Wrench & WingA&P Pay Report: Posted Pay, Union Scales and BLS Medians
Updated · Written and reviewed by the Wrench & Wing editorial team
- 196 stated-pay datapoints; no self-reported guesses
- Airline top of scale about $60/hr base
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We collected pay figures that sources state directly: employer job postings, airline union contract scales and federal BLS data. We used no self-reported salary guesses. This page is the public summary.
The sample
- 196 datapoints in total.
- 52 employer job postings with stated pay (51 analyzed; one row repeats another's total with adders). Seen July 20 to October 22, 2026.
- 77 airline union contract scale steps for 9 carriers, compiled by AMT Index, which cites each contract page.
- 67 BLS OEWS May 2025 medians for aircraft mechanics (SOC 49-3011) by state, industry and nation (BLS).
- Two posting rows are held out until we verify them.
1. Airline top of scale is about $60/hr, but starting rates are lower
Base top-of-scale rates: American $60.72/hr, Southwest $60.42 and Alaska $58.75. United tops out at $54.74. Starting base rates at those four carriers run $29.27 to $35.77/hr. Regional carriers in the sample top out at $37.14 to $39.31/hr (Envoy, PSA, Horizon). Base rates only; license and shift premiums are extra. Source: AMT Index (n=9 carriers, 77 scale steps).
2. Bizjet and corporate postings sit near the top
| Segment | n | Median midpoint of posted range |
|---|---|---|
| Bizjet / corporate (technician roles) | 18 | $41.88/hr |
| MRO | 8 | $40.00/hr |
| Government / military contractor | 7 | $38.46/hr |
| Rotor (HEMS, offshore) | 5 | $37.94/hr |
| Airline direct postings | 8 | $35.94/hr |
| Cargo | 3 | $33.50/hr |
Midpoints are our calculation from each posting's stated range. Annual salaries were divided by 2080 for comparison only, so those hourly figures are estimates. Segments with n under 5 are directional. Bizjet excludes one manager role.
High-end examples: Textron Aviation's Sacramento Go Team posts $46.58 to $59.12/hr (listing). Jet Aviation's New Jersey AOG technician role posts $50 to $65/hr (listing). Its Houston G500/G280 technician role posts $55 to $60/hr (listing).
3. Your state matters
BLS median annual pay for aircraft mechanics is $105,370 in New Jersey and $102,800 in New York. It is $56,680 in Wyoming and $45,470 in West Virginia. By industry, air transportation's median is $96,170. Support activities for air transportation, which includes many repair shops and FBOs, is $72,910. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. See also A&P pay by state.
4. Sign-on bonuses
Seven postings stated a sign-on or retention bonus. The median stated maximum is $5,000. The largest are $10,000: Breeze Airways at PVD after 12 months (listing) and AAR for an F-16 avionics role (listing).
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Posted ranges are what employers state; they are not offers or guarantees. Listings change or close. For information only; not legal or financial advice.
Pay and outcomes vary; no job or pay is guaranteed. Informational only. Not affiliated with the FAA or any school. No school pays to appear on this site.