Employers

The U.S. Department of Labor reported in May 2019 that there were approximately 22,800 avionics technicians employed in the United States. Most technicians work for airlines or airports and flying fields. Other major employers include the federal government and aircraft assembly firms.

Starting Out

Those entering the field of avionics must first obtain the necessary training in electronics. Following that training, the school's career services department can help locate prospective employers, arrange interviews, and advise about an employment search. Other possibilities are to contact an employment agency or to approach a prospective employer directly. Service in the military is an excellent way to gain education, training, and experience in avionics; many companies are eager to hire technicians with a military background.

Avionics technicians usually begin their careers in trainee positions until they are thoroughly familiar with the requirements and routines of their work. Having completed their training, they are usually assigned to work independently, with only minimal supervision, doing testing and repair work. The most experienced and able technicians go on to install new equipment and to work in research and development operations. Many senior technicians move into training, supervisory, sales, and customer relations positions. Some choose to pursue additional training and become avionics engineers.

Visit the Federal Aviation Administration's Web site for information on avionics-related careers, https://www.faa.gov/jobs/career_fields.

To learn more about trends in the industry and potential employers, read publications such as

• Aerospace Manufacturing (https://www.aero-mag.com)
• Aviation Maintenance Magazine (https://www.avm-mag.com)
• Avionics News (https://aea.net/AvionicsNews)

Visit the following Web sites for job listings:

• https://www.avjobs.com/careers
• https://www.aiaa.org
• https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/avionics-technician-jobs
• https://www.pama.org/job-board.html

Conduct information interviews with avionics technicians and ask them for advice on preparing for and entering the field. Ask your school's career services office for help with setting this up.