Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers focus on building and assembling key components of aircraft. This role involves working with complex mechanical parts, relying on fine motor ability, physical strength and stamina, and close attention to detail. Nationally, employment stands at 34,000, with 3,000 annual openings, reflecting ongoing hiring needs even as total employment is projected to decline. The national median annual salary is $61,680, with higher pay available in certain states and metro areas. Typical entry into this field is based on a high school diploma or equivalent, making it accessible to individuals who have not pursued a four-year degree but who bring strong mechanical, mathematical, and problem-solving abilities. For those interested in hands-on, mechanically oriented work, this occupation offers a path that combines technical skills, physical work, and opportunities in several key states and metropolitan regions.
The national median annual salary for aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers is $61,680, with notable variation by location. Among the top states by opportunity score, Washington reports a median salary of $110,470, and Texas shows $76,640, while California stands at $63,640 and New York at $49,620. Colorado reports $70,870. At the metro level, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA, aligns with the state’s $110,470 median, while Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX, shows $86,520 and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, $97,340. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, has a median of $65,000, and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, $58,590. These differences indicate that earnings potential can shift significantly depending on where you work, with some metros and states offering substantially higher median pay than the national figure.
For aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers, national employment is 34,000, with projected employment growth of -14.5%. Even with this projected decline, the occupation still shows 3,000 annual openings, indicating that positions continue to become available each year. The same -14.5% growth projection appears across the highlighted states and metro areas, suggesting a consistent national pattern in the forecast. This combination—overall declining employment and ongoing annual openings—means people may still enter the field, but they should be aware that total jobs are expected to decrease over time. Individuals considering this career can use the employment and growth data, along with state and metro opportunity scores, to target regions where the balance of openings, wages, and existing employment levels aligns with their goals.
Location plays a major role in the opportunity profile for aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers. Among states, California has an opportunity score of 67.38 with a median salary of $63,640 and employment of 2,930, while New York’s score is 65.78 with a lower median salary of $49,620 and smaller employment base of 280. Washington stands out for its $110,470 median salary and 4,280 employed, paired with an opportunity score of 56.29. Texas combines a median salary of $76,640 and employment of 3,010 with an opportunity score of 51.57. At the metro level, New York-Newark-Jersey City leads by opportunity score (77.27), while Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue offers both a high salary of $110,470 and 4,010 employed. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont and Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington also show strong salaries and solid employment, giving job seekers several distinct regional options to compare.
The typical education level for aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers is a high school diploma or equivalent, which helps keep the field accessible to a wide range of candidates. While the formal education requirement is relatively modest, the occupation relies on a strong mix of technical and personal skills. Mechanical skills and fine motor ability are fundamental, as is being highly detail oriented. Physical strength and stamina are also important. Science and mathematics skills contribute to understanding technical information and measurements, while critical and analytical thinking, project management, and adaptability support effective work in varied conditions. Creativity and innovation round out the profile, suggesting that workers benefit from being able to think of new approaches within their tasks. Together, these skills indicate that success in this occupation depends on both hands-on ability and solid problem-solving capabilities, rather than advanced academic degrees.
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