Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers
Also called: Aircraft Assembler, Assembler, Sheet Metal Assembler and Riveter (SMAR), Sheet Metal MechanicAssemble, fit, fasten, and install parts of airplanes, space vehicles, or missiles, such as tails, wings, fuselage, bulkheads, stabilizers, landing gear, rigging and control equipment, or heating and ventilating systems.
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What the data says: AI could halve the time on 1 of its 26 tasks, and jobs are projected to shrink 5.6% by 2035. How to think about this →
About this projection
BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”
It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”
On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”
Recent conditions
- From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 5.4 hires for every 10 job openings in durable goods manufacturing, which employs about 92% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS
One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.5.4 this industry7.3 all industries
Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates
Tap a state for its figures.
Median pay in every state
| State | Median | Middle half earn | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $58,990 | $54,230 to $66,070 | 950 |
| Arizona | $73,930 | $62,470 to $80,800 | 1,210 |
| Arkansas | $46,290 | $39,730 to $46,620 | 780 |
| California | $63,640 | $60,130 to $78,380 | 2,930 |
| Colorado | $70,870 | $45,860 to $77,390 | 160 |
| Connecticut | $78,630 | $75,200 to $106,810 | 500 |
| Florida | $64,580 | $51,150 to $78,890 | 1,280 |
| Georgia | $72,550 | $59,070 to $89,460 | 2,950 |
| Idaho | $50,100 | $47,670 to $55,860 | 40 |
| Kansas | $59,850 | $59,670 to $77,440 | 9,710 |
| Michigan | $47,230 | $35,990 to $55,210 | 360 |
| Missouri | $58,600 | $58,600 to $83,410 | 460 |
| Nebraska | $64,530 | $64,530 to $80,990 | 220 |
| New York | $49,620 | $44,890 to $59,340 | 280 |
| North Carolina | $51,930 | $48,210 to $58,590 | 670 |
| Oklahoma | $49,070 | $40,870 to $61,110 | 400 |
| Oregon | $58,050 | $49,630 to $98,130 | 560 |
| Pennsylvania | $81,680 | $62,950 to $112,300 | 740 |
| Tennessee | $66,390 | $52,870 to $68,030 | 130 |
| Texas | $76,640 | $59,400 to $86,520 | 3,010 |
| Utah | $51,130 | $40,750 to $60,700 | 550 |
| Washington | $110,470 | $98,880 to $110,470 | 4,280 |
| West Virginia | not published | not published | 140 |
Nationally: $65,380. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this
How AI touches the work
What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.
AI could halve the time on 1 of its 26 tasks
| AI rating | Its main tasks | Share of Claude conversations May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| AI + software | Read blueprints, illustrations, or specifications to determine layouts, sequences of operations, or identities or relationships of parts. | Not published |
| Not much | Align, fit, assemble, connect, or install system components, using jigs, fixtures, measuring instruments, hand tools, or power tools. | Not published |
| Not much | Adjust, repair, rework, or replace parts or assemblies to ensure proper operation. | Not published |
| Not much | Assemble parts, fittings, or subassemblies on aircraft, using layout tools, hand tools, power tools, or fasteners, such as bolts, screws, rivets, or clamps. | Not published |
| Not much | Cut, trim, file, bend, or smooth parts to ensure proper fit and clearance. | Not published |
| Not much | Assemble prefabricated parts to form subassemblies. | Not published |
See all 26 tasks
| Not much | Attach brackets, hinges, or clips to secure or support components or subassemblies, using bolts, screws, rivets, chemical bonding, or welding. | Not published |
| Not much | Inspect or test installed units, parts, systems, or assemblies for fit, alignment, performance, defects, or compliance with standards, using measuring instruments or test equipment. | Not published |
| Not much | Mark identifying information on tubing or cable assemblies, using etching devices, labels, rubber stamps, or other methods. | Not published |
| Not much | Clean, oil, or coat system components, as necessary, before assembly or attachment. | Not published |
| Not much | Set, align, adjust, or synchronize aircraft armament or rigging or control system components to established tolerances or requirements, using sighting devices and hand tools. | Not published |
| Not much | Clean aircraft structures, parts, or components, using aqueous, semi-aqueous, aliphatic hydrocarbon, or organic solvent cleaning products or techniques to reduce carbon or other harmful emissions. | Not published |
| Not much | Cut cables and tubing, using master templates, measuring instruments, and cable cutters or saws. | Not published |
| Not much | Position and align subassemblies in jigs or fixtures, using measuring instruments and following blueprint lines and index points. | Not published |
| Not much | Set up or operate machines or systems to crimp, cut, bend, form, swage, flare, bead, burr, or straighten tubing, according to specifications. | Not published |
| Not much | Layout and mark reference points and locations for installation of parts or components, using jigs, templates, or measuring and marking instruments. | Not published |
