Career comparison
Aircraft Mechanic vs. Industrial Maintenance Technician
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Aircraft mechanics earn more at the median ($79,870 vs. $64,520), while industrial maintenance technicians usually get to work faster (1–4 years of training). Aircraft mechanics inspect, maintain and repair airplanes and helicopters to FAA standards. Industrial maintenance technicians keep factory machinery running with mechanical, electrical and PLC troubleshooting.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Aircraft Mechanic | Industrial Maintenance Technician | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $79,870 ($38.40/hr) | $64,520 ($31.02/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $48,780 – $128,890 | $46,120 – $95,170 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +5.4% (faster than average) | +17.8% (much faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 11,400 | 44,400 |
| Typical entry education | Postsecondary nondegree award | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | 18–30 months | 1–4 years |
| Key credential | FAA A&P certificate | CMRT (SMRP) |
| Work setting | Aircraft mechanics work in hangars, on flight lines and at repair stations, sometimes outdoors in all weather. | Technicians work in manufacturing plants, warehouses, food processing facilities and utilities. |
What each job does
Aircraft Mechanic
- Perform scheduled inspections such as annual, 100-hour and airline checks
- Diagnose mechanical, electrical and hydraulic problems
- Repair or replace engines, landing gear, brakes and components
- Repair aircraft structures and sheet metal
- Comply with airworthiness directives and service bulletins
Industrial Maintenance Technician
- Perform preventive and predictive maintenance on equipment
- Troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic problems
- Repair or replace bearings, belts, motors, pumps and gearboxes
- Read schematics, prints and PLC ladder logic
- Align shafts and adjust machinery
How they’re similar
Both careers involve hands-on work, problem-solving, indoor work, and teamwork. Both are part of the mechanics, maintenance & manufacturing field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose aircraft mechanic if…
- I’m fascinated by airplanes and how they work
- I take rules and documentation seriously
- I’m precise and double-check my work
Choose industrial maintenance technician if…
- I like figuring out how machines work and why they break
- I’m comfortable with both mechanical and electrical work
- I can stay calm when production is down
Still torn? Take the Aircraft Mechanic fit quiz and the Industrial Maintenance Technician fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, aircraft mechanic or industrial maintenance technician?
Aircraft Mechanics earn more at the median: $79,870 versus $64,520 for industrial maintenance technicians, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Industrial Maintenance Technicians typically train faster (1–4 years) than aircraft mechanics (18–30 months).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects industrial maintenance technicians to grow +17.8% from 2025–35, compared with +5.4% for aircraft mechanics.