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Aircraft mechanic salary in California

Updated October 31, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$86,100median pay per year in California, or $41.40 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $53,860lowest 10% earn less
  2. $68,39025th percentile
  3. $86,100median
  4. $99,65075th percentile
  5. $116,690top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $79,870[3]

The median pay for aircraft mechanics in California was $86,100 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $6,230 higher than the US median[6].

Jobs in CA
12,590[4]
Rank by median pay
10 of 50[5]
Compared with US median
+7.8%[6]

How much do aircraft mechanics make in California?

The median wage for aircraft mechanics in California was $86,100 a year, or $41.40 an hour[1]. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. The average was close, at $86,110 a year[7].

Across the US, the median was $79,870[3]. California came in $6,230 (7.8%) above that[6]. California had the 10th highest median among the 50 states with a published figure[5]. Compared with all jobs in the state, aircraft mechanics earned $27,860 more than the all-occupation median of $58,240[8].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $53,860, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $116,690[2]. Among metro areas, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara had the highest median at $98,760[9]. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont had a median of $93,400[10]. OEWS counts wage and salary workers only. It leaves out the self-employed, and it does not include nonproduction bonuses or the cost of benefits such as health insurance[11].

California vs US pay

Pay for aircraft mechanics in California next to the national figures[1][3].

CAUS
Median per year$86,100[1]$79,870[3]
Median per hour$41.40[1]$38.40[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$53,860[2]$48,780[12]
Top 10% earn more than$116,690[2]$128,890[12]
Jobs12,590[4]138,090[3]

Pay by metro area in California

Metro areas in California with the most jobs for aircraft mechanics, and the median pay in each[10].

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA[10]$83,2505,020
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$87,5601,720
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$81,4401,120
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$93,400940
Bakersfield-Delano, CA$91,750710
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$82,420510
Fresno, CA$71,240320
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$98,760260

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for aircraft mechanics in the states that border California, highest first[13].

StateMedian per yearJobs
Nevada[13]$94,8902,570
Oregon$82,8501,080
Arizona$75,3005,670

Median pay for aircraft mechanics in every state

Job outlook and training

Across the US, jobs for aircraft mechanics are projected to grow 5.4% from 2025 to 2035[14]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: postsecondary nondegree award[15].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does an aircraft mechanic make in California?
The median was $86,100 a year in May 2025[1]. The US median was $79,870[3].
How much does an aircraft mechanic make an hour in California?
The median was $41.40 an hour[1]. The 25th percentile was $32.88 an hour and the 75th was $47.91[16].
Which city in California pays aircraft mechanics the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara had the highest median among metro areas with a published figure, at $98,760 a year[9].
Is California a good state for aircraft mechanics?
California had the 10th highest median annual wage out of 50 states[5]. Its median was 7.8% above the US median[6].
What do you need to become an aircraft mechanic in California?
Across the US, the typical entry education is a postsecondary nondegree award[15]. This is a US figure, not a California one.

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians in California was $86,100 per year and $41.40 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians in California: 10th percentile $53,860, 25th percentile $68,390, 75th percentile $99,650, 90th percentile $116,690. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians in the US as a whole was $79,870 per year and $38.40 per hour, with about 138,090 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 12,590 people worked as Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians in California (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: California had the 10th highest median annual wage for Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians out of the 50 states with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians in California ($86,100) was $6,230 (7.8%) higher than the US median ($79,870). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians in California was $86,110 per year and $41.40 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians in California was $27,860 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($58,240). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 17 metro areas in or partly in California with a published median for Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA had the highest median annual wage, $98,760. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians in the US: 10th percentile $48,780, 25th percentile $62,630, 75th percentile $99,130, 90th percentile $128,890. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians in states that border California (highest first): Nevada $94,890; Oregon $82,850; Arizona $75,300. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians is projected to grow 5.4% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 11,400 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
  15. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), typical path into Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians: education needed for entry: Postsecondary nondegree award; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians in California: 10th percentile $25.90, 25th percentile $32.88, 75th percentile $47.91, 90th percentile $56.10. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only California. Job outlook and entry requirements are national (US) figures: BLS does not publish them by state in our sources. Figures labelled “CareerFacts calculation” are simple differences between the BLS numbers shown.