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AI Automation Index
Will AI Replace Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians?
Task-level automation exposure for Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians: 38 O*NET tasks scored against their work activities, plus the simulator.
E-E-A-T Verified
Developed & audited by Gini Loh Automation Exposure
25%
weighted task index
38 of 38 tasks scored
Median Salary
$79,870 / year
BLS OEWS, May 2025 — this exact occupation
Employment Level
High
138,090 people hold this job — size, not growth
Projected 2025–35
+5.4%
employment change
11,400 openings a year · BLS line item
Pay by state
BLS OEWS publishes 52 state estimates for this occupation. Each is its own survey estimate, not the national median adjusted for local prices.
$45,100 – $105,370
Highest medians
New Jersey $105,370
New York $102,800
Maryland $100,500
Washington $98,980
Connecticut $96,830
Lowest medians
Puerto Rico $45,100
West Virginia $45,470
Wyoming $56,680
Idaho $61,250
Guam $62,760
State figures come from the 49-3011 row in the May 2025 state panel. States where the estimate was suppressed or too small to publish are absent.
What the score is made of
Each task is mapped to its work activities, scored for AI automation potential, and weighted by how important those activities are to the job. These are the components.
Automation potential 25%
Importance-weighted mean of the scored tasks. This is the headline index.
Physical work 47%
Share of weighted tasks in hands-on or machine-operating work activities.
Judgment & influence 2%
Share in analysis, decisions, teaching, directing, advising, or caring for others.
Routine administration 3%
Share in documenting, recording, and administrative activities.
Rewritten by O*NET 0%
Share of weighted tasks O*NET rewrote in a recent update. Reported, not folded into the score.
Consequence of error 26/100
Moderate
O*NET's own rating of how serious an uncorrectable mistake would be here — respondents, not us. Deliberately not in the index: the score measures what AI can do with the task content, and multiplying it by stakes would be our judgment dressed as data.
Constituent Task Mix
38 tasks for this occupation, weighted by work-activity importance. Shares below are of total task weight, not task count.
High exposure (≥ 60% of the task is automatable) 17%
6 tasks
Medium exposure (≥ 35%) 8%
3 tasks
Low exposure (below 35%) 75%
29 tasks
How would you survive?
Move your week away from the high-exposure tasks and toward the ones that need judgment. The simulator recalculates the index as you shift the mix.
Simulate Upskilling →Constituent Tasks
#9947 · Core · 22% automatable
Inspect completed work to certify that maintenance meets standards and that aircraft are ready for operation.
visual inspection — Completed-work function check is physical
Inspect completed work to ensure proper functioning.
#9946 · Core · 71% automatable
Read and interpret maintenance manuals, service bulletins, and other specifications to determine the feasibility and method of repairing or replacing malfunctioning or damaged components.
information retrieval — Technical reading for maintenance well handled
Read technical information needed to perform maintenance or repairs. Interpret blueprints, specifications, or diagrams to inform installation, development or operation activities.
#9948 · Core · 80% automatable
Maintain repair logs, documenting all preventive and corrective aircraft maintenance.
text generation — Log maintenance and repair records from data
Maintain repair or maintenance records.
#9950 · Core · 18% automatable
Examine and inspect aircraft components, including landing gear, hydraulic systems, and deicers to locate cracks, breaks, leaks, or other problems.
visual inspection — Mechanical component inspection requires hands-on access
Inspect mechanical components of vehicles to identify problems.
#9949 · Core · 18% automatable
Conduct routine and special inspections as required by regulations.
visual inspection — Mechanical component inspection requires hands-on access
Inspect mechanical components of vehicles to identify problems.
#9954 · Core · 10% automatable
Replace or repair worn, defective, or damaged components, using hand tools, gauges, and testing equipment.
physical manipulation — Manual replacement of mechanical parts
Replace worn, damaged, or defective mechanical parts. Repair worn, damaged, or defective mechanical parts.
#9951 · Core · 18% automatable
Inspect airframes for wear or other defects.
visual inspection — Physical vehicle structural inspection requires hands-on access
Inspect structural components of vehicles to identify problems.
#9977 · Core · 18% automatable
Check for corrosion, distortion, and invisible cracks in the fuselage, wings, and tail, using x-ray and magnetic inspection equipment.
visual inspection — Physical vehicle structural inspection requires hands-on access
Inspect structural components of vehicles to identify problems.
