Developing A Path From High School To An Aviation Maintenance Career

The 2025-26 school year has seen tremendous growth in Choose Aerospace programs available to high school students across the country. These students are not only being exposed to an advanced, highly rewarding segment of the aerospace industry, but they are also taking meaningful steps down a clearly defined, in-demand career path.
 
Airlines, aircraft manufacturers, and aviation maintenance specialists need skilled workers. A new report from the Aviation Technician Education Council (ATEC) and Oliver Wyman shows the U.S. commercial airline industry needs 10,000 more mechanics today. This shortage isn't going away. Programs like Choose Aerospace are part of the industry's plan to attract more employees with the required training.
 
Aviation maintenance is a rewarding career. Besides the built-in "cool factor" of working on and around aircraft, most mechanics can expect attractive wages and benefits. Data compiled for the ATEC report found the average starting hourly rate for licensed aircraft mechanics in 2024 was nearly $30 per hour. Pay rates rise quickly with experience, especially for airline mechanics covered by labor union contracts.
 
The key to getting a job as a certified mechanic is obtaining an FAA license. Choose Aerospace provides a pathway for prospective technicians to take general coursework required of all FAA-certified mechanics. Under a plan being developed by industry and the FAA, high school students that complete the coursework and pass an exam will get credit towards a full certification.
 
They would then continue their education at an accredited college or university, or in an employer-sponsored apprenticeship. Either path would lead them to earning an FAA airframe & powerplant license and make them eligible for full-time work as an aircraft mechanic.
 
Choose Aerospace's mission is to help develop and promote strong aviation technical workforce pipelines. This benefits the aviation maintenance industry and, more importantly, provides opportunities for young people seeking a challenging, rewarding career.