âī¸
Airlines
Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines
Avionics Technicians
Avionics technicians install, test, and repair the electronic systems that handle navigation, communications, displays, and other flight-critical functions. The work is a mix of bench repair, wiring, and detective work with manuals and flight data, so it is much more specialized than general aircraft maintenance. The tradeoff is clear: the job pays well for a technical trade, but it is detail-heavy, tightly regulated, and usually tied to hangars or repair shops rather than remote work.
Also known as Aircraft Avionics TechnicianAvionics Maintenance TechnicianAvionics Repair TechnicianAircraft Electronics TechnicianAvionics Equipment Technician
Median Salary
$81,390
Mean $82,350
U.S. Workforce
~21K
1.8K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+8.2%
21.4K to 23.1K
Entry Education
Postsecondary nondegree award
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Avionics Technicians sits in the Trades category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~21K workers, with a median annual pay of $81,390 and roughly 1.8K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 21.4 K in 2024 to 23.1K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Post-Secondary Certificate in Avionics or Electronics, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Aircraft Electronics Helper and can progress toward Avionics Lead or Supervisor. High-value skills usually include Equipment Maintenance, Repairing, and Troubleshooting, paired with soft skills such as Attention to Detail, Clear Communication, and Teamwork.
Core Responsibilities
- Test broken avionics parts, then repair or replace them with hand tools and soldering equipment.
- Install and wire up switches, controls, radios, instruments, and other aircraft electronics.
- Read manuals, wiring diagrams, and flight data to figure out why a system is not working correctly.
- Work with mechanics, engineers, and other maintenance staff so repairs and installations fit the aircraft schedule.
Keep exploring: more Trades careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Test broken avionics parts, then repair or replace them with hand tools and soldering equipment.
02 Install and wire up switches, controls, radios, instruments, and other aircraft electronics.
03 Read manuals, wiring diagrams, and flight data to figure out why a system is not working correctly.
04 Work with mechanics, engineers, and other maintenance staff so repairs and installations fit the aircraft schedule.
05 Build small parts, custom harnesses, or test fixtures when the job calls for something that is not already on hand.
06 Record every repair, test, and adjustment so the aircraft meets maintenance and safety rules.
Industries That Hire
đŠī¸
Aircraft Manufacturing
Boeing, Airbus, Embraer
đ°ī¸
Aerospace & Defense
Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon
đ§
Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul
Lufthansa Technik, StandardAero, AAR
đŠī¸
Business Aviation
Gulfstream, Bombardier, Textron Aviation
Pros and Cons
Advantages
+
The pay is solid for a trade, with mean annual pay at $82,350 and a median of $81,390.
+
You do hands-on work that is specialized and hard to outsource, which helps make the skill set valuable.
+
The job has steady hiring needs, with 1.8K average annual openings projected and 8.2% growth over the decade.
+
You can enter the field without a degree; the typical entry point is a postsecondary nondegree award.
+
The work is varied because you move between troubleshooting, repair, testing, wiring, and documentation.
Challenges
-
Remote work is rare because the job usually has to be done in a hangar, shop, or on the aircraft itself.
-
The field is narrow and specialized, so long-term advancement often means moving into lead, supervisor, or inspector roles rather than huge jumps in responsibility.
-
Demand depends on airline schedules, aircraft production, and defense spending, so hiring can slow when the aviation market softens.
-
The job is extremely detail-sensitive; a small wiring or testing mistake can ground an aircraft or create a safety issue.
-
More advanced diagnostics and built-in test systems can reduce some routine troubleshooting work over time, which puts pressure on entry-level tasks.
Career Progression
Aircraft Electronics Helper
0-1 years
$38K-$49K
You learn the basics by supporting senior technicians, organizing parts, and doing simple checks and cleanups.
Junior Avionics Installer
1-3 years
$50K-$67K
You handle routine wiring, component swaps, and basic testing under close supervision.
Avionics Technician THIS ROLE
3-7 years
$68K-$92K
You diagnose faults, repair systems, interpret test results, and work independently on most common avionics jobs.
Senior Avionics Technician
7-12 years
$93K-$112K
You take on harder troubleshooting cases, mentor newer workers, and handle higher-stakes repairs or installations.
Avionics Lead or Supervisor
12+ years
$113K-$140K
You oversee schedules, quality checks, compliance, and complex jobs that require coordination across the maintenance team.
Education Paths
Post-Secondary Certificate in Avionics or Electronics
The most common entry path, used by 49.95% of workers, is a post-secondary certificate focused on avionics, electronics, or aircraft maintenance.
Associate's Degree in Aviation Maintenance or Electronics
An associate's degree is another option, held by 16.31% of workers, especially for people who want a broader technical base before specializing.
High School Diploma Plus Employer or Military Training
A high school diploma can also lead into the field, and 18.2% of workers report this as their highest completed education before building hands-on avionics skills.
FAA or Military Avionics Certification
This can be a practical alternative for people who enter through a repair shop, military program, or aviation school and then add certified avionics training.
Key Skills
Technical
Equipment Maintenance 78%
Repairing 78%
Troubleshooting 78%
Digital Multimeters, Oscilloscopes & Avionics Test Sets 77%
Wiring Diagrams, Blueprints & Maintenance Manuals 76%
Quality Control Inspection 75%
Soldering, Crimping & Wire-Harness Repair Tools 74%
FAA Maintenance Logs & Compliance Documentation 73%
Critical Thinking 75%
Operations Monitoring 75%
Complex Problem Solving 70%
Soft Skills
Attention to DetailClear CommunicationTeamworkPatienceTime ManagementDependability Job Outlook and Trends
+8.2%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
1.8K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 21.4K to 23.1 K over the next decade, representing 8.2% growth. Around 1.8 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.