Global shortages of aircraft mechanics and commercial airline pilots could translate to civilian career opportunities for members of the military.
And thanks to military and veteran education benefits, even personnel who weren’t involved in aviation during their service could gain the skills to qualify for a profession where the pay is growing in response to demand.
Read More: These Military and Veteran Education Benefits Cover Aviation Training
The U.S. aviation industry is already dealing with a shortage of aircraft mechanics that’s projected to nearly double by 2028, from a shortage of 17,000 to 30,000. As many as 45,000 mechanics could retire from the profession in the next 10 years, according to consulting firm Oliver Wyman. Worldwide, Boeing estimates the need for maintenance technicians to reach 710,000 over the next 20 years.
Meanwhile, in the cockpit, the industry continues to grapple with a shortage of airline pilots globally, which is expected to call for 660,000 new pilots in that same 20-year timeframe, according to Boeing.
Training You’ll Need
Airline pilots generally need at least a bachelor’s degree and experience as a military or commercial pilot before joining the airlines, according to the BLS. Commercial pilots who work for other businesses besides the airlines may need only flight training to qualify. Both types of pilots must become licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Mechanics and technicians usually need a credential such as a certificate from the FAA, though some may train on the job or during their military service.
What You’ll Make
The airlines compensate pilots relatively well. The median annual wage for pilots, copilot and flight engineers was about $226,000 in 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For all commercial pilots, the median dropped substantially to $122,670.
Now the shortage of mechanics and maintenance technicians has started to push wages up for maintenance technicians, according to Oliver Wyman.
In some of the most populous sectors of aviation, such as “support activities for air transportation” and “scheduled air transportation,” aircraft mechanics and service technicians made $80,000-$90,000 in 2023.
However, the highest rates of pay went to those mechanics and technicians who worked in specialized industries outside typical aviation businesses. Aircraft mechanics and maintenance technicians who worked in oil and gas extraction in 2023 made the most, with a median annual salary of about $119,000; while those who worked in the “management of companies and enterprises” made about $106,000.
Texas, Florida, California, Oklahoma and Georgia were home to the most aircraft mechanics and maintenance technicians in 2023.
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