Avionics Technician Salary and Training
In this post I’m going to list the Avionics Technician salary you might expect to earn in some of the countries around the world. I’ll describe the salary range you can expect in various countries around the globe. Then I’ll conclude this post with a few tips on how to get started on your training in the UK, India, and the USA.
Avionics Technicians are essential to the aviation and aerospace industries. They specialise in the installation, maintenance, and repair of the electronic components that make us so much of modern aircraft.
You may see any one of these terms used to describe the same role; Aircraft Electrical Systems Specialist, Avionics Electronics Technician, Aviation Electrical Technician, Avionics Electrical Technician, Aircraft Navigation/Communications Systems Technician, Avionics Bench Technician, Aircraft Bench Technician.
Avionics Technicians are responsible for installing the wiring, instrumentation, and software throughout the aircraft. This could include anything from flight instruments to passenger entertainment systems.
Avionics Technicians remove malfunctioning instruments and install new ones in both fixed and rotary wing aircraft. The instruments in need of repair will be sent to the Aircraft Bench Technicians who will examine and troubleshoot the device. They will then test those repairs to ensure the instruments are functioning correctly before they are used again on operational aircraft. The work of Avionics Technicians has a direct effect on the safety of aircraft, the crew, and the passengers, so it is a responsible position that requires skilled personnel.
As with most careers, pay and benefits are commensurate with experience and responsibilities. The following figures are annual averages collected late in 2018. They are base salaries so they don’t include any bonuses, overtime, or profit shares that may be offered. This is an important point to remember because such extras can make a significant difference to your take-home pay.
- Australia, AU$55,000 rising to AU$96,000 Australian Dollars.
- Canada, C$43,000 rising to C$80,000 Canadian Dollars.
- Dubai, AED 58,000 rising to AED 473,000 Arab Emirate Dirhams.
- India, Rs 256,000 rising to Rs 2,000,000 Rupees.
- Philippines, PHP 180,000 rising to PHP 707,000 Philippine Pesos.
- South Africa, R63,000 rising to R408,000 Rand.
- United Kingdom, £23,000 rising to £37,000 Pounds Sterling.
- United States, $25,000 rising to $72,000 US Dollars.
How to become an Avionics Technician
With so much of their work involving electronics it is obvious that a strong aptitude in this field is a must but so too are communication skills, attention to detail, critical thinking, and a logical and methodical mindset. Avionics Technicians tend to be people who can patiently troubleshoot problems to find the root cause, and carry out delicate repairs on sensitive instruments.
Many technicians start their career in the Armed Forces. The training and experience gained while working on complex military aircraft is second to none. For example, training in the British Army can lead to a Level 2 Advanced Apprenticeship in Engineering Manufacture, Level 3 Diploma in Engineering Technology, or a Bachelor of Science Degree (BSc) in Electronic Systems Engineering. Similarly, Aircraft Technicians (Avionics) can earn an average of £30,409 per year in the Royal Air Force.
Some technicians find job placements having completed further education and having obtained a bachelor’s degree in aviation engineering, aerospace engineering or electrical engineering. Others join apprenticeship schemes having obtained passes in English, Maths, and Science at high or secondary school level. They are then trained as part of vocational training schemes until suitably qualified and experienced.
The following website lists universities in the UK that offer Pilot and Aviation Studies degree courses, including some relevant to those seeking degrees in avionics and aerospace systems engineering: flightdeckfriend.com/university-pilot-degree-course.
Avionics Technician Salary – Training in India
- In Pune, the Indian Institute for Aeronautical Engineering and Information Technology, and the Wings College of Aviation Technology.
- In Bangalore, the A. J. Aviation Academy, and the Hindustan Aviation Academy.
- In Mumbai, the Indian Aviation Academy.
- In Hyderabad, the Rajiv Gandhi Aviation Academy.
- In Ahmedabad, Ahmedabad Aviation and Aeronautics.
- In New Delhi, the Indian Institute of Aeronautics.
- And in Jamshedpur, the Indian Institute of Aeronautical Science.
Avionics Technician Salary – Training in the USA
- Arizona State University, Cochise County Community College, and Enterprise State Community College in Arizona.
- Henderson State University in Arkansas.
- San Jose State University in California.
- Guilford Technical College, North Carolina.
- Delaware State University.
- Ivy Tech Community College, Indiana.
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Florida State College in Florida.
- Middle Georgia State University, Georgia.
- University of Nebraska.
- Ohio State University.
- Pennsylvania College of Technology and Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics in Pennsylvania.
- North Central Institute, Tennessee.
- Hallmark University, Texas.
- Utah State University.
You may also be interested in an Aircraft Engineering Maintenance course.
