Private Aviation · Mid · 5 to 12 years typical
Aircraft Mechanic / A&P with IA Salary
Annual base compensation, national and by market, from 257 named sources. Every figure below says where it came from.
| Market | Multiplier | P25 | P50 | P75 | P90 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York City, NY | 1.40× | $120,000 | $170,000 | $230,000 | $290,000 |
| San Francisco, CA | 1.30× | $110,000 | $155,000 | $215,000 | $270,000 |
| Boston, MA | 1.25× | $105,000 | $150,000 | $205,000 | $260,000 |
| Palm Beach, FL | 1.25× | $105,000 | $150,000 | $205,000 | $260,000 |
| Miami, FL | 1.23× | $105,000 | $145,000 | $200,000 | $250,000 |
| Los Angeles, CA | 1.20× | $100,000 | $145,000 | $200,000 | $245,000 |
| Washington, DC | 1.20× | $100,000 | $145,000 | $200,000 | $245,000 |
| Seattle, WA | 1.15× | $100,000 | $140,000 | $190,000 | $235,000 |
| Chicago, IL | 1.05× | $90,000 | $125,000 | $175,000 | $215,000 |
| Dallas, TX | 1.00× | $85,000 | $120,000 | $165,000 | $205,000 |
Time to fill 16 weeks for comparable searches, estimated from rouka's benchmark set.
Severe shortage — aging workforce, limited training pipeline. Different from Maintenance Director (hands-on vs oversight)
What does an Aircraft Mechanic / A&P with IA do?
The Aircraft Mechanic / A&P with IA operates in private aviation operations, managing aircraft, flight crews, and aviation logistics for principals, charter operators, or fractional ownership programs. Professionals in this role typically bring 5 to 12 years of relevant experience. Classified at the Mid level, this position draws from a very tight candidate market with an estimated pool of 10-30 qualified professionals, making targeted sourcing and competitive compensation critical for successful placements.
What drives Aircraft Mechanic / A&P with IA compensation?
The median (P50) compensation for an Aircraft Mechanic / A&P with IA is $120,000, with the 25th to 75th percentile range spanning $85,000 to $165,000. The 67% spread between P25 and P75 reflects significant pay variation driven by aircraft type and fleet size, flight hours, type ratings held, international operating experience, Part 91 vs. Part 135 operations, and the principal's travel frequency. Demand for this role is trending upward with 12% year-over-year growth, which is putting upward pressure on compensation at all levels.
Aircraft Mechanic / A&P with IA career path
Professionals who move into Aircraft Mechanic / A&P with IA roles most commonly come from commercial aviation, military flight operations, or corporate flight departments. From this position, the typical trajectory leads toward chief pilot positions, director of aviation, aviation management company leadership, or fleet management for multi-aircraft operations. The average tenure in this role is approximately 6 years, with an annual turnover rate of 8%.
Hiring an Aircraft Mechanic / A&P with IA?
A search playbook for this seat: compensation positioning against the band above, the sourcing map, and the interview framework.