Installation, Maintenance, and Repair · Career brief

Avionics Technicians

Is it a good career to pursue?

The 30-second read

Avionics Technicians at a glance

Six signals to look at before you spend time on the full guide.

1Pay

$82,280

Above the middle on pay

2025 national median. Above the middle of ChooseField careers for pay.

2Demand

9.4%

Strong projected growth

Projected employment growth for 2025–2035. Top 10% for growth among careers on ChooseField.

3Openings

1,700

Relatively fewer openings

Average openings per year in 2025–2035, including replacement hiring. Below the middle of ChooseField careers for openings.

4Route in

Certificate / award

A four-year degree is not the typical entry route

Postsecondary nondegree award. Prior related work is not typically required.

5The work

Hands-on

Practical work with tools, systems, or physical environments

Test and troubleshoot instruments, components, and assemblies, using circuit testers, oscilloscopes, or voltmeters.

6The catch

Know this first

What could make this a poor fit

This is a small national occupation (19,800 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median suggests.

ChooseField take

The standout national signal is growth; it ranks in the top quarter of ChooseField careers. It makes the most sense if hands-on work appeals to you and you are comfortable with a certificate or nondegree award. Main tradeoff: This is a small national occupation (19,800 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median…

Before choosing, compare:Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers HVAC Technician Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics

National labor-market measures: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. Work-profile signals: O*NET. See sources and caveats.

Compare Avionics Technicians with another field Explore rankings in Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Open shareable infographic

Want the evidence behind the snapshot?

Market and path

Pay, outlook, and the route in

National median pay (2025)

$82,280

A midpoint for workers nationwide, not a starting salary.

2025–2035 outlook

9.4%employment growth1,700openings per year

Openings include replacement hiring, not only newly created jobs.

Typical entry route

Postsecondary nondegree award

BLS reports the usual education, related experience, and on-the-job training, not a guaranteed minimum for every employer.

2025 employment

19,800

A small national occupation; local availability may be uneven.

Source: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 occupational projections ↗ · Avionics technicians (49-2091).

Actual responsibilities

What you would be trusted to own

Selected O*NET task statements, not a list of traits that applies to almost every career.

Test and troubleshoot instruments, components, and assemblies, using circuit testers, oscilloscopes, or voltmeters.
Keep records of maintenance and repair work.
Install electrical and electronic components, assemblies, and systems in aircraft, using hand tools, power tools, or soldering irons.
Coordinate work with that of engineers, technicians, and other aircraft maintenance personnel.

Decision-changing realities

What could make this a poor fit

This is a small national occupation (19,800 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median suggests.
Deadline pressure is a recurring condition rather than an occasional emergency.
Hands-on manipulation of tools, controls, or objects occupies a meaningful part of the workday.

Work profile

What the work emphasizes

O*NET importance scores. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Documenting/Recording Information4.4
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge4.4
Getting Information4.4
Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment4.3
Making Decisions and Solving Problems4.2

Interest profile

Career interests

O*NET interest scores describe work someone may enjoy, not personality requirements. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Relative mix of the interest scores below, not percentages of your workday.

Realistic7.0
Conventional4.4
Investigative4.3
Social1.4
Artistic1.2
Enterprising1.1

Preparation

What the training must make you competent at

Subject matter

Computers and Electronics Mechanical Engineering and Technology Telecommunications

Before choosing the major or training

Run a cheaper test first

Take a supervised shop, maker, or trade class and finish one project while following its measurement, cleanup, and safety rules.
Ask an early-career worker which beginner task consumes the most time, what makes new hires quit, and what school or training failed to simulate.

The fuller career guide

How the evidence fits together

Pay and demand: reading the benchmark

The pay and outlook figures describe Avionics technicians nationally. They do not establish the salary or number of vacancies available in your area.

Median pay is the middle wage across workers, not a starting offer. Projected openings include replacements as well as growth; neither measure predicts an individual worker's job security.

Before choosing a program

O*NET lists Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Speaking among this occupation's skills. Ask a program to show the assignments, supervised practice, and assessment that develop these skills. Compare those examples with local job descriptions.

Common questions

Questions people ask about this career

Can I enter this occupation without related work experience?

BLS does not assign a related-experience requirement to the occupation. Employers may still ask for placements, supervised practice, a portfolio, or experience with particular tools. Check entry-level vacancies separately from experienced roles.

What should I check before paying for training?

Get the full prerequisite and completion timeline, total cost, placement arrangements, and any licensing eligibility in writing. Ask local employers whether they hire graduates from the route you are considering and whether paid training is available.

Adjacent options