Jobs Similar to Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers
Also called: Aircraft Structure Assemblers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Photonics Technicians, Machinists and Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers.
Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers: $65,380 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Photonics Technicians | 79% | $78,350Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 2 | Machinists | 79% | $58,750−10% | Training or associate |
| 3 | Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers | 78% | $56,210−14% | Training or associate |
| 4 | Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door | 78% | $74,340+14% | Training or associate |
| 5 | Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment | 77% | $74,090+13% | Training or associate |
| 6 | Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 77% | $50,140−23% | High school |
| 7 | Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 77% | $49,080−25% | High school |
| 8 | Geothermal Technicians | 77% | $49,230Broader BLS group · not compared | High school |
| 9 | Industrial Machinery Mechanics | 77% | $64,520−1% | Training or associate |
| 10 | Engine and Other Machine AssemblersSame group | 77% | $53,710−18% | High school |
| 11 | Hydroelectric Plant Technicians | 76% | $102,040Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 12 | Avionics Technicians | 76% | $82,280+26% | Training or associate |
| 13 | Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | 76% | $78,620+20% | Training or associate |
| 14 | Riggers | 76% | $62,640−4% | High school |
| 15 | Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment | 76% | $84,890+30% | Training or associate |
| 16 | Solar Photovoltaic Installers | 76% | $53,140−19% | High school |
| 17 | Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers | 76% | $39,630−39% | High school |
| 18 | Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | 76% | $63,800−2% | Training or associate |
| 19 | Rail Car Repairers | 75% | $67,530+3% | High school |
| 20 | Commercial Divers | 75% | $72,990+12% | Training or associate |
- 1Photonics Technicians
79% similar · $78,350 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 2Machinists
79% similar · $58,750 (−10%) · Training or associate
- 3Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers
78% similar · $56,210 (−14%) · Training or associate
- 4Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door
78% similar · $74,340 (+14%) · Training or associate
- 5Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment
77% similar · $74,090 (+13%) · Training or associate
- 6Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
77% similar · $50,140 (−23%) · High school
- 7Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
77% similar · $49,080 (−25%) · High school
- 8Geothermal Technicians
77% similar · $49,230 (broader group) · High school
- 9Industrial Machinery Mechanics
77% similar · $64,520 (−1%) · Training or associate
- 10Engine and Other Machine Assemblers
77% similar · $53,710 (−18%) · High school · Same group
- 11Hydroelectric Plant Technicians
76% similar · $102,040 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 12Avionics Technicians
76% similar · $82,280 (+26%) · Training or associate
- 13Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators
76% similar · $78,620 (+20%) · Training or associate
- 14Riggers
76% similar · $62,640 (−4%) · High school
- 15Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment
76% similar · $84,890 (+30%) · Training or associate
- 16Solar Photovoltaic Installers
76% similar · $53,140 (−19%) · High school
- 17Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers
76% similar · $39,630 (−39%) · High school
- 18Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
76% similar · $63,800 (−2%) · Training or associate
- 19Rail Car Repairers
75% similar · $67,530 (+3%) · High school
- 20Commercial Divers
75% similar · $72,990 (+12%) · Training or associate
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers.
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs for former aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers →
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
Questions about jobs like aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers
What jobs are most similar to aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Photonics Technicians (79% similar), Machinists (79% similar), Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers (78% similar), Control and Valve Installers and Repairers (78% similar) and Electrical and Electronics Repairers (Commercial and Industrial Equipment) (77% similar).
Which jobs like aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers ($84,890, +30%; usually training or an associate degree), Avionics Technicians ($82,280, +26%; usually training or an associate degree) and Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators ($78,620, +20%; usually training or an associate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers ($65,380). Without more preparation than aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers usually need: Rail Car Repairers.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.