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Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians: apprenticeship hours and pay
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Approved apprenticeship titles
4 apprenticeship titles on the Department of Labor's approved list fall under Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians, trained competency-based, hybrid, time-based. The shortest approved term is 4,000 hours, for Aerospace Engineering Build Technician (NOF) (competency-based).
| Title | RAPIDS code | Approach and term |
|---|---|---|
| Aerospace Engineering Build Technician (NOF) | 4020 | Competency-Based: 4,000 hours Hybrid: 4,000 to 6,000 hours Time-Based: 4,000 hours |
| RESEARCH MECHANIC (aircraft) | 0788 | Competency-Based: 8,000 hours Hybrid: 8,000 to 10,000 hours Time-Based: 8,000 hours |
| TEST EQUIPMENT MECHANIC | 0190 | Competency-Based: 10,000 hours Hybrid: 10,000 to 12,500 hours Time-Based: 10,000 hours |
| Wind Tunnel Mechanic | 0499 | Competency-Based: 8,000 hours Hybrid: 8,000 to 10,000 hours Time-Based: 8,000 hours |
Time-based programs count hours on the job; competency-based programs move on when the apprentice shows the skills; hybrid programs use both, within a range of hours (29 CFR 29.5(b)(2)). Each registered program sets its own term inside what the approved title allows.
What aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians earn, by state
Washington has the highest state median for aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians ($125,160) and Oklahoma the lowest ($45,590), across the 24 states with a published figure.
| State | Median pay | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $125,160 | $60.18 | 1,590 |
| Alaska | $105,780 | $50.85 | 40 |
| Nevada | $102,980 | $49.51 | 50 |
| California | $99,000 | $47.59 | 1,560 |
| Colorado | $98,990 | $47.59 | 660 |
| Maryland | $91,820 | $44.14 | 200 |
| Oregon | $81,100 | $38.99 | 120 |
| Virginia | $81,040 | $38.96 | 270 |
| Massachusetts | $79,420 | $38.18 | 30 |
| Connecticut | $79,410 | $38.18 | 70 |
| Ohio | $79,310 | $38.13 | 900 |
| Florida | $78,560 | $37.77 | 770 |
| Kansas | $78,350 | $37.67 | 580 |
| Texas | $78,350 | $37.67 | 950 |
| Utah | $76,680 | $36.87 | 400 |
| Arizona | $75,230 | $36.17 | 380 |
| Minnesota | $71,240 | $34.25 | Not published |
| Michigan | $69,840 | $33.58 | 70 |
| New Mexico | $66,460 | $31.95 | Not published |
| New York | $64,480 | $31.00 | 330 |
| Indiana | $62,520 | $30.06 | 480 |
| Alabama | $62,130 | $29.87 | 140 |
| Pennsylvania | $60,770 | $29.22 | 80 |
| Oklahoma | $45,590 | $21.92 | 30 |
Finding a program
The public sponsor file names the organizations that run registered apprenticeships but not the occupations each one trains, so this guide names no sponsor. Search apprenticeship.gov's Apprenticeship Finder for this title, or ask your American Job Center which local programs train it.
Apprenticeship sponsors by state (25,633) · All approved occupations
Sources: apprenticeship.gov approved occupations list (Last-Modified October 8, 2026); BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (all industries; blanks are figures BLS does not publish).