See why aircraft maintenance outshines every other trade in the US

When people talk about “good careers,” aviation maintenance rarely makes the list. You’ll hear about nursing, tech, welding, cybersecurity. But ask around a hangar—just once—and you’ll discover a different reality: aviation maintenance is one of the most quietly powerful careers you can pursue.

Let me explain why.

Most of the best aircraft mechanics I know didn’t go to a four-year college. They got their A&P license, learned hands-on under the wing of a jet, and earned respect through skill—not credentials. And now? Some of them are making more than $100K+ as technicians. Others are globe-trotting with charter companies or managing corporate jets with six-figure salaries and doing extremely satisfying work.

There are few trades left where skill, precision, and hustle still matter more than a diploma. This is one of them.

A&P mechanics don’t just fix planes. They fix spacecraft. They enable helicopters to fight wildfires. They maintain research aircraft for NASA and NOAA. They prep drones for tech startups. They support the military, science, tourism, cargo, agriculture—you name it. 

Your license is like a passport. It’s up to you where you stamp it.

We live in a world where millions of people sit in front of a screen, wondering why they feel empty. Aviation maintenance isn’t like that. It’s kinetic. It’s physical. It’s real. You start your shift, and by the end of the day, you’ve released a multi-million-dollar machine back to the sky. And when it takes off, you know you are the reason it’s safe. 

There’s pride in that—quiet, old-school pride. The kind that comes from being trusted with life-or-death systems and nailing it.

Forget the headlines about AI taking your job. The aviation industry is short tens of thousands of qualified mechanics, and that shortage is growing. Airlines, charter ops, corporate jet owners—they’re all scrambling for talent. And now, with electric aircraft, drone fleets, and commercial spaceflight on the rise, the future of flight is going to need a lot more driven and talented mechanics to keep the world flying. 

This career isn’t going away. It’s just getting started.

Don’t like airlines? Try charter. Want to travel? Go AOG. Like solitude? Join a cargo feeder and be in charge of your own mini-fleet. Want adventure? Try helicopters in Alaska. Dream of space? Build Starships at SpaceX (Coming soon).

Aviation maintenance has more flavors than almost any other trade. And once you taste the right one, you’ll never go back.

Because we don’t talk about it. High schools ignore it. Parents push four year college. The public assumes “mechanic” means “grease monkey.” But if they saw what I see every day—mechanics troubleshooting problems, navigating complex avionics systems, and teaching pilots how their aircraft work.—they’d realize something:

This isn’t just a job. It’s a career. A lifestyle. A calling.

Mechanics get a bad rap in the United States and people don’t understand their work. In the rest of the world, mechanics are often referred to as engineers, and their trade is highly respected.

If you’re a new A&P student or someone wondering if this trade is worth the effort—let me say this:

It’s worth it. Every busted knuckle, every overnight shift, every early-morning engine start. You’re joining a community of people who keep the world’s most impressive machines flying. And the best part? There’s a place for you, no matter what kind of life you want to build.

Want help finding your path? Mechanics Log will be posting many opportunities and information about what is actually out there with real companies you can go work for. Stay tuned and keep reading Mechanics Log. 

Author: Sam Sandifer