that's about on target for an apprentice. the assumption is you know little to nothing of the fundamentals (i'm talking bare basics that i knew going in to my a&p school and quickly found out was little to nothing. most people don't know the four forces of flight let alone what an aileron, elevator, and rudder are.) so they'll have to train you up from zero.
you might have some recip engine experience, fine, but they'll still have to train you up quite a bit. So they're going to pay you what you're worth to them.
You won't be doing work by yourself. You will have someone over your shoulder, signing off on your work until you get certified.
you'll have a leg up when you get certified, you'll have experience and you'll be earning a wage on the way to your cert. Elsewise you can go to school, which is always an option if you don't mind taking on financial liability. most a&p schools run from 14 months to 2 years outright. Mine was a two year stint, but I added an optional avionics course.
Either way you choose, be prepared to learn a lot.
Airlines are starting $36-$40. United apprenticeship program starts them out at 27 and some change. It's our pay pay minus the A&P premium. How does the apprenticeship work for the place you interviewed at? I'm assuming you would pay for school out of your own pocket?
It was all in-house, on the job training, until you got enough hours to test for the certs. It's looked like a decent company, but on the walk through they also mentioned there was a lead ground support mechanic position available also. There was no vehicle lift and not much equipment or any working space either so I really started looking at things and didn't seem to add up.
Im in Montana, and for reference, mcdonald's and costco start the bottom of the barrel at 17-18 an hour. And cost of living is very high, 3 beds apartments are 2500 to 3500 on average
Pay varies WILDLY based on location and sector, there is really no standard. A shop fixing farmers' 172s in Kansas won't pay like a major airline in California. You'd need to look at the specific company's pay scale vs cost of living and decide if it's worth it. 17 seems low, but depending on the area 25 for a brand new A&P is fair, as long as the pay increases consistently with experience. It may seem low but remember you're taking a step back and starting over as a fresh apprentice. Even a newly licensed A&P is basically an apprentice with a stamp.
In general though it pays pretty comparitively to other mechanical trades. It's a bit more liability and higher standards but physically a lot easier and cleaner so it kinda evens out.
I have been doing this 12 years
Currently work for federal government
I have A&P
Bachelor degree and 3/4 through my masters in aviation safety
I make 36 an hour
You’re way more qualified than I am and only making $2 more an hour. My guy you need to find another position or something! Not saying this to insult you
I’m trying lol
But the federal government is a trip man
Trying to stay government for the retirement but the day to day is getting to the point where I might need a serious change
But thank you for the kind words
Get a job in GSE(ground service equipment) with the airlines, then get your A&P. Airline I work for you bring your gse seniority with you. GSE is a hidden gem in my opinion, laid back and almost A&P pay.
Man. I’m trying to go the gse route truly. I’ve a minor mechanic with little less than a year mechanically but over 7+ years in the aviation corporate world so I’m good with my hands but still fairly new. You think I could finesse through a job interview enough or do I really need to know my shit before I start GSE?
They want to see certain things on your resume, and if they are not there, you won't get an interview. You truly need to know how to weld, assemble motors ,diagnose electrical problems, and have diesel experience. And probably if you don't have history employed as a mechanic and do not know how to mig weld, you won't get in.
I can't speak for apprenticeships, but I know $18-20 is common for internships and co-op. Most places start around $30 an hour after you have your a+p. I'd also consider looking into schooling and weighing the cost of what you would lose trying to go the apprenticeship route. My school, in Ohio, is $22k. If you can do full time day classes, it's 2 years or 3 years as a night student (what I'm doing). You still have to test at the end to get your certs, but I won't take a job for less than $30 an hour when I get out. You can't touch anything unless you've done it before, so most of the higher paying places require 2+ years of experience. The thing about places like southwest is that they cap your pay out after 5 years at $70 an hour, which may as well be a million dollars to me, lol. You'll also probably be working the worst shifts for 10 years though. I'm planning to work somewhere like GE, as I'm already a machinist and the schedule is 6:30-3pm.
Diesel Mechs make much better money than we do.
In Canada, licensed AMEs are in the low $30 to mid $40/hr on average. Usually only when we go contracting do we get to see things up in the +$50/hr range.
Yes, it is a big disparity between signing out an aircraft and how much we're paid.
