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Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics vs Avionics Technicians: what changes?

Consider Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics if you want to diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul automotive vehicles. Consider Avionics Technicians if you would rather install, inspect, test, adjust, or repair avionics equipment, such as radar, radio, navigation, and missile control systems in aircraft or space vehicles. Both list postsecondary nondegree award; compare training and prior experience separately.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics and Avionics Technicians. 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.

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

Avionics Technicians

National median pay (2025)
$82,280
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
Test and troubleshoot instruments, components, and assemblies, using circuit testers, oscilloscopes, or voltmeters.
Annual openings (2025–2035)
1,700
Know before you choose

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

See the full Avionics Technicians brief
See scores, detailed data, and how the comparison works

How the national numbers differ

1

Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics has the edge on annual openings

Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics is at 66,200 annual openings, compared with 1,700 annual openings for Avionics Technicians.

2

Avionics Technicians has the edge on median pay

Avionics Technicians is at $82,280, compared with $50,620 for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics.

3

Avionics Technicians has the edge on projected growth

Avionics Technicians is at 9.4% projected growth, compared with 5% projected growth for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics.

62.7/ 100

Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics

vs
61.1/ 100

Avionics Technicians

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

Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics vs Avionics Technicians

DimensionAutomotive Service Technicians and MechanicsAvionics Technicians
Median pay (2025)$50,620$82,280
Pay percentile34.3 percentile74.3 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)5%9.4%
Annual openings (2025–2035)66,2001,700
2025 employment825,80019,800
How you qualifyPostsecondary nondegree award; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensingPostsecondary nondegree award
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 trainingOne month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.

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

Read Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics briefRead Avionics Technicians brief

Try another comparison

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 →

Avionics Technicians vs Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers

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

Avionics Technicians
$82,280 · 9.4% growth
Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers
$52,600 · 4.8% growth
Compare careers →

Avionics Technicians vs HVAC Technician

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

Avionics Technicians
$82,280 · 9.4% growth
HVAC Technician
$61,010 · 10.9% growth
Compare careers →
ChooseField compares fields using public labor-market and professional sources.