Aircraft Mechanic Job Description: Duties, Template & Pay (2026)
An aircraft mechanic, often called an A&P mechanic or aviation maintenance technician (AMT), inspects, maintains, repairs and alters aircraft and returns them to service. Federal rules decide who may do and sign off that work: the FAA mechanic certificate with airframe and powerplant ratings. This page gives you an aircraft mechanic job description template, the FAA certificate requirements quoted from 14 CFR Part 65, versions for airline, repair station and general aviation shops, BLS pay, interview questions and what it costs to reach mechanics on social.
What an aircraft mechanic does
BLS covers the job as aircraft mechanics and service technicians (SOC 49-3011), part of the wider group of aircraft and avionics equipment mechanics and technicians. O*NET lists airframe and powerplant mechanic (A and P mechanic), aviation maintenance technician (AMT), aircraft maintenance technician and helicopter mechanic among the occupation's reported job titles.
The Occupational Outlook Handbook lists what aircraft mechanics typically do:
- Diagnose mechanical or electrical problems
- Repair wings, brakes, electrical systems, and other aircraft components
- Examine replacement aircraft parts for defects
- Replace defective parts, using handtools or power tools
- Read and interpret manufacturers' instructions to identify repair specifications
- Test aircraft parts with gauges and other instruments
- Inspect completed work to ensure that it meets performance standards
- Keep records of maintenance and repair work
BLS says these workers “work in hangars, in repair stations, or on airfields,” and that most work full time, often in “8- or 10-hour shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays.”
Aircraft mechanic duties for a job description
- Perform scheduled inspections and maintenance to the approved maintenance program or manufacturer's instructions
- Troubleshoot and repair airframe, powerplant, landing gear, hydraulic, fuel, flight control and electrical systems
- Remove, install and rig components, and perform engine runs and operational checks as authorized
- Inspect parts and completed work, and correct discrepancies
- Comply with airworthiness directives and service bulletins as assigned
- Complete maintenance records and logbook entries accurately and sign off work within certificate privileges
- Use and care for tooling, test equipment and ground support equipment
- Follow hangar, ramp, hazardous material and foreign object debris (FOD) safety procedures
The FAA mechanic certificate
BLS summarizes the rule: the FAA requires “aircraft maintenance to be done either by a certified mechanic with the appropriate ratings or authorizations or by someone working under the supervision of such a mechanic.” The requirements are in 14 CFR Part 65, Subpart D.
Eligibility, 65.71. To be eligible for a mechanic certificate and ratings, a person must be at least 18 years of age; be able to read, write, speak and understand English (with a limited exception for work outside the United States); have passed all of the prescribed tests within a period of 24 months; and comply with the sections for the rating sought.
Experience, 65.77. Each applicant must present either an authenticated document from a certificated aviation maintenance technician school, or documentary evidence of:
- “At least 18 months of practical experience with the procedures, practices, materials, tools, machine tools, and equipment generally used in constructing, maintaining, or altering airframes or powerplants, appropriate to the rating sought; or”
- “At least 30 months of practical experience concurrently performing the duties appropriate to both the airframe and powerplant ratings.”
Tests, 65.75 and 65.79. Applicants pass a written test, then an oral test and a practical test, based on the Aviation Mechanic General, Airframe and Powerplant Airman Certification Standards.
Privileges, 65.81, 65.85 and 65.87. A certificated mechanic may perform or supervise maintenance, preventive maintenance or alteration of an aircraft or appliance for which they are rated, but may not supervise that work or approve it for return to service unless they have “satisfactorily performed the work concerned at an earlier date.” An airframe rating allows approving an airframe for return to service after work the mechanic has performed, supervised or inspected (excluding major repairs and major alterations) and performing the 100-hour inspection required by Part 91 on an airframe. A powerplant rating does the same for powerplants and propellers.
