Production
Aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers
Assemble, fit, fasten, and install parts of airplanes, space vehicles, or missiles, such as tails, wings, fuselage, bulkheads, stabilizers, landing gear, rigging and control equipment, or heating and ventilating systems.
Median pay
$65,380
Growth to 2035
−6%
declining
Openings a year
3,100
Time to qualify*
6 months
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
Calculate your switch to aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Hazardous conditions
Aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers: 64% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Read blueprints, illustrations, or specifications to determine layouts, sequences of operations, or identities or relationships of parts.
- Inspect or test installed units, parts, systems, or assemblies for fit, alignment, performance, defects, or compliance with standards, using measuring instruments or test equipment.
- Assemble parts, fittings, or subassemblies on aircraft, using layout tools, hand tools, power tools, or fasteners, such as bolts, screws, rivets, or clamps.
- Mark identifying information on tubing or cable assemblies, using etching devices, labels, rubber stamps, or other methods.
- Adjust, repair, rework, or replace parts or assemblies to ensure proper operation.
- Attach brackets, hinges, or clips to secure or support components or subassemblies, using bolts, screws, rivets, chemical bonding, or welding.
- Assemble prefabricated parts to form subassemblies.
- Clean aircraft structures, parts, or components, using aqueous, semi-aqueous, aliphatic hydrocarbon, or organic solvent cleaning products or techniques to reduce carbon or other harmful emissions.
Also called: Aircraft Assembler · Aircraft Line Assembler · Assembler · Assembly Riveter · Assembly Technician (Assembly Tech) · Sheet Metal Assembler and Riveter (SMAR) · Sheet Metal Mechanic · Sheet Metal Technician (Sheet Metal Tech)
Outlook and AI
Aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers held 34,400 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 32,500 by 2035 (−6%, declining; all jobs: +3.5%).
Productivity change - share decreases as collaborative robotics increase efficiency, allowing more output to be produced with the same amount of labor.
Compare with
- Aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers vs. Engine and other machine assemblers
- Aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers vs. Structural metal fabricators and fitters
- Aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers vs. Layout workers, metal and plastic
- Aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers vs. Avionics technician
- Aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers vs. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
- Aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers vs. Sheet metal worker
- Aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers vs. Millwright
- Aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers vs. Welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders