Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers Career, Salary and Skills
Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $65,380 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 34,020. Wage data is published for 45 locations.
Occupation description
Assemble, fit, fasten, and install parts of airplanes, space vehicles, or missiles, such as tails, wings, fuselage, bulkheads, stabilizers, landing gear, rigging and control equipment, or heating and ventilating systems.
O*NET code
51-2011.00
Job zone
2
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$65,380
Hourly median
$31.43
Employment
34,020
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.38 | 3.75 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Monitoring | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Active Listening | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.00 | 3.12 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Speaking | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Equipment Maintenance | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Time Management | 3.00 | 3.00 |
Typical tasks
- Inspect or test installed units, parts, systems, or assemblies for fit, alignment, performance, defects, or compliance with standards, using measuring instruments or test equipment.
- Assemble parts, fittings, or subassemblies on aircraft, using layout tools, hand tools, power tools, or fasteners, such as bolts, screws, rivets, or clamps.
- Mark identifying information on tubing or cable assemblies, using etching devices, labels, rubber stamps, or other methods.
- Adjust, repair, rework, or replace parts or assemblies to ensure proper operation.
- Attach brackets, hinges, or clips to secure or support components or subassemblies, using bolts, screws, rivets, chemical bonding, or welding.
- Assemble prefabricated parts to form subassemblies.
- Clean aircraft structures, parts, or components, using aqueous, semi-aqueous, aliphatic hydrocarbon, or organic solvent cleaning products or techniques to reduce carbon or other harmful emissions.
- Read blueprints, illustrations, or specifications to determine layouts, sequences of operations, or identities or relationships of parts.
Technology
- Electrical power management system software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Word
- SAP software
Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers Salary in KSMedian $59,850 · Employment 9,710
- Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers Salary in Wichita, KSMedian $59,850 · Employment 9,460
- Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers Salary in WAMedian $110,470 · Employment 4,280
- Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers Salary in Seattle, WAMedian $110,470 · Employment 4,010
- Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers Salary in TXMedian $76,640 · Employment 3,010
- Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers Salary in GAMedian $72,550 · Employment 2,950
- Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers Salary in CAMedian $63,640 · Employment 2,930
- Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers Salary in Dallas, TXMedian $86,520 · Employment 2,450
- Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $65,000 · Employment 1,570
- Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers Salary in FLMedian $64,580 · Employment 1,280
- Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers Salary in AZMedian $73,930 · Employment 1,210
- Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers Salary in ALMedian $58,990 · Employment 950
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Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.