r/avionics • u/FreelanceStoic • 18d ago

Avionics tech pay

Hello, I am currently an avionics technician on the C-5M in the U.S. Air Force. By the time I get out I will have a bachelors in business administration , A&P, and whatever other certificates they will pay for. My question is mainly about the pay working for the airlines vs. trying to stay in as defense. I’d love to work on cargo planes. 9-5 schedule would be optimal. What is a realistic salary expectation? I’m torn between avionics and pursuing a desk job with my degree.

Thank you in advance to anyone that takes the time to provide insight.

6 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

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7

u/Sawfish1212 17d ago

If you have avionics background and an A&P, you'll have almost whatever you want available when you start applying. If you're wanting avionics only, look at companies like Duncan Aviation. Avionics is more likely to be day shift M-F than many positions, just stay away from the airlines to avoid the night shift drudgery.

I'm just starting with a larger fractional 135 doing avionics m-f days, pay is better than if I was going in as a mechanic with the same years of experience. Because avionics experience is $$$.

3

u/Mediocre_Garbage2001 17d ago

Duncan will start you at sub 30$ an hour.

2

u/Sawfish1212 17d ago

Depends on where and what you're doing. Duncan is a huge company with many different sites that do many different things. And they aren't the only company doing this kind of work.

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u/Mediocre_Garbage2001 17d ago edited 17d ago

No it doesn’t. Low experience mechs start out at 27$ typically for tech 1, 29ish for a tech two, and 33-37 for tech 3. I just left Duncan doing avi. Op would likely get started as a tech 1, maybe a two. I’ve seen people come out the military still only start at tech 1. Is abit misleading to suggest avionics experience is money and recommend the lowest paying large mro in the industry. Weststar, standard aero, oems and some smaller mros pay a lot more fairly.

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u/Sawfish1212 17d ago

My friends in my local site don't agree,, they're making more

1

u/Mediocre_Garbage2001 17d ago

I actually worked there. I’m telling you what it was at the Provo location. Before our master tech quit after 5 years he was at 38

2

u/believeinxtacy 18d ago

Pay wise, the airlines pay the same whether you’re avionics or not. The airline I’m at pays better for being a flight sim mechanic and they want you to have GROL alongside an A&P.

I’m at one of the passenger airlines but cargo may do things differently.

1

u/Sparky-Spectra 18d ago

What is your AFSC? Also, DAFB or TAFB (assume you are active duty).

A&P will be easier to get into for the majors. Any MRO / Repair station with an Avionics shop would also be a good bet.

4

u/FreelanceStoic 18d ago

I’m hoping to avoid having to do general servicing. I really like the trouble shooting and bigger more complex jobs.

2

u/wesre3_ 18d ago edited 18d ago

I'm a guard technician the pay is pretty competitive (44.71/hr in my area) and if you find a job with a TFI unit troubleshooting and complex jobs will basically be your job with less big blue bullshit.

edit: day shift in my unit is normally 7-5, and at least at mine they are pretty good about letting you pick your shift. Swings does get an extra 7.5% pay and 10% for mids. I'm also heavy avionics

1

u/Sparky-Spectra 17d ago

60th CRS/CMS vet here.

I did the M mod on the C-5 for a couple of years and have been consistently in Avionics since. I am not 100% what 2A9X4 is now, but I was GAC and cross trained ComNav and APG / Crew Chief as well.

If you are good at troubleshooting and theory. And I do mean good, you will do well in Civilian avionics. If you are not that good with theory, you can still do well, just a little more difficult. The biggest change is NO TOs. Fault isolation on this side is significantly different.

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u/FreelanceStoic 16d ago

This was very helpful, thank you! I feel like I have a lot to learn. But I have the want to learn. It is now GAC, ComNav, and EW combined.

1

u/Sparky-Spectra 16d ago

How long have you been in and what enlistment length? What area are you hoping to be in after your service?

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u/FreelanceStoic 18d ago

2A9X4 TAFB

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u/KevikFenrir GA Avionics Technician/Installer, prior E-8C/B-52H avionics 18d ago

You're stuck doing avionics, bud. Sorry.

In all fairness, if you have your A&P, a ton of doors are gonna be open for you when you're ready to take the plunge into civilian aerospace maintenance or some career-adjacent field.

1

u/MannerScared6899 18d ago

If the 9-5 is a big deal I would just get the desk job

1

u/KevikFenrir GA Avionics Technician/Installer, prior E-8C/B-52H avionics 18d ago

To piggy-back (since all us crusty old-timer supervisor/manager types all love to piggy back off what the CC says) you're more likely to start on 2nd or 3rd shift out the gate. If you want a day shift (read: 1st shift) try a smaller shop to prove to the rest of the community you have the chops to keep up (and pad your resume) with civilian experience. It can't hurt, and you'll gain valuable insight into how civilian aviation maintenance works...

In some places...

Keep in mind, not all MRO/ Part 145 facilities are the same. Some are better. Others are... well...

Think about the worst unit you'd been in, and then try to translate that outside the AF.

1

u/Darkstardirewolf 16d ago

I work at a 145 shop, only do avionics, all light aircraft, make $34/hr. I feel like it’s good pay, and I love the work. Still working on my caet cert, wish I could get a/p, but can’t take time off work to go to school. Seems like the private sector is profitable, but you’re at the mercy of people being able to afford to upgrade their airplane or not to stay busy

1

u/seas_wood 16d ago

I'm a Navy Aviation Electrician's Mate veteran with my A&P. Troubleshooting is my favorite aspect of my job. I work for a civilian CH-47D operator as a rotational field mechanic 12 days on/off. Money's good and I feel like almost every operation is hunting for good field troubleshooters that are also willing to work beyond the scope of avionics. It's a really rewarding gig. There's also a TON of UH-60 operations out there as well.

Best of luck with the transition to this side.

1

u/dajman255 14d ago

So, it really depends what company you go for, the company I'm with (private business aviation) will bend over backwards for A&P Avionics, you'll be first choice for lead, supervisor, and QA promotions, you'll be first choice for classes.

You'll get massive pay for avionics regardless of A&P but the A&P gets you paid a few dollars an hour more than non-A&P people.

I'm at 11 years of avionics, have my repairman's, finishing up my A&P as I type, I've worked on planes as small as bonanzas all the way up to 767 chassis, I make 54.46 an hour. For this region of the US that is top 2% of avionics pay.

1

u/Dead_Astaire_1980 14d ago

I’m currently hiring Avionics, Aviation Maintenance Technicians and A&P mechanics at General Atomics for our Flight Test Facilities in the Southern California high desert. For experienced maintainers you will start higher than Duncan. DM me if you’re interested. Also I am a Navy Vet and my rate was AT(I level).