ChooseField
Quick answer · Balanced priorities

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians vs Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics: 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 Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics if you would rather diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul automotive vehicles. 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 Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics. 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
What this means in practice

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Start with earnings, the route into the job, training, available openings, and a day-to-day reality.

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

Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics

National median pay (2025)
$50,620
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
Inspect vehicles for damage and record findings so that necessary repairs can be made.
Annual openings (2025–2035)
66,200
Know before you choose

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

See the full Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics brief
See scores, detailed data, and how the comparison works

How the national numbers differ

1

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians has the edge on median pay

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians is at $79,870, compared with $50,620 for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics.

2

Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics has the edge on annual openings

Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics is at 66,200 annual openings, compared with 11,400 annual openings for Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians.

3

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians has the edge on projected growth

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians is at 5.4% projected growth, compared with 5% projected growth for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics.

67.3/ 100

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians

vs
62.7/ 100

Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics

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 Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics

DimensionAircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansAutomotive Service Technicians and Mechanics
Median pay (2025)$79,870$50,620
Pay percentile71.9 percentile34.3 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)5.4%5%
Annual openings (2025–2035)11,40066,200
2025 employment140,000825,800
How you qualifyPostsecondary nondegree awardPostsecondary nondegree award; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
O*NET preparation groupJob Zone 3Job Zone 3
Related work experienceNo prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job trainingBLS 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 briefRead Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics brief

Try another comparison

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians vs Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment

Compare pay, growth, education, and the tradeoffs that affect the decision.

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians
$79,870 · 5.4% growth
Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment
$84,890 · 5.4% growth
Compare careers →

Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics vs Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers

Compare pay, growth, education, and the tradeoffs that affect the decision.

Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics
$50,620 · 5% growth
Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers
$52,600 · 4.8% growth
Compare careers →

Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics vs HVAC Technician

Compare pay, growth, education, and the tradeoffs that affect the decision.

Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics
$50,620 · 5% growth
HVAC Technician
$61,010 · 10.9% growth
Compare careers →
ChooseField compares fields using public labor-market and professional sources.