Inspection authorization, 65.91. An IA requires a mechanic certificate with both airframe and powerplant ratings, each in effect for a total of at least 3 years, active aircraft maintenance for at least the 2 years before applying, and a written test, among other requirements. If the job includes annual inspections or approving major repairs, say whether an IA is required.
Drug and alcohol testing. Under 14 CFR 120.105, “aircraft maintenance and preventive maintenance duties” are safety-sensitive functions, and employees who perform them for a covered employer, including Part 121 and Part 135 air carriers and operators and their contractors, must be subject to drug testing. Say so in the posting if it applies to you.
This is general information, not legal advice. Check the current regulation and your operations specifications before you write requirements.
A&P mechanic job description template
Copy this into your ATS or job board, replace the bracketed fields and delete what does not apply. It is written for a certificated A&P mechanic; the section after it covers other settings and entry-level roles.
Job title
Aircraft Mechanic [/ A&P Mechanic / Aviation Maintenance Technician], [Company name], [City, ST or airport code]
Summary
[Company name] [operates / maintains] [aircraft types] at [location]. We are hiring an FAA-certificated A&P mechanic to inspect, maintain and repair our [fleet / customers' aircraft] in [line / heavy / base] maintenance.
[Shift, e.g. 10-hour nights, four on, three off]. [Pay range, shift differential]. [One sentence on what is good about working here.]
What you will do
• Perform scheduled inspections and maintenance to [our maintenance program / manufacturer's instructions]
• Troubleshoot and repair airframe, powerplant and systems discrepancies
• Remove, install and rig components; perform operational checks and engine runs as authorized
• Complete maintenance records and sign off work within your certificate privileges
• Comply with airworthiness directives and service bulletins
• Follow hangar, ramp and FOD safety procedures
What you need
• FAA mechanic certificate with airframe and powerplant ratings
• [X] years of experience on [aircraft types or engines]
• Able to read, write, speak and understand English, as the FAA requires
• [Valid driver's license / airport badge eligibility / background check]
• [Subject to DOT/FAA drug and alcohol testing, if applicable]
• Able to work at height, in tight spaces and outdoors on the ramp
Nice to have
• Inspection authorization (IA)
• Experience on [type]
• [Avionics, composites, borescope or NDT experience]
What we offer
• [Pay range], [shift differential, overtime]
• [Tool allowance, type training]
• [Benefits, travel privileges, when they start]
• [Path: lead, inspector, IA, maintenance controller]
How to apply
[One step. Say how fast you call back.]
Requirements: what to ask for, and what to drop
| Requirement | What to know |
|---|---|
| A&P certificate | Keep for mechanic roles that sign off work. For helper or apprentice roles, drop it and say the person works under a certificated mechanic. |
| Years of experience | Be specific to the aircraft. A recent school graduate can do line work under supervision; lead, heavy check and troubleshooting roles need more. |
| Type experience | Nice to have unless the role is a lead or inspector. Type training can be given. |
| IA | Only if the role performs annual inspections or approves major repairs and alterations. |
| Drug and alcohol testing | Keep where 14 CFR Part 120 applies. Say it up front. |
| Own tools | Common in the trade. Say what you provide and whether there is a tool allowance. |
Customizing it by setting
Airline line maintenance
Fast turnarounds between flights, overnight checks, weather on the ramp and clear shift patterns. Name the fleet, the station and the shift, and say whether the role includes engine runs or taxi.
Heavy maintenance and repair stations (MRO)
Scheduled heavy checks, structural repairs and modifications in the hangar, often at a certificated repair station. Say which check types and aircraft, and whether overtime is expected.
General aviation, FBOs and corporate flight departments
A wider mix of aircraft and engines, more customer contact, and more annual and 100-hour inspections. An IA may matter here.
Helicopter mechanic
Rotor systems, transmissions and often field work at remote sites for EMS, utility or tour operators. Say how much travel and on-call work is involved.
