Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers salary by state
What Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblerss do
Typical education: High School Diploma
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.
Top skills:Quality Control AnalysisMonitoringCritical ThinkingActive ListeningTime ManagementSpeaking
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers pay by experience level
Entry level$49,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$60,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$67,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$86,500
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$111,500
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
-14.5%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
2,800
projected openings per year
Declining
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers salary by industry
Transportation Equipment Manufacturing
30,820 workers
$75,000
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing
30,810 workers
$75,000
Support Activities for Transportation
1,440 workers
$59,500
Support Activities for Air Transportation
1,440 workers
$59,500
Administrative and Support Services
640 workers
$52,000
Employment Services
640 workers
$52,000
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
540 workers
$87,500
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services
280 workers
$82,500
Scientific Research and Development Services$93,500
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers pays 32% above the average across 112 roles in the Production job family (family average $56,000).
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers make?
The average base salary for a Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers in the United States is $74,000 per year, or about $35.58 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $60,500 and $86,500 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Production roles?
The Production job family averages $56,000 across 112 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role? WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
Need Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.
