Jet Mechanics!?

Question

I am joining the Navy for 4 years. I wanna know if a Jet Mechanic is a good career? Can any Jet Mechanics tell me how cool the Job is?
Here in Los Angeles the median wage is $81,000 a year. I'm not kidding, i saw it in a website.

Anyways, will i need an A&P license or something?

Answer 1

Yes, a Jet Mechanic can be a good career if you love airplanes and want to spend half your life working on them. Any military training you receive will be a good start at a career, but you must remember that the Navy will only teach you what they need you to know, and a job as a civilian aircraft mechanic will require much more knowledge and training. Learn helicopters if you can, because good helicopter mechanics are more in demand than just jet engine wrenches.

Take some college courses while you are in the service, as a head start to a career when you get out. As soon as your hitch in the Navy is up, use your GI Bill college education benefits to enroll in a good A&P school to finish your training and tests for an A&P license.

While you're spending your GI Bill benefits, try to get a Bachelor's in Aviation Maintenance Management, or similar degree. This will give you a big boost up the ladder while you're trying to build a career after the Navy.

Once you're ready to look for that civilian job, don't expect to find that $81K job on your first attempt. While some aircraft mechanics are earning that kind of money after 20 or more years on the job, new A&Ps will start out at $10-12 per hour, and maybe up to $20-25 per hour after several years working and gaining experience. Be prepared to work lots of 12-hour night shifts while you're gaining that work experience.

Use that Bachelor's degree to find a management position... That's where the real money is in aircraft maintenance.

Good Luck!

Answer 2

Public aviation jobs have been declining for a few years now. Airlines lose a ton of money and it's always some controversy on wasted budgets and all that. The last real "bailout" was for the airlines many years ago. That said, since you got years to wait, it will probably come back up again like it always has. Boeing is a manufacturer, they would be more into the engineers rather than mechanics I would think, but if you could get a job there that would be the safest kind of place in the industry. 60k-80k salary for a jet mechanic is spot on.

Answer 3

Yeah, you can make a good living as an aircraft mechanic. In the civilian world, realistically, yes, you'll need to get your A&P. In some FAA regions, it's very difficult to get an A&P based strictly on military experience (my brother had 5 years in the Army as an aircraft electrictian, formally cross-trained as a sheetmetal mechanic (secondary MOS and everything) but the FAA wouldn't give him even the A license; he had to go to school.)

Anyway, everyone wants to be an engine mechanic. And that's the problem--everyone wants to work on engines. Consequently, the demand isn't that great, and so the pay isn't as good as other specialties. Right now, sheetmetal and structures guys are in high demand. Avionics techs (good ones, with excellent troubleshooting skills) are always in high demand. As commercial (and private) aviation moves more and more into composite construction rather than aluminum, composites techs are going to be more and more in demand in the future.

$81k in LA? I'm not surprised. It's not that high elsewhere, but then again, the cost of living elsewhere isn't that high either. With overtime, a commercial aviation mechanic with, say, 5 years of experience is going to be making a living that's better than average in most areas.

Answer 4

I suppose it's a good career, if you like getting dirty. Use the military experience to get your A&P and use the GI Bill to go to college. Let me tell you, an A&P and college degree will open a million doors. Better yet, go to college first, and join the Navy as an aviation maintenance officer.

Answer 5

some of my best work experiences came from being a structures mechanic both in the USAF and in civilian life & jetdoc is correct helo mechanics are in demand

Answer 6

13 YEARS IN THE NAVY AS A JETMECH BEST THING I EVER DID.AND YOU DONT NEED A A&P LICENSE WHILE IN THE NAVY.YOU WILL GET A BUTT LOAD OF SCHOOLS AND DONT FAIL OUT DUE TO YOU DONT WANT TO CLEAN TOLETS FOR 4YEARS..