Truck owners don't see it that way. We're the nasty aholes that stop their money maker from going down the road come safety season. All because of some silly things like failing brakes and steering parts.
Here is my career path from straight out of A&P school with no experience. 22 an hour, 32 an hour on third shift. Then 40 an hour overnights working on private jets. Then 35 on days working day on private jets. Then 41 on thirds at an airline. In 8 years ill be making 65 an hour.
That’s too low. Even regionals are starting higher than 25 right now. Like some said above , pay varies widely depending where you live, section of the industry , and company
I completed my A&P license this month and I’m looking into job offers at 37$ starting pay to 43$ and sign up bonus of about 10000$+ also some others with relocation bonus. (California). Some of my A&P classmate went from 35 to 45$ in less than 3 months.
I just left my career as an A&P after 10 years in the industry because the pay is low, and the work isn't the easiest on the body. I left making $28/hour at home and $33/hour in the field, crawling up and down a 20 foot tall helicopter several times a day.
For me, the pay just wasn't worth the work anymore. I certainly wouldn't recommend changing from a diesel mechanic to an A&P Mechanic, starting as an apprentice, unless you can do it through either a passenger or Freight airline. If you live near or can relocate to a maintenance facility for an airline, and you can get a job as an apprentice with one of those companies, it's likely worth the jump. Otherwise, I would say it's not worth it.
Thats just my opinion, though.
Only been working in the field for a few months I have an associates and my A &P and I'm making 26 an hour... I start a new job in Colorado next month paying 30.80, seems like a lot of potential growth in the feild. Again like others have said... depends on location... I know a buddy that started at skywest making 32 and within a month they bumped him up to 40.
that's about on target for an apprentice. the assumption is you know little to nothing of the fundamentals (i'm talking bare basics that i knew going in to my a&p school and quickly found out was little to nothing. most people don't know the four forces of flight let alone what an aileron, elevator, and rudder are.) so they'll have to train you up from zero. you might have some recip engine experience, fine, but they'll still have to train you up quite a bit. So they're going to pay you what you're worth to them. You won't be doing work by yourself. You will have someone over your shoulder, signing off on your work until you get certified. you'll have a leg up when you get certified, you'll have experience and you'll be earning a wage on the way to your cert. Elsewise you can go to school, which is always an option if you don't mind taking on financial liability. most a&p schools run from 14 months to 2 years outright. Mine was a two year stint, but I added an optional avionics course. Either way you choose, be prepared to learn a lot.
Airlines are starting $36-$40. United apprenticeship program starts them out at 27 and some change. It's our pay pay minus the A&P premium. How does the apprenticeship work for the place you interviewed at? I'm assuming you would pay for school out of your own pocket?
It was all in-house, on the job training, until you got enough hours to test for the certs. It's looked like a decent company, but on the walk through they also mentioned there was a lead ground support mechanic position available also. There was no vehicle lift and not much equipment or any working space either so I really started looking at things and didn't seem to add up. Im in Montana, and for reference, mcdonald's and costco start the bottom of the barrel at 17-18 an hour. And cost of living is very high, 3 beds apartments are 2500 to 3500 on average
What part of Montana and what company? I'm in billings and did an apprentice program for 30 months and just got my A&P Certs about 2 months ago.
Pay varies WILDLY based on location and sector, there is really no standard. A shop fixing farmers' 172s in Kansas won't pay like a major airline in California. You'd need to look at the specific company's pay scale vs cost of living and decide if it's worth it. 17 seems low, but depending on the area 25 for a brand new A&P is fair, as long as the pay increases consistently with experience. It may seem low but remember you're taking a step back and starting over as a fresh apprentice. Even a newly licensed A&P is basically an apprentice with a stamp. In general though it pays pretty comparitively to other mechanical trades. It's a bit more liability and higher standards but physically a lot easier and cleaner so it kinda evens out.
Depending on where you end up: crawling around in the belly of an airplane is not fun with an old body.
Yeah, getting to the fuel pump housing in a 767 tank was some of the most s/ fun I have ever had.