#9955 · Core · 18% automatable
Measure parts for wear, using precision instruments.
visual inspection — Mechanical component inspection requires hands-on access
Inspect mechanical components of vehicles to identify problems.
#9967 · Core · 10% automatable
Remove or install aircraft engines, using hoists or forklift trucks.
physical manipulation — Operating heavy equipment by hand in field
Move large objects using heavy equipment.
#9965 · Core · 10% automatable
Service and maintain aircraft and related apparatus by performing activities such as flushing crankcases, cleaning screens, and or moving parts.
physical manipulation — Physical lubrication task requiring hands and access
Clean equipment, parts, or tools to repair or maintain them in good working order. Service vehicles to maintain functionality. Lubricate equipment to allow proper functioning.
#9957 · Core · 28% automatable
Test operation of engines and other systems, using test equipment, such as ignition analyzers, compression checkers, distributor timers, or ammeters.
physical manipulation — Hands-on mechanical testing in physical environment
Test mechanical equipment to ensure proper functioning.
#9956 · Core · 5% automatable
Assemble and install electrical, plumbing, mechanical, hydraulic, and structural components and accessories, using hand or power tools.
physical manipulation — Electrical installation is hands-on licensed trade work
Assemble electrical components, subsystems, or systems. Install electrical components, equipment, or systems. Install piping for installation or maintenance activities.
#9959 · Core · 5% automatable
Reassemble engines following repair or inspection and reinstall engines in aircraft.
physical manipulation — Reassembly after repair requires hands-on fitting
Reassemble equipment after repair.
#9952 · Core · 10% automatable
Maintain, repair, and rebuild aircraft structures, functional components, and parts, such as wings and fuselage, rigging, hydraulic units, oxygen systems, fuel systems, electrical systems, gaskets, or seals.
physical manipulation — Manual repair of worn mechanical parts
Repair worn, damaged, or defective mechanical parts.
#9953 · Core · 18% automatable
Measure the tension of control cables.
visual inspection — Locating wear and damage requires physical inspection
Inspect mechanical equipment to locate damage, defects, or wear.
#9960 · Core · 60% automatable
Read and interpret pilots' descriptions of problems to diagnose causes.
decision support — Diagnosis from description aided, repair judgment human
Read work orders or descriptions of problems to determine repairs or modifications needed.
#9958 · Core · 22% automatable
Obtain fuel and oil samples and check them for contamination.
physical manipulation — Fluid testing requires lab equipment handling
Test fluids to identify contamination or other problems.
#9966 · Core · 14% automatable
Examine engines through specially designed openings while working from ladders or scaffolds, or use hoists or lifts to remove the entire engine from an aircraft.
visual inspection — Mechanical component inspection requires hands-on access
Inspect mechanical components of vehicles to identify problems. Operate cranes, hoists, or other moving or lifting equipment.
#9981 · Core · 40% automatable
Listen to operating engines to detect and diagnose malfunctions, such as sticking or burned valves.
visual inspection — Detecting subtle equipment problems needs on-site sensory judgment
Observe equipment in operation to detect potential problems.
#9970 · Core · 10% automatable
Remove or cut out defective parts or drill holes to gain access to internal defects or damage, using drills and punches.
physical manipulation — Drilling parts requires physical tool operation
Remove parts or components from equipment. Drill holes in parts, equipment, or materials.
#9972 · Core · 45% automatable
Communicate with other workers to coordinate fitting and alignment of heavy parts, or to facilitate processing of repair parts.
interpersonal — Install/repair coordination is situated teamwork
Communicate with coworkers to coordinate installations or repairs.
#9968 · Core · 73% automatable
Inventory and requisition or order supplies, parts, materials, and equipment.
decision support — Ordering via systems automatable; human approves spend
Maintain inventories of materials, equipment, or products. Order materials, supplies, or equipment.
#9971 · Core · 9% automatable
Clean, refuel, and change oil in line service aircraft.
physical manipulation — Cleaning parts for repair needs hands-on dexterity
Clean equipment, parts, or tools to repair or maintain them in good working order. Service vehicles to maintain functionality.
#9961 · Core · 64% automatable
Modify aircraft structures, space vehicles, systems, or components, following drawings, schematics, charts, engineering orders, and technical publications.
visual inspection — Diagram interpretation partial, human confirms installation
Interpret blueprints, specifications, or diagrams to inform installation, development or operation activities.
