Also called: Aerospace assembler, Fighter jet assembler
Builds aircraft and missile bodies on factory lines, fitting and riveting parts together.
At plants like Lockheed's F-35 factory in Fort Worth, assemblers read blueprints, drill and rivet panels, and install wiring and systems. Precision matters to thousandths of an inch. Many companies hire high school graduates and train them.
BLS aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers, May 2024.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 0.5 years after high school. High school diploma; company training or an aerospace manufacturing certificate.
Ways in: On-the-job training, Certification, Trade school. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Majors to look at: Aerospace Manufacturing (certificate), Aviation Maintenance.
Growing about average (about 3% over 10 years). BLS projects modest growth.
Medium risk for 10 years. Robots now drill and rivet more airframe sections; skilled hand fitting remains.
Age 18+. One way to start: Apply to defense aircraft factories; many run paid training for drilling and riveting
Classes: Manufacturing CTE, Geometry, Machine shop CTE.
Official data: O*NET occupation 51-2011.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.