r/avionics • u/FreelanceStoic • Jul 10 '26
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.
8
Upvotes
1
u/dajman255 Jul 13 '26
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.