Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians

AUTOMATION RISK
CALCULATED
44%
risk level
POLLING
24%
Based on 228 votes
LABOR DEMAND
GROWTH
6.1%
by year 2032
WAGES
$75,020
or $36.06 per hour
Volume
137,630
as of 2023
SUMMARY
JOB SCORE
6.7/10

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Automation risk

44% (Moderate Risk)

Moderate Risk (41-60%): Occupations with a moderate risk of automation usually involve routine tasks but still require some human judgment and interaction.

More information on what this score is, and how it is calculated is available here.

Some very important qualities of the job are difficult to automate:

  • Finger Dexterity

Some quite important qualities of the job are difficult to automate:

  • Manual Dexterity

  • Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions

  • Assisting and Caring for Others

  • Social Perceptiveness

User poll

24% chance of full automation within the next two decades

Our visitors have voted there's a low chance this occupation will be automated. This assessment is further supported by the calculated automation risk level, which estimates 44% chance of automation.

What do you think the risk of automation is?

What is the likelihood that Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians will be replaced by robots or artificial intelligence within the next 20 years?






Sentiment

The following graph(s) are included wherever there is a substantial amount of votes to render meaningful data. These visual representations display user poll results over time, providing a significant indication of sentiment trends.

Sentiment over time (yearly)

Growth

Fast growth relative to other professions

The number of 'Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians' job openings is expected to rise 6.1% by 2032

Total employment, and estimated job openings

* Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the period between 2021 and 2031
Updated projections are due 09-2023.

Wages

High paid relative to other professions

In 2023, the median annual wage for 'Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians' was $75,020, or $36 per hour

'Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians' were paid 56.1% higher than the national median wage, which stood at $48,060

Wages over time

* Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Volume

Greater range of job opportunities compared to other professions

As of 2023 there were 137,630 people employed as 'Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians' within the United States.

This represents around 0.09% of the employed workforce across the country

Put another way, around 1 in 1 thousand people are employed as 'Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians'.

Job description

Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul aircraft engines and assemblies, such as hydraulic and pneumatic systems.

SOC Code: 49-3011.00

Comments

Horse 19 days ago
Even if newer planes were designed specifically to enable robotic maintenance access, there is no chance.

The shortcomings of self-diagnostic systems and the inability to work in the very human "grey area" of the maintenance manual would ground every aircraft in no time.
0 0 Reply
Mailong (No chance) 1 year ago
Aircraft’s need copious amounts of TLC to keep in service. Most components are in awkward locations, thanks engineers, and there’s no change a robot could isolate problems that arise with the various systems and fix the issue. Half the time my co-workers can’t seem to do the same.
0 0 Reply
Mr. Mantilla aircraft maintenance (Low) 1 year ago
I don't think it will be replaced in the next 50 years (being very negative), because disassembling, diagnosing, inspecting, repairing and reassembling is human dexterity with many abilities and use of the senses, something that robots have difficult to overcome
0 0 Reply
Cal (No chance) 1 year ago
I'm an aircraft mechanic. Things break in far more convoluted ways than one could practically program for. Sure, it's theoretically possible, but not within 20 years.
0 0 Reply
Jacob (Low) 2 years ago
I am currently working as an aircraft mechanic. I do not see how robots/automation could be calibrated to deal with some of the areas we have to reach into. We have around 20 of the same model aircraft, and each one is slightly different with different clearances and sometimes different hardware.

While some tasks certainly could be automated (such as wheel and tire changes), it would still require someone to double-check the work to verify it was good. Even major jobs require two people - one to fix it and one to check it.

Obviously, it's hard to say how quickly robotics technology will move ahead. But personally, I don't see a complete replacement of aircraft mechanics happening for several decades. Laws and regulations would need to change as well for that to happen.

Just my opinion though. We will have to see.
0 0 Reply
Date ceramusi (No chance) 3 years ago
Repair industry(plane/boats/cars) use powerful diagnostic tools since decades.

Still needs human labor to mount and dismount parts.
0 0 Reply

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