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
$61,680
Typical range
$46k – $95k
Job outlook
See national outlook
AI exposure
Plan a path to Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers
Education
Typical entry: No degree required
Plan my path to this →Typical progression
Junior Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers
Entry / Junior
$46,040
~2 yrs to advance
Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers
Established
$61,680
~3 yrs to advance
Senior Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers
Senior
$78,315
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- Purdue University50% admit · $78,000 grad pay
- Ohio State University53% admit · $68,000 grad pay
- Pennsylvania State University55% admit · $70,000 grad pay
Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.