How much do a&p mechanics make in 2026?
A&P mechanics are counted in the BLS aircraft mechanics and service technicians series, where OEWS May 2025 reports a national median of $79,870 a year ($38.40 an hour) for SOC 49-3011, a bottom 10% near $48,780 and a top 10% at $128,890 across 138,090 workers. This page is about the certificate that defines the role. The FAA Airframe and Powerplant certificate is earned either by completing an FAA-certificated aviation maintenance technician school or by documenting a defined period of practical experience, and then passing written, oral and practical examinations for each rating. Holding it means an individual can approve aircraft for return to service, which is a legal authority rather than a job title, and it is the reason the pay in this trade sits well above most work with comparable entry requirements. The certificate does not expire, and it is portable across every employer in aviation. Above it sits Inspection Authorization, available to A&P holders with several years of experience, which permits approving major repairs and alterations and conducting annual inspections — a genuine step up in both authority and pay. Employers on defence work usually add a security clearance requirement, which further narrows who can be hired. Employment is projected to grow 4% through 2034 with roughly 11,300 openings a year. → Full a&p mechanic career guide, career path, credentials & placement →
Note: $79,870 blends every experience level and every setting in this occupation. For pay by level alone, see Pay by Level below.
- A&P Mechanics earn a national median $79,870/yr ($38.40/hr) (BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 49-3011); the P10 to P90 range is $48,780 to $128,890.
- The A&P certificate confers legal authority to approve aircraft for return to service, which is why pay in this trade sits well above most work with comparable entry requirements.
- It is earned through a certificated maintenance school or documented practical experience, then written, oral and practical examinations for each rating, and it does not expire.
- Inspection Authorization, available after several years holding the certificate, permits approving major repairs and conducting annual inspections and is a genuine step up in authority and pay.
US A&P Mechanic Pay Distribution · BLS OEWS May 2025
Pay by Level · BLS OEWS May 2025
How much do a&p mechanics earn at each level?
BLS OEWS publishes one blended wage for the whole occupation and does not break pay out by credential or practice level. The levels below distribute the published percentile range across the credential tiers this role actually hires at.
Level medians are aligned to the BLS OEWS May 2025 percentile distribution for SOC 49-3011; GlobalCybers does not yet publish a verified placement sample for this role, so no verified median is shown.
Methodology & Sources
How the numbers on this page are built
Published (BLS): BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 49-3011, United States national estimate. Public, methodologically rigorous, but sampled on a rolling 3-year basis and published ~10 months after collection — so it reflects wages that are already 1–2 years old by the time you read them.
Level and certification medians: distributed across the published BLS percentile range for this SOC code (P10 through P90) according to the credential tiers this occupation actually hires at. They are modeled reference points, not separately surveyed wages.
State and metro figures: modeled — the BLS national median multiplied by the GlobalCybers state wage index, and for metros by the published metro index for that state. They are estimates of local pay, not BLS state or metropolitan-area observations, and are labelled as modeled in the tables below.
No verified placement sample:GlobalCybers does not yet publish a placement median for this role, so no "verified" figure appears anywhere on this page.
Pay by Career Level
How much does an a&p mechanic earn at each career stage?
A&P pay follows the authority the certificate carries and the type experience behind it. Each median is anchored to the BLS OEWS distribution for SOC 49-3011.
By State
Which states pay a&p mechanics the most in 2026?
These are modeled state estimates — the national aircraft mechanic median scaled by the GlobalCybers state wage index — not BLS state observations. The certificate is federal and fully portable, so unlike state-licensed trades an A&P mechanic can move anywhere in the country without re-credentialling.
6 of 51 state guides shown, ranked by median. Bar is relative to California ($91,850), the highest-paying state shown. See all 51 state salary guides →
By Metro
Which cities pay a&p mechanics the most?
Modeled metro estimates: the national median scaled by the state wage index and then by that state's published metro index. They estimate local wage levels and are not BLS metropolitan-area observations. Certificate holders concentrate around hubs, MRO facilities and defence installations rather than around population generally.
BLS OEWS MSA estimates, May 2025. Nominal pay — weigh each metro against its cost of living before relocating.
Certification Impact
Which certifications raise an a&p mechanic’s pay the most?
Median annual pay before and after each credential, based on GlobalCybers placement data cross-referenced with BLS. License upgrades move the needle most; stackable certs add on top.
Impacts are not additive, the licensing rows share the same career ladder. Browse all 167 certifications →
Trade Comparison
How does a&p mechanic pay compare to related roles?
BLS OEWS national median across the closest trades. A&P Mechanics sit mid-pack on median but carry one of the widest P10–P90 spreads, licensing and specialization drive the upside.
BLS OEWS May 2025. Verify a&p mechanic wages on BLS.gov →
Take-Home Pay
What does an a&p mechanic actually take home after taxes?
The medians above are gross base wage.
Estimates use 2026 federal brackets, standard deduction, and 7.65% FICA. Actual take-home varies with filing status, deductions, and local tax.
FAQ
A&P Mechanic Salary, Frequently Asked Questions
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