Most salary articles quote BLS data that's a year old before it's published. This one is different: we pulled the numbers from every live listing on our own job board — 214 open aviation maintenance positions from 18 employers, refreshed daily from employer career sites and USAJobs. This is what companies are advertising right now, July 2026.
The headline numbers
- 214 live openings from 18 employers (airlines, MROs, aerospace manufacturers, federal agencies, and schools)
- 66% of listings disclose pay — 142 of 214
- Median advertised pay: ~$87,400/yr (annualized across all listings that disclose)
- Hourly roles: median $37.25/hr (~$77,500/yr at full time)
- Salaried roles: median $128,250/yr — skewed high because most salaried postings are federal Aviation Safety Inspector positions, which require years of A&P experience
- Full advertised range: ~$59,000 to ~$188,500 annualized
The gap between the hourly and salaried medians tells the real story of this career: you start as an hourly wrench-turner in the $30s and — with experience, an IA, or a move into inspection or instruction — the six-figure roles open up.
Where the jobs are
The top states by live openings on our board right now:
| State | Open roles |
|---|---|
| California | 20 |
| North Carolina | 15 |
| Texas | 14 |
| Alaska | 12 |
| Florida | 11 |
| Illinois | 11 |
| Virginia | 10 |
Alaska punching above its weight is no accident — bush carriers and federal inspector positions there frequently come with pay premiums. Browse any state's live listings on our state job pages.
The trend nobody talks about: schools are hiring too
The single biggest non-federal employer on our board right now isn't an airline — it's a Part 147 school network hiring A&P instructors, with 39 open instructor positions nationwide. The instructor shortage is real: schools can't expand enrollment without certificated mechanics willing to teach. If you have your A&P plus a few years of experience and want weekends off, instruction is a legitimately underrated path.
Federal jobs dominate the count — here's why that matters
142 of our 214 live listings are federal (FAA Aviation Safety Inspectors and WG-8852 Aircraft Mechanics at DoD and other agencies). Federal postings publish exact pay ranges by law, real application deadlines, and locality-adjusted salaries. They're also the roles most new A&Ps never think to apply for. An entry WG mechanic slot won't match cargo-airline top-of-scale, but the pension, stability, and hiring preference for veterans make them worth a look — filter the job board by Federal.
How to use these numbers
- Check the take-home, not the sticker. Every listing on our board with disclosed pay now shows an estimated monthly take-home (federal tax + FICA + your state's income tax) right on the job page. A $75K offer in Texas beats a $80K offer in Oregon.
- Compare against your scenario with the salary calculator — employer type, experience, state, and credentials.
- Filter by your school. Pick your Part 147 school on the job board and see employers that recruit from it, plus everyone hiring in your state.
FAQs
What is the average A&P mechanic salary in 2026?
Based on 142 live job listings that disclose pay on our board (July 2026), the median advertised pay is about $87,400 per year annualized. Hourly roles have a median of $37.25/hr; salaried roles (mostly federal inspector positions) have a median of $128,250.
Do most aviation maintenance jobs list their pay?
About two thirds do — 66% of the live listings on our board disclose a pay range. Federal jobs always disclose; private employers increasingly do because pay-transparent listings get more applicants.
Which state has the most A&P mechanic jobs?
On our board right now: California (20 open roles), followed by North Carolina (15) and Texas (14). Alaska has an outsized count (12) relative to its population, driven by bush carriers and federal positions.
Can I make six figures as an aircraft mechanic?
Yes — the top of our advertised range is ~$188,500. Six-figure roles cluster in three places: senior/lead positions at cargo and major airlines, federal Aviation Safety Inspector roles, and specialized inspection (IA) work. Most require 5+ years of experience past the certificate.
Methodology: figures computed from all live listings on the getmyanp.com job board on July 2, 2026 (214 openings, 18 employers; 142 listings with disclosed pay). Hourly rates annualized at 2,080 hours. Listings are ingested daily from employer career sites (Greenhouse/Lever) and USAJobs. This reflects advertised pay for open positions, not wages of currently employed mechanics — for that, see our full salary guide.
