💡 Why it matters: Every aircraft must be checked and repaired by licensed engineers before it flies, so skilled maintenance engineers are in steady demand wherever planes operate.
🌍 Around the world
- Nigeria: Nigerian airlines still send much of this work abroad, so skilled local engineers are in strong demand.
- United States: Jobs for aircraft and avionics mechanics and technicians are projected to grow 6% from 2025 to 2035, faster than average (US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
💰 What it can pay
🇳🇬 Nigeria
- Starting out
- ₦2.5M – ₦6M
- Mid-career
- ₦6M – ₦16M
- Senior
- ₦16M – ₦40M
≈ ₦500k – ₦1.3M a month mid-career. Indicative estimate by Incusim.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Closest profile: Aerospace engineering technician (aircraft maintenance technician). Typical starter to experienced salary. National Careers Service, 2026
🇺🇸 United States
Aircraft and avionics equipment mechanics and technicians. Median pay; low and high are the 10th and 90th percentiles. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025
🇨🇦 Canada
Closest Canadian category: Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) - Avionics. Hourly wage low/median/high x 2,080 hours. Job Bank (Government of Canada), 2023-2024
Yearly pay before tax. UK, US and Canada figures come from the official sources named on each card. Nigeria has no official salary survey, so those are our indicative estimates. Real pay depends on the employer, the place, your skills and experience.
🛠️ What you actually do
- Inspect engines, wings, landing gear and electronics
- Repair or replace worn or broken parts
- Follow strict checklists and record every job
- Test systems after repairs
- Sign off that an aircraft is safe to fly
⚡ Skills you'll need
- Attention to detail
- Technical skills
- Problem solving
- Honesty and responsibility
- Teamwork
Get ready at school
🇳🇬 Nigeria
- Approved maintenance training organisation for a licensed engineer course
- OND or HND in engineering followed by an apprenticeship at an airline hangar
- Entry is through WAEC or NECO (secondary school exam) results and JAMB (UTME, the national university entrance exam)
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Apprenticeship with an airline or maintenance company
- Forces route, such as the RAF or Royal Navy
🇺🇸 United States
- Aviation maintenance school approved by the FAA
- Military aviation maintenance training
🇨🇦 Canada
- Work experience under a licensed engineer, plus exams, to qualify for the licence
- Military aircraft technician training
🗺️ Your path to this career
- 1Study Physics and Maths and enjoy fixing things
- 2Join an approved aviation maintenance programme or engineering course
- 3Train in a hangar under licensed engineers
- 4Pass exams for your licence
- 5Specialise in engines, avionics (aircraft electronics) or become an inspector
⏰ A day in the life
You start with a safety briefing, then inspect an engine with a torch and checklist. You replace a worn part, test the system and note every step in the logbook. Before the plane leaves, you sign it off as safe.