Production Occupations
BLS May 2025 wages O*NET task lead SOC 51-2011

Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers

O*NET task statements lead this Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers card before OEWS pay; neighboring titles include Power Distributors and Dispatchers, Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators, Power Plant Operators, Model Makers, Metal and Plastic.

Full salary details → About this data

Same-major-group titles next to Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers: Power Distributors and Dispatchers ($107K) , Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators ($60K) , Power Plant Operators ($102K) , Model Makers, Metal and Plastic ($63K) . Hash-ordered per card so residual SOC siblings do not share an identical peer sentence.

What Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers publish as work

O*NET task statements for SOC 51-2011 - occupation-level descriptions, not every employer's posting. Sibling cards diverge here because the task set is entity-keyed.

  1. 1. Assemble parts, fittings, or subassemblies on aircraft, using layout tools, hand tools, power tools, or fasteners, such as bolts, screws…
  2. 2. Read blueprints, illustrations, or specifications to determine layouts, sequences of operations, or identities or relationships of parts
  3. 3. Set, align, adjust, or synchronize aircraft armament or rigging or control system components to established tolerances or requirements, u…
  4. 4. Attach brackets, hinges, or clips to secure or support components or subassemblies, using bolts, screws, rivets, chemical bonding, or wel…
  5. 5. Join structural assemblies, such as wings, tails, or fuselage
  6. 6. Inspect or test installed units, parts, systems, or assemblies for fit, alignment, performance, defects, or compliance with standards, us…
  7. 7. Adjust, repair, rework, or replace parts or assemblies to ensure proper operation
  8. 8. Cut, trim, file, bend, or smooth parts to ensure proper fit and clearance
  9. 9. Position and align subassemblies in jigs or fixtures, using measuring instruments and following blueprint lines and index points
  10. 10. Fabricate parts needed for assembly or installation, using shop machinery or equipment
  11. 11. Layout and mark reference points and locations for installation of parts or components, using jigs, templates, or measuring and marking i…
  12. 12. Assemble prototypes or integrated-technology demonstrators of new or emerging environmental technologies for aircraft

Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers: O*NET ranks Quality Control Analysis first

Importance-ranked O*NET profile for SOC 51-2011 - lead skill Quality Control Analysis at 3.4 ; lead knowledge Mathematics. Sibling cards diverge here even when peer titles overlap.

Top skills

  1. 1. Quality Control Analysis 3.4
  2. 2. Active Listening 3.1
  3. 3. Critical Thinking 3.1
  4. 4. Monitoring 3.1
  5. 5. Reading Comprehension 3.0
  6. 6. Speaking 3.0
  7. 7. Complex Problem Solving 3.0
  8. 8. Equipment Maintenance 3.0

Knowledge areas

  1. 1. Mathematics 3.5
  2. 2. Education and Training 3.5
  3. 3. Mechanical 3.4
  4. 4. English Language 3.4
  5. 5. Production and Processing 3.4
  6. 6. Design 3.4
National median after O*NET task lead
$65,380
/year · 12 published task lines above
Lead task: Assemble parts, fittings, or subassemblies on aircraft, using layout tools, hand tools, power tools, or fasteners, such as bolts, screws…
$65K
National median
↓ -15%
Growth 2024-2034
2,800
Annual openings
34,020
Estimated US jobs
Power Distributors and Dispatchers
Highest-pay peer · $107K

Typical Entry and Preparation Assignments

Entry education High school diploma or equivalent

Top Paying States for Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers

1. Washington $110,470
2. Arizona $73,930
3. Florida $64,580
4. Nebraska $64,530
5. Colorado $70,870
6. Pennsylvania $81,680
7. Connecticut $78,630
8. Texas $76,640
9. Tennessee $66,390
10. Georgia $72,550

Other Production Occupations titles

  1. 1. Power Plant Operators $102,040
  2. 2. Model Makers, Metal and Plastic $63,340
  3. 3. Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators $60,020
  4. 4. Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic $63,870
  5. 5. Power Distributors and Dispatchers $106,730
  6. 6. Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers $62,750

O*NET publishes 12 leading task statements for Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers (SOC 51-2011). The national OEWS median is $65,380 inside Production Occupations. Same-group neighbors: Power Distributors and Dispatchers, Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators, Power Plant Operators, Model Makers, Metal and Plastic. Lead published task: Assemble parts, fittings, or subassemblies on aircraft, using layout tools, hand tools, power tools, or fasteners, such as bolts, screws….

