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Airframe Technician Salary in the United States

How much does an Airframe Technician make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Airframe Technician in the United States is $49,901 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $24.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $62,338
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $42,340 to $56,411
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $35,457
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Airframe Technician Salaries

An Airframe Technician'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 Airframe Technician Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Airframe Technician'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): $50,426
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $55,882
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $66,971
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $77,403
  • Expert (over 8 years): $107,470
Levels Salary
Airframe ... Level Airframe Technician$50,426
Admission... Level Airframe Technician$55,882
Admission... Level Airframe Technician$66,971
Admission... Level Airframe Technician$77,403
Admission... Level Airframe Technician$107,470
View as Graph

How Do Airframe Technician 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 Airframe Technicians. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $55,250.
  • California: $55,041.
  • Massachusetts: $54,307.

Top Paying Cities for Airframe Technicians

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: $62,940
  • San Francisco: $62,251
  • Oakland: $60,939

What Skills Can Increase an Airframe Technician's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 14.16% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Data Entry (Mentioned in 2.17% Job Postings): Transcribing information into an electronic medium such as a computer or other electronic device.
  • Word Processing (Mentioned in 1.07% Job Postings): word processing, operation in which a text-editing software program called a word processor is used to create a document on a computer. A word-processing system can produce a wide variety of documents, including letters, memoranda, and manuals, rapidly and at relatively low cost.
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 14.16%
Data Entry 2.17%
Word Processing 1.07%
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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 Airframe Technician's salary.

  • Psychiatric: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Acute Care: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Relationship Management: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Psychiatric $54,392
9%
Acute Care $54,392
9%
Relationship Management $52,396
5%
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Airframe Technician Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Airframe Technician roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 15% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Government, offers compensation 10% above the average. Conversely, Airframe Technician positions in Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Airframe Technician as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for an Airframe Technician

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Government$54,891$26.010%

How Education impacts an Airframe Technician's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Airframe Technicians enter the field with a Associate's Degree 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 Airframe Technician with a Associate's Degree is between $44,426 and $47,294).

Airframe Technician Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Airframe Technician
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.3%
High School 7.1%
Associates 7.4%
Bachelors 56.4%
Masters 28.1%
Doctorate 0.8%
View as Graph

Airframe Technician Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Airframe Technician'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
$42,340
Average $49,901/year
$56,411
$3,528
Average $4,158/month
$4,701
$814
Average $960/week
$1,085
$20
Average $24/hour
$27
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $56,411 $4,701 $1,085 $27
Average $49,901 $4,158 $960 $24
25th Percentile $42,340 $3,528 $814 $20

Most common benefits for Airframe Technician

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

Common company salaries for Airframe Technician

Here are companies hiring for Airframe Technician and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Airframe Technician

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Airframe Technician?

The Government industry offers the highest average compensation for Airframe Technician roles, with salaries approximately 10% 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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