Installation, maintenance and repair
Avionics technician
Install, inspect, test, adjust, or repair avionics equipment, such as radar, radio, navigation, and missile control systems in aircraft or space vehicles.
Median pay
$82,280
Growth to 2035
+9%
faster than average
Openings a year
1,700
Time to qualify*
12 months
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Avionics technician
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- On-the-job training
- None
- Prior experience
- None
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
Outdoors in all weather
Hazardous conditions
Avionics technician: 21% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Adjust, repair, or replace malfunctioning components or assemblies, using hand tools or soldering irons.
- Lay out installation of aircraft assemblies and systems, following documentation such as blueprints, manuals, and wiring diagrams.
- Keep records of maintenance and repair work.
- Test and troubleshoot instruments, components, and assemblies, using circuit testers, oscilloscopes, or voltmeters.
- Connect components to assemblies such as radio systems, instruments, magnetos, inverters, and in-flight refueling systems, using hand tools and soldering irons.
- Install electrical and electronic components, assemblies, and systems in aircraft, using hand tools, power tools, or soldering irons.
- Coordinate work with that of engineers, technicians, and other aircraft maintenance personnel.
- Set up and operate ground support and test equipment to perform functional flight tests of electrical and electronic systems.
Also called: Aircraft Electrical Systems Specialist · Aircraft Technician (Aircraft Tech) · Aviation Electrical Technician (Aviation Electrical Tech) · Aviation Electronics Technician (Aviation Electronics Tech) · Avionic Technician (Avionic Tech) · Avionics Electrical Technician (AET) · Avionics Electronics Technician (Avionics Electronics Tech) · Avionics Installer
Outlook and AI
Avionics technicians held 19,800 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 21,600 by 2035 (+9%, faster than average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Avionics technician vs. Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians
- Avionics technician vs. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
- Avionics technician vs. Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians
- Avionics technician vs. Aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers
- Avionics technician vs. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment
- Avionics technician vs. Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment
- Avionics technician vs. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians
- Avionics technician vs. Calibration technologists and technicians