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Aircraft Electrician Salary in the United States

How much does an Aircraft Electrician make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Aircraft Electrician in the United States is $74,138 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $36.

However, an Aircraft Electrician's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $91,749
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $67,293 to $83,356
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $61,061
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Aircraft Electrician Salaries

An Aircraft Electrician's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Aircraft Electrician Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Aircraft Electrician's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $73,116
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $73,423
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $74,138
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $76,202
  • Expert (over 8 years): $77,165
Levels Salary
Entry Level Aircraft Electrician$73,116
Intermediate Level Aircraft Electrician$73,423
Senior Level Aircraft Electrician$74,138
Specialist Level Aircraft Electrician$76,202
Expert Level Aircraft Electrician$77,165
View as Graph

How Do Aircraft Electrician Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Aircraft Electricians. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $82,086.
  • California: $81,774.
  • Massachusetts: $80,684.

Top Paying Cities for Aircraft Electricians

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $93,510
  • San Francisco: $92,486
  • Oakland: $90,537

What Skills Can Increase an Aircraft Electrician's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Troubleshooting (Mentioned in 8.65% Job Postings): Troubleshooting is a form of problem solving, often applied to repair failed products or processes on a machine or a system. It is a logical, systematic search for the source of a problem in order to solve it, and make the product or process operational again. Troubleshooting is needed to identify the symptoms. Determining the most likely cause is a process of elimination—eliminating potential causes of a problem. Finally, troubleshooting requires confirmation that the solution restores the product or process to its working state. In general, troubleshooting is the identification or diagnosis of "trouble" in the management flow of a system caused by a failure of some kind. The problem is initially described as symptoms of malfunction, and troubleshooting is the process of determining and remedying the causes of these symptoms. A system can be described in terms of its expected, desired or intended behavior (usually, for artificial systems, its purpose). Events or inputs to the system are expected to generate specific results or outputs. (For example, selecting the "print" option from various computer applications is intended to result in a hardcopy emerging from some specific device). Any unexpected or undesirable behavior is a symptom. Troubleshooting is the process of isolating the specific cause or causes of the symptom. Frequently the symptom is a failure of the product or process to produce any results. (Nothing was printed, for example). Corrective action can then be taken to prevent further failures of a similar kind.
  • Wiring Diagram (Mentioned in 2.33% Job Postings): A pictorial representation of all the electrical connections in a specific circuit. These diagrams are an effective way of showing how wires are interconnected with different components in a system.
  • Technical Skills (Mentioned in 0.75% Job Postings): Technical skills are the specialized knowledge and expertise required to perform specific tasks and use specific tools and programs in real world situations.
Skills Demand Percentage
Troubleshooting 8.65%
Wiring Diagram 2.33%
Technical Skills 0.75%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Aircraft Electrician's salary.

  • Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Security Clearance: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Adaptability: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Analysis $83,035
12%
Security Clearance $78,586
6%
Adaptability $78,586
6%
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Aircraft Electrician Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Aircraft Electrician salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $83,055. While startup companies pay approximate $70,286.

Aircraft Electrician Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $70,286
Growth Stage 51~500 $74,308
Established 501~5000 $80,211
Enterprise 5000+ $83,055

Aircraft Electrician Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Aircraft Electrician roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the MFG Durable and Transportation sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Aircraft Electrician positions in Aerospace & Defense or Software & Networking typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Aircraft Electrician as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Aircraft Electrician

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
MFG Durable$88,966$43.020%
Transportation$81,552$39.010%

How Education impacts an Aircraft Electrician's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Aircraft Electrician enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Aircraft Electrician with a Bachelor's Degree is between $70,362 and $75,276.

Aircraft Electrician Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Aircraft Electrician
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.9%
High School 44.9%
Associates 29.5%
Bachelors 19.9%
Masters 3.2%
Doctorate 0.6%
View as Graph

Aircraft Electrician Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Aircraft Electrician's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$67,293
Average $74,138/year
$83,356
$5,608
Average $6,178/month
$6,946
$1,294
Average $1,426/week
$1,603
$32
Average $36/hour
$40
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $83,356 $6,946 $1,603 $40
Average $74,138 $6,178 $1,426 $36
25th Percentile $67,293 $5,608 $1,294 $32

Most common benefits for Aircraft Electrician

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Aircraft Electrician

Here are companies hiring for Aircraft Electrician and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Aircraft Electrician

1. Where can an Aircraft Electrician earn the most?

An Aircraft Electrician's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, an Aircraft Electrician earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of an Aircraft Electrician is $93,510.

2. What is the highest pay for Aircraft Electrician?

The highest pay for Aircraft Electrician is $91,749.

3. What is the lowest pay for Aircraft Electrician?

The lowest pay for Aircraft Electrician is $61,061.

4. What are the responsibilities of Aircraft Electrician?

Performs preventative and non-routine maintenance and inspections of aircraft avionics and electrical systems. Uses manufacturer's reference documents, diagrams, and best practices to troubleshoot problems, identify the correct solutions and replace or repair components and parts. Conducts quality testing, verification procedures, and required documentation of all completed work. Ensures compliance with all FAA maintenance regulations and requirements. Typically requires an associate degree in aviation electronics, avionics or equivalent. Requires Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) License. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. Works independently within established procedures associated with the specific job function. Has gained proficiency in multiple competencies relevant to the job. Typically requires 3-5 years of related experience.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Aircraft Electrician?

The MFG Durable industry offers the highest average compensation for Aircraft Electrician roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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