Also called: DOM, VP of Maintenance, Maintenance Operations Manager
Runs the whole maintenance operation for an airline, charter company, or repair station and answers to the FAA for it.
You start with a morning call reviewing which aircraft are broken, which parts are late, and which planes must be ready for tomorrow's flights. You approve budgets, sign off on FAA paperwork, and decide whether to fix or ground an aircraft. Most of your day is people and planning rather than wrenches.
Estimated; pay scales with the size of the fleet.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Certificate, about 12 years after high school. FAA A&P certificate plus 10+ years of hands-on experience; a bachelor's in aviation management helps for airline-level roles.
Ways in: Certification, On-the-job training, 4-year college, Military. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Aviation Maintenance Management, Aviation Management.
Growing about average. Openings follow airline and charter growth.
Low risk for 10 years. AI predicts part failures and organizes records; FAA accountability, leading mechanics and safety calls stay human.
Classes: Physics, Auto or aviation tech CTE, Business.
Official data: O*NET occupation 11-9199.
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.