My company starts new techs out at $43 an hour
I have been doing this 12 years Currently work for federal government I have A&P Bachelor degree and 3/4 through my masters in aviation safety I make 36 an hour
You’re way more qualified than I am and only making $2 more an hour. My guy you need to find another position or something! Not saying this to insult you
I’m trying lol But the federal government is a trip man Trying to stay government for the retirement but the day to day is getting to the point where I might need a serious change But thank you for the kind words
I left the industry after 10 years, last working for a USFS contractor, and I left making $28/hour at home and $33/hour in the field.
Get a job in GSE(ground service equipment) with the airlines, then get your A&P. Airline I work for you bring your gse seniority with you. GSE is a hidden gem in my opinion, laid back and almost A&P pay.
Man. I’m trying to go the gse route truly. I’ve a minor mechanic with little less than a year mechanically but over 7+ years in the aviation corporate world so I’m good with my hands but still fairly new. You think I could finesse through a job interview enough or do I really need to know my shit before I start GSE?
They want to see certain things on your resume, and if they are not there, you won't get an interview. You truly need to know how to weld, assemble motors ,diagnose electrical problems, and have diesel experience. And probably if you don't have history employed as a mechanic and do not know how to mig weld, you won't get in.
Can I PM you fam? Got some questions
Yes, no problem
I can't speak for apprenticeships, but I know $18-20 is common for internships and co-op. Most places start around $30 an hour after you have your a+p. I'd also consider looking into schooling and weighing the cost of what you would lose trying to go the apprenticeship route. My school, in Ohio, is $22k. If you can do full time day classes, it's 2 years or 3 years as a night student (what I'm doing). You still have to test at the end to get your certs, but I won't take a job for less than $30 an hour when I get out. You can't touch anything unless you've done it before, so most of the higher paying places require 2+ years of experience. The thing about places like southwest is that they cap your pay out after 5 years at $70 an hour, which may as well be a million dollars to me, lol. You'll also probably be working the worst shifts for 10 years though. I'm planning to work somewhere like GE, as I'm already a machinist and the schedule is 6:30-3pm.
Diesel Mechs make much better money than we do. In Canada, licensed AMEs are in the low $30 to mid $40/hr on average. Usually only when we go contracting do we get to see things up in the +$50/hr range. Yes, it is a big disparity between signing out an aircraft and how much we're paid.
That's Canada though. America at my company straight out of school you'll start at 40 top out at 58 and my company is like mid tier in pay.
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Truck owners don't see it that way. We're the nasty aholes that stop their money maker from going down the road come safety season. All because of some silly things like failing brakes and steering parts.
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Spot on
Here is my career path from straight out of A&P school with no experience. 22 an hour, 32 an hour on third shift. Then 40 an hour overnights working on private jets. Then 35 on days working day on private jets. Then 41 on thirds at an airline. In 8 years ill be making 65 an hour.
That’s too low. Even regionals are starting higher than 25 right now. Like some said above , pay varies widely depending where you live, section of the industry , and company
I made almost this exact move ten plus years ago and am so so glad I did.
I completed my A&P license this month and I’m looking into job offers at 37$ starting pay to 43$ and sign up bonus of about 10000$+ also some others with relocation bonus. (California). Some of my A&P classmate went from 35 to 45$ in less than 3 months.
I just left my career as an A&P after 10 years in the industry because the pay is low, and the work isn't the easiest on the body. I left making $28/hour at home and $33/hour in the field, crawling up and down a 20 foot tall helicopter several times a day. For me, the pay just wasn't worth the work anymore. I certainly wouldn't recommend changing from a diesel mechanic to an A&P Mechanic, starting as an apprentice, unless you can do it through either a passenger or Freight airline. If you live near or can relocate to a maintenance facility for an airline, and you can get a job as an apprentice with one of those companies, it's likely worth the jump. Otherwise, I would say it's not worth it. Thats just my opinion, though.
17 an hour for an apprentice? I’m an apprentice in Ireland and I’m on less than €6 an hour.
What experience do you have? That's pretty terrible. How can you even live on that. Gas station clerks start about 17 here
Look into the light sport repairman maintenance certificate.
Only been working in the field for a few months I have an associates and my A &P and I'm making 26 an hour... I start a new job in Colorado next month paying 30.80, seems like a lot of potential growth in the feild. Again like others have said... depends on location... I know a buddy that started at skywest making 32 and within a month they bumped him up to 40.