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Avionics Technicians

Transportation, Distribution and LogisticsO*NET 49-2091.00United States

Install, inspect, test, adjust, or repair avionics equipment, such as radar, radio, navigation, and missile control systems in aircraft or space vehicles.

COMING SOON See related ASU learning
Median annual earnings
$82,285

50th percentile, United States

Projected change
+6.6%

2025 to 2035

Typical education
Certificate

50% of the workforce

Employment
35.88K jobs

Growing to 38.24K by 2035

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Compare nationwide estimates with state or county job-market data.

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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.

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The work

What avionics technicians do

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

  • Test and troubleshoot instruments, components, and assemblies, using circuit testers, oscilloscopes, or voltmeters.
  • Keep records of maintenance and repair work.
  • Adjust, repair, or replace malfunctioning components or assemblies, using hand tools or soldering irons.
  • Install electrical and electronic components, assemblies, and systems in aircraft, using hand tools, power tools, or soldering irons.
  • Set up and operate ground support and test equipment to perform functional flight tests of electrical and electronic systems.
  • Assemble components such as switches, electrical controls, and junction boxes, using hand tools or soldering irons.
  • Interpret flight test data to diagnose malfunctions and systemic performance problems.
  • Connect components to assemblies such as radio systems, instruments, magnetos, inverters, and in-flight refueling systems, using hand tools and soldering irons.
  • Lay out installation of aircraft assemblies and systems, following documentation such as blueprints, manuals, and wiring diagrams.
  • Coordinate work with that of engineers, technicians, and other aircraft maintenance personnel.
  • Fabricate parts and test aids as required.
  • Assemble prototypes or models of circuits, instruments, and systems for use in testing.

Pay and outlook

What the job pays and where it is heading

Annual earnings range

Reported earnings by percentile, United States

10th percentile
$49,400
25th percentile
$63,898
50th percentile
$82,285
75th percentile
$99,112
90th percentile
$113,672

The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $82,285 and half earn less.

Employment outlook

2025 to 2035 projection

+6.6%faster than average
202535,881 jobs
2035 projected38,243 jobs

2,362 more positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.

Preparation

Education levels

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

Certificate
50%
High school diploma or less
18.2%
Associate degree
16.3%
Some college
12.2%
Bachelor's degree
3.3%

Skills

Skills employers ask for

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

  • Avionics
  • Federal Aviation Administration
  • Aircraft Maintenance
  • Electrical Wiring
  • Test Equipment
  • Electrical Systems
  • Blueprinting
  • Wiring Diagram
  • Engineering Drawings
  • Soldering
  • Federal Aviation Regulations
  • Electronics
  • Hand Tools
  • Lifting Ability
  • Technical Communication
  • Flight Testing
  • Hydraulics
  • Wire Harnesses
  • Airworthiness
  • Electronic Components

How the work gets done

Core competencies

Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.

Equipment Maintenance
Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Repairing
Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Troubleshooting
Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Operations Monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Quality Control Analysis
Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
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.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Time Management
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Systems Analysis
Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Equipment Selection
Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
Systems Evaluation
Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

In the market

Job titles and employers

Recent job postings in United States

Common job titles

  1. 01Avionics Technicians2,266 postings
  2. 02Avionics Installers318 postings
  3. 03Lead Avionics Technicians300 postings
  4. 04Avionics Electrical Technicians220 postings
  5. 05Avionics Electronics Technicians182 postings
  6. 06Aircraft Electricians131 postings
  7. 07Engineering Technicians126 postings
  8. 08Product Repair/Modification Technicians113 postings
  9. 09Structural Technicians89 postings
  10. 10Avionics Mechanics87 postings
  11. 11Engineers85 postings
  12. 12F-16 Avionics Technicians85 postings
  13. 13Structures Mechanics83 postings
  14. 14Avionics Engineers79 postings
  15. 15Systems Engineers66 postings
  16. 16Technicians66 postings
  17. 17Instrumentation Engineers53 postings
  18. 18Mass Properties Engineers51 postings
  19. 19Skillbridge Interns45 postings
  20. 20Aerospace Technicians43 postings

Top employers

  1. 01Aerotek668 postings
  2. 02Pacific Coast Avionics Corp275 postings
  3. 03Gulfstream Aerospace255 postings
  4. 04Hsgi206 postings
  5. 05Lockheed Martin161 postings
  6. 06PDS Tech150 postings
  7. 07Aviation Personnel128 postings
  8. 08Global Technical Services128 postings
  9. 09Amentum124 postings
  10. 10Strom Aviation106 postings
  11. 11General Atomics99 postings
  12. 12Boeing96 postings
  13. 13Skybridge Aviation94 postings
  14. 14Northrop Grumman93 postings
  15. 15RTX92 postings
  16. 16The Structures Company92 postings
  17. 17AAR85 postings
  18. 18Billings Flying Service75 postings
  19. 19Draken International68 postings
  20. 20L3Harris Technologies68 postings

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