Promotions depend in part on the size of the organization for which an aircraft mechanic works. The first promotion after beginning employment is usually based on merit and comes as a salary increase. Many companies require the mechanic to have a combined airframe and power plant certificate or an aircraft inspector's certificate to advance further.
Advancement could take the following route: journey-worker mechanic, head mechanic or crew chief, inspector, head inspector, and shop supervisor. A mechanic may advance to engineering, administrative, or executive positions with additional training. In larger airlines, mechanics may advance to become flight engineers, copilots, and pilots. With business training, some mechanics open their own repair shops.
- Aeronautical and Aerospace Technicians
- Aerospace Engineers
- Aerospace Medicine Physicians
- Agricultural Pilots
- Air Traffic Controllers
- Airplane Dispatchers
- Airport Security Personnel
- Airport Service Workers
- Astronauts
- Astronomers
- Astrophysicists
- Aviation Safety Inspectors
- Avionics Engineers
- Avionics Technicians
- Build Reliability Engineers
- Drone Engineers
- Drone Manufacturing Workers
- Drone Pilots
- Drone Repair Technicians
- Electrical Engineering Technologists
- Electrical Engineers
- Electronics Engineering Technicians
- Electronics Engineers
- Engineers
- Flight Attendants
- Flight Instructors
- Ground Services Workers
- Hypersonics Engineers
- Hypersonics Technicians
- Industrial Engineers
- Manufacturing Engineering Technologists
- Manufacturing Engineers
- Mechanical Engineers
- Military Pilots
- Non-Destructive Testing Specialists
- Physicists
- Pilots
- Reservation and Ticket Agents
- Robotics Engineers
- Robotics Technicians
- Space Lawyers
- Space Pilots
- Space Systems Operators
- Space Tourism Managers
- Spacecraft Test Technicians