Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians vs Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay: $80K vs $103K Median Pay

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians vs Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay: 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 Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay if you would rather inspect, test, repair, or maintain electrical equipment in generating stations, substations, and in-service relays. Both list postsecondary nondegree award; compare training and prior experience separately. Prior experience in a related occupation is typically needed for Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay (less than 5 years).

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians and Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay. 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

Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay

National median pay (2025): $103,020
Route into the job: Postsecondary nondegree award; Prior related experience: less than 5 years; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience: Prior related experience: less than 5 years.
Training and licensing: More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate: Inspect and test equipment and circuits to identify malfunctions or defects, using wiring diagrams and testing devices such as ohmmeters, voltmeters, or ammeters.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 1,800

Know before you choose

BLS lists less than 5 years of related experience. This is normally reached through feeder roles, not directly from school.

See the full Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay brief

How the national numbers differ

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians has the edge on annual openings

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians is at 11,400 annual openings, compared with 1,800 annual openings for Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay.

Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay has the edge on projected growth

Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay is at 9.7% projected growth, compared with 5.4% projected growth for Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians.

Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay has the edge on median pay

Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay is at $103,020, compared with $79,870 for Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians.

67.3/ 100

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians

64.8/ 100

Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay

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 Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay

Dimension	Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay
Median pay (2025)	$79,870	$103,020
Pay percentile	71.9 percentile	84.8 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	5.4%	9.7%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	11,400	1,800
2025 employment	140,000	20,900
How you qualify	Postsecondary nondegree award	Postsecondary nondegree award; Prior related experience: less than 5 years; More than one month and up to 12 months 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.	Prior related experience: less than 5 years.
On-the-job training	BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.	More than one month and up to 12 months 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 Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay brief

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians vs Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians

Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay

How the national numbers differ

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians has the edge on annual openings

Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay has the edge on projected growth

Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay has the edge on median pay

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians vs Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay

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