Skilled trades and making things · Ohio
Aircraft mechanic: what the job actually is
Inspecting, repairing and maintaining airplanes and their engines so they are safe to fly, under rules set by the Federal Aviation Administration.
By Nick Gonzalez, founder, U.S. Air Force veteranChecked against official Ohio sources Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025
The work
What this job actually is
- Inspecting and fixing aircraft structures, engines, landing gear and systems, following manuals and checklists exactly.
- Paperwork is part of the job. Every step gets documented and signed, because lives depend on it.
- You need a federal certificate. The FAA mechanic certificate has two ratings, Airframe and Powerplant. Holding both is called an A&P.
- Airline work often means nights, weekends and holidays, because planes get fixed when they are not flying.
- Hangars are cold in winter and hot in summer, and some work happens out on the ramp.
A Tuesday
What a normal day looks like
Not a good day or a bad one. The ordinary version, which is what you would actually be living.
- Night shift starts: read the logbook write-ups pilots left about each aircraft.
- Inspect a brake that a pilot reported as soft. Find a leak, replace the part.
- Look up the exact procedure in the maintenance manual. You do not work from memory.
- Fill out and sign the records for the repair.
- Help a crew with a scheduled engine inspection.
- Hand off to the morning shift so the plane can make its first flight.
Honestly
Who loves this, and who should not do it
- You love airplanes and want to understand how every part works.
- Following procedures exactly feels natural, not annoying.
- You take pride in work nobody sees but everyone depends on.
- You want a certificate that is recognized at airports nationwide.
- You cut corners when you are tired. In this job that is not allowed.
- Nights, weekends and holiday shifts are a dealbreaker.
- Paperwork drives you crazy.
- You want to be done with school quickly. The training takes time.
The route in
How you actually get there in Ohio
Meet the FAA basics
To get an FAA mechanic certificate you must be at least 18 and able to read, write, speak and understand English.Qualify through school or experience
Either graduate from an FAA-approved Aviation Maintenance Technician School (Part 147), or show at least 18 months of practical experience for one rating, or 30 months for both Airframe and Powerplant.Ohio Part 147 options
Sinclair College in Dayton offers an Aviation Maintenance Technology associate degree as a Part 147 school. Columbus State Community College's program is FAA-approved and prepares students for the General, Airframe and Powerplant tests.Pass the FAA tests
You must pass written tests plus an oral and a practical test, and pass all of them within 24 months.Work and grow
With experience you can add an Inspection Authorization. It requires holding both ratings for at least three years and actively maintaining aircraft for the two years before you apply.
While you are still in high school
- Miami Valley Career Technology Center near Dayton runs a high school aviation maintenance program through its own FAA-certified Part 147 A&P school, with College Credit Plus courses toward a Sinclair associate degree.
- Use College Credit Plus to take college courses free while in high school. Ohio public school students pay no tuition, books or fees at public colleges.
- Take physics, math and any shop class. Mechanics need to understand forces and read technical manuals.
- Visit a local airport and ask whether a maintenance shop would let you see the hangar.
Where this comes from: FAA — Become an aviation mechanic · eCFR — 14 CFR Part 65 Subpart D (Mechanics) · Sinclair College — Aviation Maintenance Technology · Columbus State Community College — Aviation Maintenance admissions · Miami Valley Career Technology Center — Aviation Maintenance Technician · Ohio Department of Education and Workforce — College Credit Plus. Rules change, so check the official page before you rely on a detail.
The money
What it pays in Ohio
Last on purpose. Pay matters, but it is a bad reason to pick a job you would dislike for thirty years.
- $80,570
- Median pay in Ohio, a year
- $38.74
- Median pay in Ohio, an hour
- 2,840
- People doing this job in Ohio
- $75,800
- Median pay in the Akron area, a year
Most people in Ohio earn between $51,490 (the lowest-paid tenth, usually new starters) and $132,850 (the highest-paid tenth) a year.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: Ohio and Akron, OH metro area. Median means half earn more and half earn less.
Try it this week
Follow a manual exactly
Find a maintenance procedure for something you own: a bike brake adjustment or a lawn mower spark plug change, from the official manual.
Do it exactly as written, step by step, without skipping anything.
Write a log entry: what you did, what parts you used, the date, and sign it.
Notice whether the careful, documented approach felt satisfying or tedious.
Questions to ask somebody who does it
- Did you go to a Part 147 school or qualify through experience?
- What shift do new mechanics usually work?
- What part of the FAA tests was hardest?
- How much of your day is paperwork?
- Would you choose airline, corporate or general aviation work again?
Can you own one?
Yes, with experience. A certificated mechanic can perform maintenance and alterations within their ratings, with some limits, such as major propeller repairs and instrument repairs. Many independent mechanics work on small private planes. Adding an Inspection Authorization lets you approve major repairs and do annual inspections, which is what makes an independent shop work.
Thinking about it? How to start a business in Ohio and the free Business 101 course are the place to begin.
Questions
Quick answers
- How much does a aircraft mechanic make in Ohio?
- The median pay for a aircraft mechanic in Ohio is $80,570 a year ($38.74 an hour), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for May 2025. Most people earn between $51,490 and $132,850.
- How do you become a aircraft mechanic in Ohio?
- Meet the FAA basics. Qualify through school or experience. Ohio Part 147 options. Pass the FAA tests. Work and grow.
- Can you own your own business as a aircraft mechanic in Ohio?
- Yes, with experience. A certificated mechanic can perform maintenance and alterations within their ratings, with some limits, such as major propeller repairs and instrument repairs. Many independent mechanics work on small private planes. Adding an Inspection Authorization lets you approve major repairs and do annual inspections, which is what makes an independent shop work.
Close cousins
Jobs like this one
- Diesel mechanicKeeping trucks, buses and other diesel-powered machines running, through inspections, diagnosis and heavy repair.$60,470 a year
- Automotive service technicianInspecting, diagnosing and repairing cars and light trucks, from oil changes and brakes to computer-controlled engines and electric vehicles.$48,710 a year
- Industrial maintenance mechanicKeeping a factory's machines running: fixing breakdowns fast, and doing the routine maintenance that stops them breaking in the first place.$65,130 a year
Still deciding?
Start with you, then look at the work
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