Employment Projections expect -15% change between 2024 and 2034 (declining vs baseline 3.1%). About 2,800 annual openings are projected. BLS assigns High school diploma or equivalent as typical education needed for entry. These are occupation-level assignments, not universal requirements. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific safety rate for this role; its broad SOC-group rate is excluded from this career card's grade.

Highest published state median in this ranking: Washington at $110,470. The table records differences without proving causes. Highest-pay peer shown here: Power Distributors and Dispatchers at $106,730. Compare the same statistic in the relevant local wage area before treating the national median as a personal benchmark; OEWS excludes employer benefits.

Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers pay-rank #10 in Production Occupations

Among 105 detailed Production Occupations with a published OEWS median, Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers is pay-rank #10, the upper third of that major group. The order is ROW_NUMBER on national median (title as tiebreak), not a worker-level percentile.

Other upper-third titles · closest medians

Full Salary Details Compare this role

Data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024-2034.

SOC 51-2011 · national median $65,380 · upper third of Production Occupations (#10/105). The day-to-day tasks above set this role apart from peers with a similar title.

Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers salary map

State, metro, and percentile for SOC 51-2011

Washington · top state for Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers

$110K published median

Arizona · #2 state pay

$74K · behind Washington

Power Distributors and Dispatchers

Highest-pay peer vs Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers · $107K

Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators

Lower-pay peer beside Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers · $60K

Compare Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers

Head-to-head OEWS medians with another SOC
Compare Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers with another occupation →

Role and task next reads

Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers full salary map

State and metro OEWS after the task lead

Compare tasks and pay

Side-by-side with another occupation

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Production Occupations titles sit near Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers at the top of the pay table? ▼
Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers is pay-rank #10 of 105 detailed Production Occupations with an OEWS median, upper third. Nearest upper-third titles: Tool and Die Makers ($64K), Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic ($64K), Model Makers, Metal and Plastic ($63K), Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers ($63K). Rank is ROW_NUMBER on national median.
What do aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers do day to day? ▼
O*NET lists published task statements for Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers. Leading ones include: Assemble parts, fittings, or subassemblies on aircraft, using layout tools, hand tools, power tools, or fasteners, such as bolts, screws…; Read blueprints, illustrations, or specifications to determine layouts, sequences of operations, or identities or relationships of parts; Set, align, adjust, or synchronize aircraft armament or rigging or control system components to established tolerances or requirements, u…; Attach brackets, hinges, or clips to secure or support components or subassemblies, using bolts, screws, rivets, chemical bonding, or wel…. These are occupation-level task descriptions, not every employer's job description.
Which O*NET skills rank highest for aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers? ▼
For SOC 51-2011, O*NET importance scores lead with Quality Control Analysis (3.4), Active Listening (3.1), Critical Thinking (3.1), Monitoring (3.1). Knowledge areas emphasize Mathematics, Education and Training, Mechanical. These are occupation-level profiles, not a hiring checklist for every employer.
What is the OEWS national median for Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers? ▼
May 2025 OEWS reports $65,380 as the national median for Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers. The published 10th-90th range is $47,310 to $107,500. Beside Power Distributors and Dispatchers ($106,730), this is the occupation-level national figure, not a local offer.
What employment change does BLS publish for Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers? ▼
The 2024-2034 projection for Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers is -15%. Projected annual openings: about 2,800. Relative to the current all-occupations baseline of 3.1%: declining.
What typical entry education does BLS assign to Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers? ▼
BLS assigns High school diploma or equivalent as the typical-education-needed-for-entry category for Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers. These are occupation-level labels, not every employer's hiring rule.
Which three states show the highest OEWS medians for Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers? ▼
Washington ($110,470), Arizona ($73,930), Florida ($64,580) lead this ranking. The table does not identify why those state estimates differ.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Wage and state figures use BLS OEWS May 2025; growth and education use BLS Employment Projections for 2024-2034; safety fields cite BLS CFOI/SOII; task statements cite O*NET where shown. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

Disclaimer: Wage and outlook figures on this page are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute career, financial, or salary-negotiation advice. Actual pay varies by employer, experience, and local conditions; consult a career counselor or the hiring employer for guidance specific to your situation.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OES Occupational wage estimates by area and industry · 2025

Federal sources on this Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers card
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS / OES) - national median and percentiles for SOC 51-2011. bls.gov/oes
  • O*NET OnLine - task and skill statements for Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers. onetcenter.org
  • BLS Employment Projections - 2024-2034 change and openings for this occupation. bls.gov/emp
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS - demographic and labor-force context for state and metro geography. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) - payroll-tax aggregate context for wage comparisons. irs.gov/statistics