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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
Same job title, wildly different paychecks. Here's why. The national median salary for Aircraft Mechanics in 2026 is $79,144, with entry-level positions averaging $56,984 and senior roles reaching $112,385. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $144,160, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
Aircraft Mechanic falls within the Skilled Trades sector, specifically in Installation & Maintenance. The typical education path involves FAA certification. The career outlook? Growing. Work style is hangar/field — which means location flexibility varies, and so does the premium different markets are willing to pay. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
$87,720 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Aircraft Mechanic in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $144,160 — $87,720 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($56,440). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. In the right market, this is a six-figure career path.
Breaking down the numbers: entry-level Aircraft Mechanics average $56,984, the median sits at $79,144, and senior earners pull in $112,385. That $55,401 gap represents the full earning trajectory of this career. The median is $1,223 below the national median household income of $80,367 — which tells you location and cost of living are critical factors in making this salary work.
Entry-level numbers tell a different story: The top 3 paying cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) average $134,640 — while the bottom 3 (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) average $56,893. That $77,747 gap means choosing the right city could be the equivalent of a major promotion. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
A Aircraft Mechanic in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $144,160 — $87,720 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($56,440). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Aircraft Mechanic is $56,984, while senior-level (P90) earners average $112,385. That $55,401 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
Even at the 10th percentile, Aircraft Mechanics average $56,984 nationally. That's a higher starting floor than many careers' median — a signal of strong baseline demand and compensation.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $56,984 | $79,144 | $112,385 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £31,321 | £43,501 | £61,772 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$47,938 | CA$66,581 | CA$94,544 |
| Australia | 13 | A$58,591 | A$81,377 | A$115,556 |
| Sweden | 24 | 328,591 kr | 456,376 kr | 648,054 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $68,777 | $95,523 | $135,643 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $66,463 | $92,310 | $131,080 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $66,096 | $91,800 | $130,356 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $61,200 | $85,000 | $120,700 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $60,466 | $83,980 | $119,252 |
| Washington | 8 | $59,303 | $82,365 | $116,958 |
| New York | 5 | $55,815 | $77,520 | $110,079 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $55,814 | $77,520 | $110,078 |
| Florida | 22 | $55,392 | $76,933 | $109,244 |
| Colorado | 11 | $54,435 | $75,604 | $107,357 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $54,346 | $75,480 | $107,182 |
| Nevada | 5 | $54,248 | $75,344 | $106,989 |
| Arizona | 12 | $53,978 | $74,970 | $106,457 |
| Oregon | 5 | $53,856 | $74,800 | $106,216 |
| Idaho | 3 | $53,693 | $74,573 | $105,894 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $53,268 | $73,984 | $105,057 |
| Utah | 4 | $53,122 | $73,780 | $104,768 |
| Virginia | 7 | $52,247 | $72,566 | $103,043 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $51,571 | $71,627 | $101,710 |
| Alaska | 1 | $51,408 | $71,400 | $101,388 |
| Illinois | 5 | $50,821 | $70,584 | $100,229 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $49,558 | $68,831 | $97,740 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $48,960 | $68,000 | $96,560 |
| Montana | 1 | $48,960 | $68,000 | $96,560 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $48,797 | $67,773 | $96,238 |
| Texas | 40 | $48,556 | $67,439 | $95,763 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $48,471 | $67,320 | $95,595 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $48,226 | $66,980 | $95,112 |
| Georgia | 6 | $48,062 | $66,753 | $94,790 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $47,981 | $66,640 | $94,629 |
| Kansas | 4 | $47,736 | $66,300 | $94,146 |
| Michigan | 6 | $47,573 | $66,073 | $93,824 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $47,002 | $65,280 | $92,698 |
| Maryland | 1 | $47,002 | $65,280 | $92,698 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $46,512 | $64,600 | $91,732 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $46,512 | $64,600 | $91,732 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $45,288 | $62,900 | $89,318 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $45,043 | $62,560 | $88,835 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $44,431 | $61,710 | $87,628 |
| Missouri | 4 | $44,431 | $61,710 | $87,628 |
| Alabama | 5 | $44,260 | $61,472 | $87,290 |
| Indiana | 3 | $43,574 | $60,520 | $85,938 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $43,574 | $60,520 | $85,938 |
| Iowa | 2 | $43,085 | $59,840 | $84,973 |
| Ohio | 6 | $43,003 | $59,727 | $84,812 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $41,126 | $57,120 | $81,110 |
At the state level, California leads with an average Aircraft Mechanic median of $95,523 across 61 cities, followed by Massachusetts ($92,310) and Hawaii ($91,800). Zoom out to the career trajectory, and the entry-level picture changes. The lowest-paying states — Mississippi, Ohio, Iowa — offer medians between $57,120 and $59,840. But state averages mask city-level variation that's often just as large.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($144,160 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $68,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $144,160 | 212 | $68,000 | $86,318 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $134,640 | 198 | $68,000 | $81,077 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $125,120 | 184 | $68,000 | $75,836 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $123,080 | 181 | $68,000 | $74,713 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $121,040 | 178 | $68,000 | $73,590 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $120,360 | 177 | $68,000 | $73,216 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $120,360 | 177 | $68,000 | $73,216 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $117,640 | 173 | $68,000 | $71,718 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $117,640 | 173 | $68,000 | $71,718 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $114,920 | 169 | $68,000 | $70,221 |
From a career planning perspective, Aircraft Mechanic offers a $55,401 earning range. The 2.0× progression is steady — not explosive, but reliable. The typical entry requires FAA certification. Day-to-day, expect hangar/field work environments. With data from 288 cities, the geographic flexibility is substantial — this career travels well.
The weighted national median salary for Aircraft Mechanics is $79,144 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $56,984, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $112,385.
The highest-paying city for Aircraft Mechanics is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $144,160. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($144,160), Santa Clara ($134,640), Irvine ($125,120). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Aircraft Mechanic salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $56,440. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Aircraft Mechanics (10th percentile) average $56,984 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $103,795. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Aircraft Mechanics average $112,385 nationally — $55,401 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Aircraft Mechanics can earn up to $204,707.
The top-paying states for Aircraft Mechanics are California ($95,523 median), Massachusetts ($92,310 median), Hawaii ($91,800 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Aircraft Mechanic involves FAA certification. The field is in the Skilled Trades sector (Installation & Maintenance), and the career outlook is growing. Work style is typically hangar/field.
With a national median of $79,144 and representation across 288 metro areas, Aircraft Mechanic offers a foundation that can be strengthened by strategic location choices. The $55,401 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: growing.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.