Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers

ManufacturingO*NET 51-2011.00United States

Assemble, fit, fasten, and install parts of airplanes, space vehicles, or missiles, such as tails, wings, fuselage, bulkheads, stabilizers, landing gear, rigging and control equipment, or heating and ventilating systems.

COMING SOON See related ASU learning

Median annual earnings: $65,331
Projected change: −7.4%
Typical education: High school diploma or less
Employment: 36.36K jobs

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Build the skills

ASU learning related to this career

These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.

The work

What aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers do

Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.

Assemble parts, fittings, or subassemblies on aircraft, using layout tools, hand tools, power tools, or fasteners, such as bolts, screws, rivets, or clamps.
Read blueprints, illustrations, or specifications to determine layouts, sequences of operations, or identities or relationships of parts.
Attach brackets, hinges, or clips to secure or support components or subassemblies, using bolts, screws, rivets, chemical bonding, or welding.
Adjust, repair, rework, or replace parts or assemblies to ensure proper operation.
Cut, trim, file, bend, or smooth parts to ensure proper fit and clearance.
Inspect or test installed units, parts, systems, or assemblies for fit, alignment, performance, defects, or compliance with standards, using measuring instruments or test equipment.
Layout and mark reference points and locations for installation of parts or components, using jigs, templates, or measuring and marking instruments.
Fabricate parts needed for assembly or installation, using shop machinery or equipment.
Clean, oil, or coat system components, as necessary, before assembly or attachment.
Assemble prefabricated parts to form subassemblies.

Pay and outlook

What the job pays and where it is heading

Annual earnings range

Reported earnings by percentile, United States

10th percentile: $47,208
25th percentile: $58,513
50th percentile: $65,331
75th percentile: $83,421
90th percentile: $107,679

The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $65,331 and half earn less.

Employment outlook

2025 to 2035 projection

−7.4%projected to decline

202536,360 jobs

2035 projected33,674 jobs

2,686 fewer positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.

Preparation

Education levels

What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.

High school diploma or less: 58.1%
Certificate: 15.7%
Bachelor's degree: 15.7%
Associate degree: 10%
Some college: 0.6%

Skills

Skills employers ask for

Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.

Hand Tools
Riveting
Power Tool Operation
Blueprinting
Calipers
Micrometer
Drilling
Sheet Metal
Mechanical Assembly
Engineering Drawings
Torque Wrench
Aircraft Maintenance
Manual Dexterity
Technical Drawing
Tooling
Aerospace Materials
Deburring
Aircraft Assembly
Aviation
Continuous Improvement Process

How the work gets done

Core competencies

Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.

Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Equipment Maintenance: Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Time Management: Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Repairing: Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Installation: Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or programs to meet specifications.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Operations Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Equipment Selection: Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Instructing: Teaching others how to do something.
Systems Analysis: Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

In the market

Job titles and employers

Recent job postings in United States

Common job titles

01Aerospace Assemblers203 postings
02Aircraft Assemblers110 postings
03Assembly and Test Technicians3 postings
04Rigging Managers3 postings
05Sheet Metal/Structural Aircraft Mechanics3 postings
06Aircraft Support Mechanics1 postings
07Assembly Technicians1 postings
08Boat Riggers1 postings
09Skillbridge Interns1 postings

Top employers

01Aerotek115 postings
02Lockheed Martin11 postings
03Insight Global8 postings
04Parker Hannifin8 postings
05Segula Technologies8 postings
06AAA7 postings
07Parker5 postings
08Sekisui Aerospace5 postings
09Surestaff5 postings
10Thomas Instrument5 postings
11Zone 5 Technologies5 postings
12Cenergy4 postings
13Chipton Ross4 postings
14Indotronix International Corporation4 postings
15Moog4 postings
16Bombardier3 postings
17Butler Aerospace & Defense3 postings
18Global Machine Works3 postings
19Pacific Coast Avionics Corp3 postings
20Parker Aerospace3 postings

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