#9974 · Core · 10% automatable
Clean engines, sediment bulk and screens, and carburetors, adjusting carburetor float levels.
physical manipulation — Cleaning parts for repair needs hands-on dexterity
Clean equipment, parts, or tools to repair or maintain them in good working order.
#9962 · Core · 7% automatable
Install and align repaired or replacement parts for subsequent riveting or welding, using clamps and wrenches.
physical manipulation — Physical alignment of machinery requires hands
Install machine or equipment replacement parts. Align equipment or machinery.
#9982 · Core · 45% automatable
Accompany aircraft on flights to make in-flight adjustments and corrections.
decision support — Troubleshooting aided; hands-on diagnosis human
Troubleshoot equipment or systems operation problems.
#9963 · Core · 10% automatable
Locate and mark dimensions and reference lines on defective or replacement parts, using templates, scribes, compasses, and steel rules.
physical manipulation — Laying out work physically per specifications
Lay out work according to specifications.
#9976 · Core · 4% automatable
Spread plastic film over areas to be repaired to prevent damage to surrounding areas.
physical manipulation — Manual application of protective coverings
Apply protective coverings to objects or surfaces near work areas.
#9969 · Core · 10% automatable
Fabricate defective sections or parts, using metal fabricating machines, saws, brakes, shears, and grinders.
physical manipulation — Part fabrication requires physical machining and handling
Fabricate parts or components.
#9964 · Core · 10% automatable
Clean, strip, prime, and sand structural surfaces and materials to prepare them for bonding.
physical manipulation — Cleaning parts for repair needs hands-on dexterity
Clean equipment, parts, or tools to repair or maintain them in good working order.
#9979 · Supplemental · 65% automatable
Determine repair limits for engine hot section parts.
decision support — Operational criteria drafted; human decides
Determine operational criteria or specifications.
#9978 · Supplemental · 8% automatable
Disassemble engines and inspect parts, such as turbine blades or cylinders, for corrosion, wear, warping, cracks, and leaks, using precision measuring instruments, x-rays, and magnetic inspection equipment.
physical manipulation — Physical disassembly for inspection is manual work
Disassemble equipment to inspect for deficiencies.
#9983 · Supplemental · 12% automatable
Remove, inspect, repair, and install in-flight refueling stores and external fuel tanks.
visual inspection — Mechanical component inspection requires hands-on access
Inspect mechanical components of vehicles to identify problems. Remove parts or components from equipment. Repair worn, damaged, or defective mechanical parts.
#9973 · Supplemental · 8% automatable
Trim and shape replacement body sections to specified sizes and fits and secure sections in place, using adhesives, hand tools, and power tools.
physical manipulation — Physical cutting to specifications
Cut materials according to specifications or needs.
#9980 · Supplemental · 15% automatable
Cure bonded structures, using portable or stationary curing equipment.
physical manipulation — Physical control of heating/drying equipment
Operate heating or drying equipment.
#9975 · Supplemental · 10% automatable
Prepare and paint aircraft surfaces.
physical manipulation — Painting surfaces is hands-on manual work
Paint surfaces or equipment.
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How this was scored
- 1. Tasks. O*NET task statements for this occupation, from a release whose newest record is dated 08/2026.
- 2. Work activities. Each task maps to 1–5 Detailed Work Activities; each activity belongs to one of 41 Generalized Work Activities that O*NET rates for importance (1–5) in this occupation.
- 3. Automation potential. Every work activity carries one score for how far current AI can perform it end-to-end. Tasks inherit the mean of their activities.
- 4. Weighting. Task weight = 0.35 + 0.65 × (importance − 1)/4, scaled by how often the task is performed and by 0.7 for Supplemental tasks. Importance is the task's own O*NET rating where it exists (18,369 of 18,838 tasks); the rest inherit their work activities' importance. The index is the weighted mean.
Check: across the 910 occupations where O*NET also rates how far machine speed sets the pace, this index moves opposite to it (Spearman ρ = -0.49). The more a job is paced by equipment, the less of its task content AI can address — the relationship you would expect if the scoring is working.
Sources · O*NET 31.0 (task records to 08/2026) · BLS OEWS May 2025 · BLS projections 2025-2035 · rubric v2.1 · tasks for O*NET, not a forecast
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