Difference From U.S. Median
-$2,890
Median Hourly Wage
$37.01
Aircraft Mechanics Employed
4,700
Median Pay Rank Among States
27th of 50
Source: BLS OEWS
North Carolina employs about 4,700 aircraft mechanics, the seventh-largest workforce of any state and 3.4% of the U.S. total. The aircraft mechanic salary in North Carolina lands close to the national line: a $76,980 median, or $37.01 an hour, against a $79,870 U.S. median.
Honda Aircraft Company's HondaJet headquarters and wing-production campus, based at Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, anchors the state's aerospace manufacturing sector. Statewide pay covers a broad band, from $50,970 to $112,050 a year on the BLS survey, split mostly by metro and employer rather than tenure.
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in North Carolina by Percentile
| Percentile | North Carolina | United States | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $50,970 | $48,780 | +$2,190 |
| 25th percentile | $62,720 | $62,630 | +$90 |
| Median (50th) | $76,980 | $79,870 | -$2,890 |
| 75th percentile | $93,670 | $99,130 | -$5,460 |
| 90th percentile | $112,050 | $128,890 | -$16,840 |
| Mean (average) | $79,320 | $84,740 | -$5,420 |
Rank among states: 27th of 50. All 50 states compared
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in North Carolina by Metro Area
| Hourly Median | Location Quotient | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | 1,310 | $78,580 | $37.78 | 1.09 |
| Greensboro-High Point | 880 | $64,520 | $31.02 | 2.71 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk, VA | 650 | $80,450 | $38.68 | 0.96 |
| Raleigh | 330 | $91,600 | $44.04 | 0.50 |
| Winston-Salem | 240 | $73,480 | $35.33 | 0.99 |
Avionics Technician and Related Aviation Pay in North Carolina
| Occupation | Employed | North Carolina Median | U.S. Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aircraft mechanics and service technicians | 4,700 | $76,980 | $79,870 |
| Avionics technicians | 520 | $78,710 | $82,280 |
| Transportation inspectors | 380 | $84,470 | $92,100 |
| Aircraft structure and systems assemblers | 670 | $51,930 | $65,380 |
North Carolina Aircraft Mechanic Job Outlook, 2024 to 2034
| Occupation | 2024 Jobs | 2034 Jobs | Change | Openings per Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aircraft mechanics and service technicians | 5,540 | 5,770 | +4.2% | 450 |
| Avionics technicians | 450 | 470 | +3.1% | 40 |
Honda Aircraft Deepens Greensboro's Aerospace Base
Greensboro-High Point already carries the state's heaviest concentration of aircraft mechanic jobs, with a location quotient of 2.71 across 880 positions. Honda Aircraft Company's HondaJet campus, along with MRO firm HAECO Americas, gives the metro two of North Carolina's most prominent aerospace employers, though the metro's $64,520 median trails the statewide figure of $76,980.
Training Cost Equals Six Weeks of Pay
Guilford Technical Community College, in Greensboro, publishes a $9,850 total program price for its mechanic training, covering tuition, books, fees, and tools. That price equals about 1.5 months of North Carolina's $76,980 median mechanic pay, among the fastest payback periods in our school research.
Raleigh Tops the State's Metro Pay Chart
Raleigh's smaller workforce of about 330 mechanics posts the state's highest metro median at $91,600 a year, or $44.04 an hour. Charlotte follows at $78,580 across 1,310 jobs, while Winston-Salem's $73,480 median rounds out the metros with published figures.
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in North Carolina vs. Neighboring States
Aviation Maintenance Schools in North Carolina
FAA-approved schools in North Carolina: 7. Compare North Carolina programs
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Do Aircraft Mechanics Make in North Carolina?
How Many Aircraft Mechanics Work in North Carolina?
What Aerospace Manufacturer Operates in Greensboro?
How Much Does Mechanic Training Cost in North Carolina?
Which North Carolina Metro Pays Aircraft Mechanics the Most?
Sources
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: national, state, metropolitan area, and industry estimates
- Projections Central, State Occupational Employment Projections 2024-2034
- FAA AV-Info Part 147 school records
All sources retrieved .