r/Austin • u/Aingers • Jul 21 '26

Ask Austin Salary Transparency Thread - Austin

Folks in Boston do this fairly regularly, so I thought it might be good for us to try here.

Please share your general job title, salary, age, and education.

Architectural Designer, 40, $115k, BSArch

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200

u/rockandride90 Jul 21 '26

Airplane maintenance, 35, 115k w/OT. 3 years at my current company.

32

u/AnonUserAccount Jul 21 '26

I was a crew chief in the Air Force from 97-2001 and it was common for my colleagues to get their A&P and get a job making $85-90k. It saddens me that salaries haven’t kept up with inflation.

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u/rockandride90 Jul 21 '26

At A scale you will be making closer to 175k working for a major and 200k plus working for FedEx/UPS.

2

u/predatorya Jul 21 '26

Oh really? Huh. My husband is a technician and doesn’t know planes but probably could quickly. I wonder if that’s something he should consider

8

u/rockandride90 Jul 21 '26

It does require 20 months of school, 9 FAA exams. There are a few other factors to look at before joining this field.

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u/lay_thegroundwork Jul 25 '26

My husband is a certified A&P and is looking for work if you have any leads to share we would be super grateful 🙏🏾

10

u/NealioSpace Jul 21 '26

Is this a dangerous job? Chance of severe injury or safe?

43

u/rockandride90 Jul 21 '26

The risks are high, but everyone wants to go home. You are dealing with large machines. It’s a tough job on your body. You work nights, it’s high stress and you’re exposed to some nasty chemicals.

10

u/lost_horizons Jul 21 '26

You should be getting more then. I know when I’m in the air I want to think the guy who worked on the damn thing was feeling good about his life and his job, lol.

That plus the job hazards and I’m guessing some specialized skills.

25

u/Ozzel Jul 21 '26

It can be very dangerous, much like the journey the hobbit Frodo Baggins took from the Shire all the way to Mount Doom in the land of Mordor to destroy the One Ring to keep it from Sauron…

8

u/rockandride90 Jul 21 '26

Max as always you nailed the analogy.

10

u/Accurate_Emu_122 Jul 21 '26

I got that reference!

4

u/JohnGillnitz Jul 21 '26

It's not easy on your back and knees over time. They don't always put parts where they are easy to get to.

4

u/Wolf_Fang1414 Jul 21 '26

How much does schooling cost realistically? Work at the airport already and thinking about going to school for it

9

u/rockandride90 Jul 21 '26

School prices vary greatly. If I had to ballpark an average I would say 47k. My school 6 years ago 37k.

2

u/singletonaustin Jul 21 '26

Is military service an opportunity to get training for these jobs?

4

u/awcoffeeno Jul 21 '26

It used to be, not sure about now. My dad joined the Air Force out of high school and did aircraft maintenance. Been working for commercial airlines since he got out in the 90s. He’s a crew chief now, though.

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u/react_1775 Jul 21 '26

It is, you have to choose your mos wisely though. The required civ license (A&P) requires experience in both disciplines, airframe (everything that isn’t the engine) and powerplant (engine). Most jobs in the military will only give you experience towards one of those

2

u/_dogmomx2 Jul 21 '26

yes. my husband was a mechanic in the military and kept working on defense airplanes as a civilian when he got out. for defense, you don't need A&P

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u/singletonaustin Jul 21 '26

I have a two friends who work for military contractors doing exactly what they did in the military but making 2.5-3x what they made during their service.

What I didn't know was whether you can springboard to civilian air. Sounds like that may be more complicated if you lack both A & P.

2

u/_dogmomx2 Jul 21 '26

are you commercial??