Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians vs Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers: $80K vs $53K Median Pay

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians vs Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers: what changes?

Consider Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians if you want to diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul aircraft engines and assemblies, such as hydraulic and pneumatic systems. Consider Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers if you would rather install, repair, or adjust audio or television receivers, stereo systems, camcorders, video systems, or other electronic entertainment equipment in homes or other venues. Both list postsecondary nondegree award; compare training and prior experience separately.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians and Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians

National median pay (2025): $79,870
Route into the job: Postsecondary nondegree award
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Inspect completed work to certify that maintenance meets standards and that aircraft are ready for operation.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 11,400

Know before you choose

The work can involve real occupational hazards. Training, protective equipment, and routine safety discipline matter every day.

See the full Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians brief

Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers

National median pay (2025): $52,600
Route into the job: Postsecondary nondegree award; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate: Install, service, and repair electronic equipment or instruments such as televisions, radios, and videocassette recorders.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 2,200

Know before you choose

This is a small national occupation (22,400 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median suggests.

See the full Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers brief

How the national numbers differ

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians has the edge on median pay

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians is at $79,870, compared with $52,600 for Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers.

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians has the edge on annual openings

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians is at 11,400 annual openings, compared with 2,200 annual openings for Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers.

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians has the edge on projected growth

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians is at 5.4% projected growth, compared with 4.8% projected growth for Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers.

67.3/ 100

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians

46.1/ 100

Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians vs Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers

Dimension	Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians	Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers
Median pay (2025)	$79,870	$52,600
Pay percentile	71.9 percentile	37.8 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	5.4%	4.8%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	11,400	2,200
2025 employment	140,000	22,400
How you qualify	Postsecondary nondegree award	Postsecondary nondegree award; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
O*NET preparation group	Job Zone 3	Job Zone 3
Related work experience	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job training	BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.	One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians brief Read Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers brief

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians vs Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians

Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers

How the national numbers differ

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians has the edge on median pay

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians has the edge on annual openings

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians has the edge on projected growth

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians vs Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers

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