplemental)
- Mechanical Engineers (Supplemental)
- Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians (Primary-Short)
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians (Primary-Long)
- Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians (Primary-Short)
- Robotics Technicians (Primary-Long)
- Automotive Engineering Technicians (Supplemental)
Where to Study
Future avionics technicians commonly pursue programs in:
Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians
1 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 49-2091.00 (Avionics Technicians).
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