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Avionics Maintenance Technology

Types of Degrees Avionics Maintenance Technology Majors Are Earning

People majoring in Avionics Maintenance Technology have the option of earning degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Certificate	128
Associate’s Degree	305
Master’s Degree	260

What Avionics Maintenance Technology Majors Need to Know

Studies in Avionics Maintenance Technology develop a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Avionics Maintenance Technology graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

Coursework in Avionics Maintenance Technology emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Mechanical — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.
• Computers and Electronics — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.7 / 7.
• Mathematics — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.
• Engineering and Technology — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

The skill set emphasized by a Avionics Maintenance Technology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Quality Control Analysis — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.7 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.4 / 7.
• Operations Monitoring — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.3 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.3 / 7.
• Equipment Maintenance — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.4 / 7.

Abilities

Abilities most relevant to Avionics Maintenance Technology careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Problem Sensitivity — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.
• Near Vision — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 3.7 / 7.
• Information Ordering — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.7 / 7.
• Written Comprehension — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Finger Dexterity — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.7 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Avionics Maintenance Technology graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Getting Information	4.2 / 7
Documenting/Recording Information	4.1 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.0 / 7
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings	4.0 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	3.9 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	3.9 / 7
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials	3.9 / 7
Controlling Machines and Processes	3.9 / 7
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards	3.9 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	3.7 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Avionics Maintenance Technology professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Word processing software	Word processing software	—
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	—
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
SAP software	Enterprise resource planning ERP software	—
Enterprise resource planning ERP software	Enterprise resource planning ERP software	—
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	—
Spreadsheet software	Spreadsheet software	—
Computer aided design CAD software	Computer aided design CAD software	—
Electrical power management system software	Industrial control software	—
Dassault Systemes CATIA	Computer aided design CAD software	—
Linux	Operating system software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Avionics Maintenance Technology graduates include:

• Aerospace Assembler
• Light Assembler
• Precision Assembler
• Tubing Assembler
• Aircraft Layout Worker
• Product Assembler
• Spar Finisher
• Body Worker
• Body Liner
• Metal Bonder
• Plumbing and Hydraulics Aircraft Mechanic
• Wing Coverer
• Assembler
• Aircraft De-Icer Installer
• Erco Machine Operator

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Avionics Maintenance Technology graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
High school diploma or equivalent	38.3%
Postsecondary certificate	29.9%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	15.1%
Bachelor’s degree	10.6%
Some college courses	4.3%
Less than a high school diploma	1.8%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Avionics Maintenance Technology?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly male, with men earning 85.8% of Avionics Maintenance Technology degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	102	14.2%
Men	617	85.8%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Avionics Maintenance Technology graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	356	49.5%
Asian	31	4.3%
Hispanic or Latino	154	21.4%
Black or African American	87	12.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native	4	0.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander	6	0.8%
Two or More Races	32	4.5%
Race Unknown	26	3.6%
International Students	23	3.2%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Avionics Maintenance Technology Graduates Earn?

College Scorecard reports median earnings of Avionics Maintenance Technology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$37,744
4 years	$43,612
5 years	$49,558

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $49,558 — roughly 31% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Online Avionics Maintenance Technology Programs

Online study is reported by IPEDS for Avionics Maintenance Technology. The table below shows how many graduates earned at least some of their coursework online (Distance-Ed Available) versus completing the entire program online (Distance-Ed Only).

Award Level	Distance-Ed Available	Distance-Ed Only
Associate’s	1	1

^{Distance-Ed Only = degrees completed entirely online; Distance-Ed Available = degrees including at least some online coursework. Source: IPEDS Completions by Distance Education status.}

Is a Degree in Avionics Maintenance Technology Worth It?

Looking purely at the federal earnings tracker, Avionics Maintenance Technology graduates earn a median of $43,612 four years after completion — roughly 15% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	Annual Degrees Awarded
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technology/Technician, General	74,567
Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician	41,728
Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician	9,859
Airframe Mechanics and Aircraft Maintenance Technology/Technician	7,637
Autobody/Collision and Repair Technology/Technician	5,464
Aircraft Powerplant Technology/Technician	3,372
Medium/Heavy Vehicle and Truck Technology/Technician	2,100
Motorcycle Maintenance and Repair Technology/Technician	896
Marine Maintenance/Fitter and Ship Repair Technology/Technician	799
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technology/Technician, General	630
High Performance and Custom Engine Technician/Mechanic	470
Alternative Fuel Vehicle Technology/Technician	412

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.