49 Series · SOC 49-2091
Avionics Technicians Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $82,280
- Median / year
- $113,680
- Top 10% earn
- +8.2%
- Growth '23–'33
- 18,830
- US workers
Avionics Technicians earn a median of $82,280 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $82,280, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $49,410 (10th percentile) to $113,680 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 18,830 US workers. Pennsylvania pays the most ($117,470), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Avionics Technicians earn a median of $82,280, putting them among the better-paid US occupations and higher than 75% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Installation, Maintenance, and Repair, it ranks #5 of 51 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 8.2% by 2033.
- $82,280
- Median annual wage
- Top 25%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #5 of 51
- in Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- 2.3×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Pennsylvania at $117,470. Typical entry-level education: Postsecondary nondegree award.
Avionics Technicians (SOC 49-2091) pays a national median of $82,280 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $49,410 at the 10th percentile to $113,680 at the 90th, with a mean of $83,380 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 18,830 Americans work in this occupation across 43 reporting states and 66 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +8.2% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as much faster than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 1,800 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Postsecondary nondegree award. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of B for this role, with a fatality rate of 8.1 per 100,000 and injury rate of 3 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Pennsylvania pays the highest state median at $117,470, which is +43% above the national figure. The top metro is San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $129,320 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$82,280
per year
Median Hourly
$39.56/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$83,380
average
Employment
18,830
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Avionics Technicians pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$82,280 Top 25% higher than 75% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 49-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Avionics Technicians; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 24 49-series occupations with growth data, Avionics Technicians sits on the faster-growing side at +8.2% growth and $82,280 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+8.2%
Much faster than average
Annual Openings
1,800
per year (projected)
Typical Education
Postsecondary nondegree award
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
8.1/100K
Injury Rate
3/100
Danger Index
16/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Avionics Technicians roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Test and troubleshoot instruments, components, and assemblies, using circuit testers, oscilloscopes, or voltmeters.
- ▸ Keep records of maintenance and repair work.
- ▸ Adjust, repair, or replace malfunctioning components or assemblies, using hand tools or soldering irons.
- ▸ Install electrical and electronic components, assemblies, and systems in aircraft, using hand tools, power tools, or soldering irons.
- ▸ Set up and operate ground support and test equipment to perform functional flight tests of electrical and electronic systems.
- ▸ Assemble components such as switches, electrical controls, and junction boxes, using hand tools or soldering irons.
- ▸ Lay out installation of aircraft assemblies and systems, following documentation such as blueprints, manuals, and wiring diagrams.
- ▸ Connect components to assemblies such as radio systems, instruments, magnetos, inverters, and in-flight refueling systems, using hand tools and soldering irons.
- ▸ Interpret flight test data to diagnose malfunctions and systemic performance problems.
- ▸ Coordinate work with that of engineers, technicians, and other aircraft maintenance personnel.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$49,410
25th Percentile
$63,900
Median
$82,280
75th Percentile
$99,110
90th Percentile
$113,680
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 43 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania | $117,470 | +43% above national |
| 2 | New Jersey | $100,250 | +22% above national |
| 3 | Maryland | $97,490 | +18% above national |
| 4 | Alabama | $95,920 | +17% above national |
| 5 | Alaska | $94,810 | +15% above national |
| 6 | New Mexico | $94,020 | +14% above national |
| 7 | California | $92,480 | +12% above national |
| 8 | Washington | $91,380 | +11% above national |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $89,340 | +9% above national |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $86,830 | +6% above national |
| 11 | Hawaii | $86,260 | +5% above national |
| 12 | Virginia | $85,660 | +4% above national |
| 13 | Wyoming | $84,360 | +3% above national |
| 14 | Oregon | $83,830 | +2% above national |
| 15 | Florida | $83,800 | +2% above national |
| 16 | South Dakota | $83,220 | +1% above national |
| 17 | New York | $83,150 | +1% above national |
| 18 | Texas | $81,950 | same as national |
| 19 | South Carolina | $81,720 | 1% below national |
| 20 | Illinois | $81,170 | 1% below national |
| 21 | Idaho | $80,620 | 2% below national |
| 22 | Louisiana | $80,250 | 2% below national |
| 23 | Nevada | $80,040 | 3% below national |
| 24 | Arizona | $79,770 | 3% below national |
| 25 | Georgia | $79,060 | 4% below national |
| 26 | Colorado | $79,000 | 4% below national |
| 27 | North Carolina | $78,710 | 4% below national |
| 28 | Indiana | $76,770 | 7% below national |
| 29 | Missouri | $71,520 | 13% below national |
| 30 | Oklahoma | $70,640 | 14% below national |
| 31 | Mississippi | $65,830 | 20% below national |
| 32 | Utah | $65,270 | 21% below national |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $65,230 | 21% below national |
| 34 | Tennessee | $60,820 | 26% below national |
| 35 | Ohio | $60,080 | 27% below national |
| 36 | North Dakota | $59,900 | 27% below national |
