If you are an aircraft mechanic or service technician looking to find your perfect new home state, take a look into our list of the 25 best states for aircraft mechanics and service technicians.
So, what exactly do aircraft mechanics and service technicians do? In short, they perform maintenance work and repairs on aircraft. They are also responsible for inspecting aircraft per the Federal Aviation Administration.
Becoming an aircraft mechanic or service technician requires education and training. Positions require some combination of education and work experience, which comes in many forms. Many applicants finish their high school diploma and receive on-site training. Others attend a Federal Aviation Administration-approved trade school. Some are trained in the military, and enter the public sector of aviation when they complete their contract. Generally it is not required; but many choose to become licensed or certified. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary of an aircraft mechanic is about $60,270 per year ($28.98 hourly). These professionals work on air fields, in repair stations, or in hangars, and thus must be comfortable in extremely loud and busy environments. Deadlines are strict, the work is quite physically exhausting and requires a great deal of uncomfortable movement, and the hours are unpredictable.
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If you are interested in a different position within the same general field, you can also check our list of 25 best states for air traffic controllers.
Deciding which states qualify as the best states for aircraft mechanics and service technicians is not a simple task. Different factors matter more to different people. We decided to consult the Bureau of Labor Statistics for information on the average mean wage and the number of employed aircraft mechanics and service technicians in each state. We then sourced information on the cost of living index from Missouri Economic Research And Information Center. Considering all of these factors, we were able to sort our list.
It is not enough for a state to simply have a high average salary for its aircraft mechanics and service technicians. It must also be considered that the number of working aircraft mechanics and service technicians in the state may affect the number of job positions that are open to newcomers. On the other side of that argument, more employed aircraft mechanics and service technicians points to the possibility of a more steady stream of work available. The cost of living index can also not be considered alone. It is great to have a low cost of living, but this only matters if your salary is also not super low. A low cost of living paired with a high salary is the most advantageous situation. States falling into this category made the top of our list.
Without further ado, here is our list of 25 best states for aircraft mechanics and service technicians.
25. Ohio
Cost of living index: 93
Annual mean wage: $53,230
Hourly mean wage: $25.59
Number of employees: 4,090
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24. Delaware
Cost of living index: 102.6
Annual mean wage: $59,190
Hourly mean wage: $28.45
Number of employees: 570
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23. Arkansas
Cost of living index: 88.5
Annual mean wage: $51,540
Hourly mean wage: $24.77
Number of employees: 610
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22. Pennsylvania
Cost of living index: 102.8
Annual mean wage: $60,270
Hourly mean wage: $28.97
Number of employees: 2,530
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21. North Dakota
Cost of living index: 98.9
Annual mean wage: $58,110
Hourly mean wage: $27.93
Number of employees: 250
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20. Arizona
Cost of living index: 98.1
Annual mean wage: $57,700
Hourly mean wage: $27.74
Number of employees: 5,320
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19. Wyoming
Cost of living index: 91.7
Annual mean wage: $54,290
Hourly mean wage: $26.10
Number of employees: 200
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18. North Carolina
Cost of living index: 94.2
Annual mean wage: $56,140
Hourly mean wage: $26.99
Number of employees: 4,280
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17. Utah
Cost of living index: 92.8
Annual mean wage: $55,620
Hourly mean wage: $26.74
Number of employees: 2,070
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16. Michigan
Cost of living index: 88.2
Annual mean wage: $53,780
Hourly mean wage: $25.85
Number of employees: 2,490
15. Minnesota
Cost of living index: 101.1
Annual mean wage: $61,710
Hourly mean wage: $29.66
Number of employees: 1,380
14. Tennessee
Cost of living index: 89.8
Annual mean wage: $55,830
Hourly mean wage: $26.84
Number of employees: 1,310
13. Louisiana
Cost of living index: 94.4
Annual mean wage: $59,710
Hourly mean wage: $28.70
Number of employees: 1,760
12. Illinois
Cost of living index: 95.5
Annual mean wage: $61,680
Hourly mean wage: $29.65
Number of employees: 4,210
We’re halfway through our list of best states for aircraft mechanics and service technicians, and if you are wondering about the other half, click next.
11. Virginia
Cost of living index: 100.2
Annual mean wage: $65,360
Hourly mean wage: $31.42
Number of employees: 2,180
10. Oklahoma
Cost of living index: 88.6
Annual mean wage: $58,040
Hourly mean wage: $27.90
Number of employees: 6,270
9. Colorado
Cost of living index: 102.1
Annual mean wage: $67,140
Hourly mean wage: $32.27
Number of employees: 1,710
8. Texas
Cost of living index: 90.7
Annual mean wage: $60,130
Hourly mean wage: $28.90
Number of employees: 16,800
7. Nevada
Cost of living index: 104.5
Annual mean wage: $70,420
Hourly mean wage: $33.85
Number of employees: 1,780
6. Washington
Cost of living index: 107.1
Annual mean wage: $72,280
Hourly mean wage: $34.75
Number of employees: 4,890
5. Missouri
Cost of living index: 90.8
Annual mean wage: $63,920
Hourly mean wage: $30.73
Number of employees: 1,760
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4. Kansas
Cost of living index: 90.4
Annual mean wage: $64,660
Hourly mean wage: $31.08
Number of employees: 1,740
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3. Alabama
Cost of living index: 91.2
Annual mean wage: $67,090
Hourly mean wage: $32.25
Number of employees: 2,730
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2. Georgia
Cost of living index: 91.4
Annual mean wage: $69,080
Hourly mean wage: $33.21
Number of employees: 8,680
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1. Kentucky
Cost of living index: 90.8
Annual mean wage: $88,230
Hourly mean wage: $42.41
Number of employees: 1,610
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This was our list of 25 best states for aircraft mechanics and service technicians. We hope we managed to show you some great options, and what you should expect from each state when deciding where to move.
