Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers

Median salary

$65,380

Average salary

$71,420

Employment

34,020

Projected growth

14.5% decline

Annual openings

2,800

Typical entry education

High school diploma or equivalent

What Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers Do

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.

See full salary breakdown & percentiles →

Career Outlook

National employment outlook, 2024–2034.

Related work experience: None
On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Self-employed: 0.7%

Source: BLS Employment Projections — 2024-2034.

How Much Preparation Does This Take?

Job Zone 2 of 5

Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed

Experience: Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience.
Education: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Job training: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.

Source: O*NET Job Zones.

Key Knowledge Areas

Subject-matter areas this occupation draws on most, per O*NET.

Mathematicsimportance 3.5/5
Education and Trainingimportance 3.5/5
Mechanicalimportance 3.4/5
English Languageimportance 3.4/5
Production and Processingimportance 3.4/5
Designimportance 3.4/5
Computers and Electronicsimportance 3.1/5
Public Safety and Securityimportance 3.0/5

Work Environment

What the day-to-day work setting is like, per O*NET.

Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets5.0/5
Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls4.9/5
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams4.8/5
Exposed to Contaminants4.7/5
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate4.5/5
Exposed to Hazardous Conditions4.1/5

Careers With Similar Skills

Occupations whose Transferable Skills profile most closely matches this one — a mathematical comparison, not observed data about people actually moving between these careers.

Solar Photovoltaic Installers93% skill match
Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers93% skill match
Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers92% skill match
Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers91% skill match
Signal and Track Switch Repairers91% skill match
Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers90% skill match
Rail Car Repairers90% skill match
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines90% skill match

Transferable Skills

Cross-functional skills this occupation draws on most, per O*NET — the kind that carry over to other careers.

Quality Control Analysisimportance 3.4/5
Complex Problem Solvingimportance 3.0/5
Equipment Maintenanceimportance 3.0/5
Judgment and Decision Makingimportance 3.0/5
Time Managementimportance 3.0/5
Coordinationimportance 2.9/5
Instructingimportance 2.9/5
Equipment Selectionimportance 2.9/5

Software & Technologies

Tools and software used in this occupation, per O*NET.

Hot Technologies

Other Software Used

Electrical power management system software

Work Style

Personal work characteristics that matter most for this occupation, per O*NET.

Attention to Detail
Cautiousness
Dependability
Integrity
Perseverance
Achievement Orientation
Stress Tolerance

Career Interests

This occupation’s RIASEC interest profile, per O*NET — how strongly it fits each of the six Holland interest types.

RealisticHigh
ConventionalMedium
InvestigativeLow
ArtisticLow
EnterprisingLow
SocialLow

This page includes information from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.

Where This Career Is Most Concentrated

Metro areas where aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers make up the largest share of local employment, relative to the national average (BLS location quotient).