← All careers

Skilled Trades

Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers

Assemble, fit, fasten, and install parts of airplanes, space vehicles, or missiles, such as tails, wings, fuselage, bulkheads, stabilizers, landing gear, rigging and control equipment, or heating and ventilating systems.

Median salary (BLS)

$65,380

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$47k – $108k

Job outlook

No separate BLS projection for this specific role

AI exposure

Plan a path to Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers

Qualification costsStack incomeBest cities/statesSchool ROIJob-posting fitTailored resume

Education

Typical entry: No degree required

Plan my path to this →

How to qualify

EstimateLicense required

Cost to qualify

$100–$2,600

Time to qualify

3.1 yr

Renewal

$50/yr

  1. 1

    Registered apprenticeship (paid)

    Experience

    Earn-while-you-learn training — apprentices are paid during the program; fees are tools/books, not tuition.

    $0–$2,000 · 36 months · varies by state source

  2. 2

    Journeyman exam & state/local license

    License

    Most states and municipalities test and license journeyman-level trades workers.

    $100–$600 · 1 months · varies by state · renews every 2 yr source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers

    Entry / Junior

    $47,310

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers

    Established

    $65,380

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers

    Senior

    $86,440

Key skills

A typical day

  • •Assemble parts, fittings, or subassemblies on aircraft, using layout tools, hand tools, power tools, or fasteners, such as bolts, screws, rivets, or clamps.
  • •Read blueprints, illustrations, or specifications to determine layouts, sequences of operations, or identities or relationships of parts.
  • •Attach brackets, hinges, or clips to secure or support components or subassemblies, using bolts, screws, rivets, chemical bonding, or welding.
  • •Inspect or test installed units, parts, systems, or assemblies for fit, alignment, performance, defects, or compliance with standards, using measuring instruments or test equipment.
  • •Adjust, repair, rework, or replace parts or assemblies to ensure proper operation.

Fields of study

Any field

Top colleges for Skilled Trades

Explore all

Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.