Entry-level aircraft mechanic or maintenance helper
For graduates of an FAA-certificated school who are still testing, or helpers building the documented experience 65.77 requires. Lead with training, supervision by certificated mechanics and help with test costs if you offer it.
What aircraft mechanics earn
The BLS median annual wage for aircraft mechanics and service technicians was $79,870 in May 2025; O*NET lists the hourly median as $38.40. For the wider group of aircraft and avionics equipment mechanics and technicians, the median was $80,180 a year, or $38.55 an hour.
| Industry (aircraft mechanics and service technicians) | Median annual wage, May 2025 | Share of employment, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Air transportation | $96,170 | 26% |
| Couriers and express delivery services | $90,190 | 3% |
| Aerospace product and parts manufacturing | $82,720 | 18% |
| Federal government | $76,210 | 9% |
| Support activities for air transportation | $72,910 | 30% |
BLS projects employment of aircraft mechanics and service technicians to grow 5 percent, from 140,000 in 2025 to 147,600 in 2035, and about 13,100 openings a year for aircraft and avionics equipment mechanics and technicians as a whole.
Interview questions for an aircraft mechanic
1. You find a discrepancy that is not on the work card. What do you do?
A good answer: stop, write it up, follow the process to get it evaluated and never ignore it to meet a departure. This is the core safety question for the role.
2. Walk me through how you complete a logbook or maintenance record entry.
Listen for a description of the work, reference to the approved data, the date, and signature and certificate number where required. Vague answers are a concern for anyone who signs off work.
3. Which aircraft and engines have you worked on, and what kind of work?
Specifics tell you where they fit: line or heavy, piston or turbine, which systems. Honest limits are fine.
4. Tell me about a troubleshooting problem that took more than one try.
You want a structured approach: data, manuals, isolating the fault, asking for help, and confirming the fix. Parts-swapping without diagnosis is the weak answer.
5. What do you do when a supervisor pushes you to sign off something you are not sure about?
The only good answer is that they do not sign it and they escalate. Under 65.81 a mechanic may not approve for return to service work they have not previously performed satisfactorily unless supervised or shown to the FAA's satisfaction.
6. Our shift is [nights / weekends]. How does that fit your life?
Ask directly. BLS notes nights, weekends and holidays are common in the trade.
What it costs to reach an aircraft mechanic
We use the technician / mechanic role family, the closest match in our 2026 Social Job Advertising Benchmark. Across 145 campaign-months it ran a median cost per applicant of $13.41, with the middle half of campaigns between $7.40 and $23.58, a blended figure of $8.35 and a 16 percent apply rate. The all-role median is $13.88.
Certificated A&P mechanics are a licensed pool. Apply rate explained 70 percent of the variation in cost per applicant across the benchmark, so ask the disqualifying question (do you hold an A&P certificate?) and little else, then call back the same day. Cost per applicant is not cost per hire.
Hiring other technicians? See the mechanic, diesel mechanic, industrial maintenance mechanic and electrical technician job descriptions, and mechanic interview questions.
The job description is not the job ad
The template is the document for your files and your auditors. The ad has to reach a mechanic scrolling after a shift.
- Lead with pay, the shift, the aircraft and the station.
- Say what you provide: tools, type training, test fees, travel benefits.
- Write a separate ad for helpers and school graduates, and name military maintainers as welcome.
- Keep the form short: certificate held, aircraft experience, availability.
- On Facebook and Instagram, job ads run in the Employment special ad category: a minimum 15-mile radius and no targeting by age, gender or ZIP code. See Meta's special ad category.
More on hiring technicians is in how to hire skilled trades fast and what makes a good job ad.
Frequently asked questions
What does an aircraft mechanic do?
An aircraft mechanic inspects, maintains, repairs and alters aircraft and their engines and systems. BLS lists diagnosing mechanical or electrical problems, repairing wings, brakes and electrical systems, examining replacement parts, replacing defective parts, reading manufacturers' instructions, testing parts, inspecting completed work and keeping maintenance records.