| Not much | Join structural assemblies, such as wings, tails, or fuselage. | Not published |
| Not much | Verify dimensions of cable assemblies or positions of fittings, using measuring instruments. | Not published |
| Not much | Fabricate parts needed for assembly or installation, using shop machinery or equipment. | Not published |
| Not much | Fit and fasten sheet metal coverings to surface areas or other sections of aircraft prior to welding or riveting. | Not published |
| Not much | Manually install structural assemblies or signal crane operators to position assemblies for joining. | Not published |
| Not much | Assemble prototypes or integrated-technology demonstrators of new or emerging environmental technologies for aircraft. | Not published |
| Not much | Capture or segregate waste material, such as aluminum swarf, machine cutting fluid, or solvents, for recycling or environmentally responsible disposal. | Not published |
| Not much | Swage fittings onto cables, using swaging machines. | Not published |
| Not much | Place and connect control cables to electronically controlled units, using hand tools, ring locks, cotter keys, threaded connectors, turnbuckles, or related devices. | Not published |
| Not much | Install mechanical linkages and actuators, using tensiometers to verify tension of cables. | Not published |
Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 0 of the 26 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.
Where people already use AI
The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 26 tasks fall under 21 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.
- #8 Read documents or materials to inform work processes
| Work activity | This occupation's tasks under it | People asked AI for help in 10,000 conversations |
AI did it for them in 10,000 conversations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assemble products or work aids | |||
| Build structures | |||
| Position materials or components for assembly | |||
| Operate industrial processing or production equipment | |||
| Connect components or supply lines to equipment or tools | |||
| Clean workpieces, finished products, or other objects | |||
| Cut materials | |||
| Assemble equipment or components |
Show all 21 activities
| Read documents or materials to inform work processes | |||
| Adjust equipment to ensure adequate performance | |||
| Set up equipment | |||
| Measure physical characteristics of materials, products, or equipment | |||
| Maintain tools or equipment | |||
| Repair workpieces or products | |||
| Sort materials or products | |||
| Inspect completed work or finished products | |||
| Mark materials or objects for identification | |||
| Shape materials to create products | |||
| Repair tools or equipment | |||
| Operate cutting or grinding equipment | |||
| Signal others to coordinate work activities |
How to read this
Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.
The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.
More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude
High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs
BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.
Career moves into and out of this occupation
From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.
Where people moved next
of 16,636 moves out
- 1 Production Workers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 5%
- 2 Team Assemblers 4%
- 3 Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers Moderate +2.5% 4%
- 4 Computer User Support Specialists Very high -3.5% 3%
- 5 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 3%
Where people moved in from
of 17,074 moves in
- 1 Team Assemblers 6%
- 2 Production Workers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 6%
- 3 Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand Low +1.8% 5%
- 4 Customer Service Representatives Very high -5.3% 4%
- 5 Cashiers High -6.5% 4%
Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).
Education and training for the occupation
O*NET survey of workers in this occupation
- 3% less than high school
- 55% high school
- 16% postsecondary certificate
- 1% some college
- 10% associate's
- 16% bachelor's
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers in this occupation · 33 people answered.
3 programs: Airframe Mechanics and Aircraft Maintenance Technology/Technician, Aircraft Powerplant Technology/Technician and Avionics Maintenance Technology/Technician.
Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023
BLS publishes no credential figures for this occupation.
Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor
- Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
- Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
- License Finder ↗ licenses by state
- Apprenticeship Finder ↗ DOL lists 6 registered apprenticeships in this occupation. Apprenticeship.gov can't be linked to one occupation, so search for “Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers” there.
These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide
BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS
See it online, and explore any career: https://www.pathmosaic.com/card/51-2011.00