| 37 | Kansas | $59,810 | 27% below national |
| 38 | Michigan | $58,280 | 29% below national |
| 39 | Montana | $57,420 | 30% below national |
| 40 | Minnesota | $55,660 | 32% below national |
| 41 | Arkansas | $54,160 | 34% below national |
| 42 | Kentucky | $42,440 | 48% below national |
| 43 | Puerto Rico | $37,660 | 54% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 66 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $129,320 | +57% above national |
| 2 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $117,470 | +43% above national |
| 3 | Tulsa, OK | $108,840 | +32% above national |
| 4 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $107,370 | +30% above national |
| 5 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $101,880 | +24% above national |
| 6 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $101,850 | +24% above national |
| 7 | Mobile, AL | $100,220 | +22% above national |
| 8 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $100,200 | +22% above national |
| 9 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $99,420 | +21% above national |
| 10 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $98,630 | +20% above national |
| 11 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $98,020 | +19% above national |
| 12 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $97,620 | +19% above national |
| 13 | Jacksonville, NC | $97,240 | +18% above national |
| 14 | Lexington Park, MD | $95,830 | +16% above national |
| 15 | Albuquerque, NM | $95,320 | +16% above national |
| 16 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $94,400 | +15% above national |
| 17 | Anchorage, AK | $93,570 | +14% above national |
| 18 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $93,110 | +13% above national |
| 19 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $92,480 | +12% above national |
| 20 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $92,270 | +12% above national |
| 21 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $89,180 | +8% above national |
| 22 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $87,090 | +6% above national |
| 23 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $86,830 | +6% above national |
| 24 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $86,350 | +5% above national |
| 25 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $85,870 | +4% above national |
| 26 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $84,930 | +3% above national |
| 27 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $84,830 | +3% above national |
| 28 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $84,310 | +2% above national |
| 29 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $84,160 | +2% above national |
| 30 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $83,900 | +2% above national |
| 31 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $83,780 | +2% above national |
| 32 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $83,080 | +1% above national |
| 33 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $82,540 | same as national |
| 34 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $82,200 | same as national |
| 35 | Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $82,120 | same as national |
| 36 | Jacksonville, FL | $81,760 | 1% below national |
| 37 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $81,620 | 1% below national |
| 38 | Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $80,710 | 2% below national |
| 39 | Tucson, AZ | $80,620 | 2% below national |
| 40 | Boise City, ID | $79,680 | 3% below national |
| 41 | Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $79,640 | 3% below national |
| 42 | Huntsville, AL | $78,720 | 4% below national |
| 43 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $78,690 | 4% below national |
| 44 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $78,680 | 4% below national |
| 45 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $77,240 | 6% below national |
| 46 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $77,160 | 6% below national |
| 47 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $74,850 | 9% below national |
| 48 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $74,500 | 9% below national |
| 49 | Warner Robins, GA | $70,640 | 14% below national |
| 50 | Oklahoma City, OK | $68,140 | 17% below national |
| 51 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $66,680 | 19% below national |
| 52 | Ogden, UT | $65,270 | 21% below national |
| 53 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $64,820 | 21% below national |
| 54 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $63,570 | 23% below national |
| 55 | Wichita, KS | $59,790 | 27% below national |
| 56 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $59,080 | 28% below national |
| 57 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $59,070 | 28% below national |
| 58 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $58,950 | 28% below national |
| 59 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $58,280 | 29% below national |
| 60 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $57,100 | 31% below national |
| 61 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $56,200 | 32% below national |
| 62 | Knoxville, TN | $52,190 | 37% below national |
| 63 | Rockford, IL | $45,620 | 45% below national |
| 64 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $43,640 | 47% below national |
| 65 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $42,440 | 48% below national |
| 66 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $37,660 | 54% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 49 (installation maintenance and repair) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Avionics Technicians make? ▼
What state pays Avionics Technicians the most? ▼
What education do you need to become a Avionics Technicians? ▼
How dangerous is being a Avionics Technicians? ▼
Is Avionics Technicians a good career? ▼
How does Avionics Technicians pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Avionics Technicians? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Avionics Technicians pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $99,110/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Pennsylvania leads at $117,470/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.