What is an A&P mechanic?
An A&P mechanic holds an FAA mechanic certificate with both the airframe (A) and powerplant (P) ratings under 14 CFR Part 65. The certificate lets them perform and supervise maintenance on aircraft they are rated for, and approve certain work for return to service. BLS notes that employers often prefer mechanics with both ratings.
What should an A&P mechanic job description include?
An A&P mechanic job description should name the aircraft, the type of maintenance (line, heavy or general aviation), the station, shift and pay. List inspection, troubleshooting, repair and record-keeping duties, the FAA airframe and powerplant certificate, required experience, any inspection authorization, drug and alcohol testing if Part 120 applies, and what tools you provide.
What are the FAA requirements to become an aircraft mechanic?
Under 14 CFR 65.71, an applicant must be at least 18, able to read, write, speak and understand English, and pass all required tests within 24 months. Under 65.77 they need either an authenticated document from a certificated aviation maintenance technician school or 18 months of practical experience per rating, or 30 months for both.
How much does an aircraft mechanic make?
The BLS median annual wage for aircraft mechanics and service technicians was $79,870 in May 2025, or $38.40 an hour according to O*NET. By industry, the median was $96,170 in air transportation and $72,910 in support activities for air transportation. Check local postings for your aircraft type and shift.
Can I hire an aircraft mechanic without an A&P certificate?
Yes, for work done under supervision. BLS explains the FAA requires maintenance to be done by a certificated mechanic with the appropriate ratings or by someone working under the supervision of one. Helpers can also build the 18 or 30 months of documented practical experience 14 CFR 65.77 accepts toward the certificate.
Are aircraft mechanics drug tested?
Often, yes. Under 14 CFR 120.105, aircraft maintenance and preventive maintenance duties are safety-sensitive functions, and employees who perform them for covered employers, including Part 121 and Part 135 air carriers and operators and their contractors, must be subject to drug testing. Say in the posting whether it applies.
What is an inspection authorization (IA)?
An inspection authorization lets a certificated mechanic perform annual inspections and approve certain major repairs and alterations. Under 14 CFR 65.91, applicants need airframe and powerplant ratings in effect for at least 3 years, active maintenance work for the 2 years before applying, the right equipment and data, and a passing written test.
What interview questions should I ask an aircraft mechanic?
Ask what they do when they find a discrepancy not on the work card, how they complete a logbook entry, which aircraft and engines they know, how they worked through a hard troubleshooting problem, what they do if pressed to sign off uncertain work, and whether your shift fits their life.
How much does it cost to recruit an aircraft mechanic?
In Boostpoint's 2026 benchmark, the technician and mechanic role family, the closest match, ran a median cost per applicant of $13.41 across 145 campaign-months, with the middle half between $7.40 and $23.58 and a 16 percent apply rate. That is cost per applicant, not cost per hire.
Related job descriptions
Hiring aircraft mechanics?
The description is the document. Getting it in front of A&P mechanics, school graduates and military maintainers near your hangar is the part we do.
Wage, employment, projection, duties and work environment data for aircraft mechanics and service technicians (SOC 49-3011) and aircraft and avionics equipment mechanics and technicians: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, Aircraft and Avionics Equipment Mechanics and Technicians, last modified 27 August 2026; wages are May 2025 OEWS. Hourly median and reported job titles from O*NET OnLine 49-3011.00. Certificate requirements from 14 CFR 65.71, 65.75, 65.77, 65.79, 65.81, 65.85, 65.87 and 65.91, and drug testing from 14 CFR 120.1 and 120.105, on eCFR; general information, not legal advice. Cost-per-applicant and apply-rate figures: Boostpoint 2026 Social Job Advertising Benchmark, 891 managed campaigns and 1,334 campaign-months. Read at source 24 September 2026.