Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers
Assemble, 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.
Most important skills
- Quality Control Analysis
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Complex Problem Solving
- Equipment Maintenance
Key knowledge
- Mathematics
- Education and Training
- Mechanical
- English Language
- Production and Processing
- Design
- Computers and Electronics
- Public Safety and Security
What the work involves
- Assemble prefabricated parts to form subassemblies.
- Align, fit, assemble, connect, or install system components, using jigs, fixtures, measuring instruments, hand tools, or power tools.
- Attach brackets, hinges, or clips to secure or support components or subassemblies, using bolts, screws, rivets, chemical bonding, or welding.
- Inspect or test installed units, parts, systems, or assemblies for fit, alignment, performance, defects, or compliance with standards, using measuring instruments or test equipment.
- Clean, oil, or coat system components, as necessary, before assembly or attachment.
- Set up or operate machines or systems to crimp, cut, bend, form, swage, flare, bead, burr, or straighten tubing, according to specifications.
- Mark identifying information on tubing or cable assemblies, using etching devices, labels, rubber stamps, or other methods.
- Cut cables and tubing, using master templates, measuring instruments, and cable cutters or saws.
Strongest interest areas (O*NET): Realistic, Conventional, Investigative.
Qualifications and licensing
- Most common education
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) (54.8% of respondents)
- Related experience
- Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years (24.5%)
- On-the-job training
- Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months (43.1%)
- Preparation level
- O*NET job zone 2: Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Licensing
- Not yet verified. Check your state licensing board.
Check before planning
- Licensing for Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers is not yet verified for any state: check the state licensing board before planning.
Limits
- Distributions show what current workers or occupational experts report, not legal minimums.
- Requirements vary by employer and state; time to qualify is not estimated.
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0); BLS Employment Projections · dataset 2026.10.8 · method e3-qualification-1.0.0
Work environment
How the typical conditions of this occupation compare with 911 occupations in O*NET (very low = the lowest fifth).
Levels are relative. Most occupations involve a lot of contact with people, for example, so “very low” can still mean regular contact; the last column shows what workers actually reported.
| Condition | Level | Compared with other occupations | Most common answer (O*NET survey) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contact with others | Low | Lower on contact with others than 77% of occupations compared | 44% of surveyed respondents chose “Constant contact with others” |
| Dealing with the public | Very low | Lower on dealing with the public than 87% of occupations compared | 42% of surveyed respondents chose “Not important at all” |
| Teamwork | Low | Lower on teamwork than 66% of occupations compared | 56% of surveyed respondents chose “Very important” |
| Freedom to make decisions | Very low | Lower on freedom to make decisions than 85% of occupations compared | 49% of surveyed respondents chose “Some freedom” |
| Time pressure | Low | Lower on time pressure than 73% of occupations compared | 30% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a week or more but not every day” |
| Conflict situations | Low | Lower on conflict situations than 74% of occupations compared | 32% of surveyed respondents chose “Never” |
| Dealing with unpleasant or angry people | Very low | Lower on dealing with unpleasant or angry people than 81% of occupations compared | 39% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a year or more but not every month” |
| Consequence of error | High | Higher on consequence of error than 71% of occupations compared | 31% of surveyed respondents chose “Very serious” |
Work-pressure profile
- Time pressure: low
- Conflict situations: low
- Dealing with unpleasant or angry people: very low
- Consequence of error: high
Each part is shown on its own. There is no combined stress score, and conditions vary by employer and role.
Full answer distributions
Contact with others
- No contact with others: 1.05%
- Occasional contact with others: 9.07%
- Contact with others about half the time: 25.63%
- Contact with others most of the time: 20.05%
- Constant contact with others: 44.2%
n = 33, Incumbent 07/2015
Dealing with the public
- Not important at all: 41.92%
- Fairly important: 12.35%
- Important: 27.27%
- Very important: 11.74%
- Extremely important: 6.71%
n = 33, Incumbent 07/2015
Teamwork
- Not important at all: 1.42%
- Fairly important: 0.88%
- Important: 15.25%
- Very important: 55.56%
- Extremely important: 26.89%
n = 33, Incumbent 07/2015
Freedom to make decisions
- No freedom: 0%
- Very little freedom: 18.47%
- Limited freedom: 18.57%
- Some freedom: 48.7%
- A lot of freedom: 14.26%
n = 33, Incumbent 07/2015
Time pressure
- Never: 8.33%
- Once a year or more but not every month: 9.34%
- Once a month or more but not every week: 27.79%
- Once a week or more but not every day: 30.46%
- Every day: 24.08%
n = 33, Incumbent 07/2015
Conflict situations
- Never: 32.43%
- Once a year or more but not every month: 28.56%
- Once a month or more but not every week: 7.37%
- Once a week or more but not every day: 23.31%
- Every day: 8.33%
n = 33, Incumbent 07/2015
Dealing with unpleasant or angry people
- Never: 33.12%
- Once a year or more but not every month: 39.08%
- Once a month or more but not every week: 1.56%
- Once a week or more but not every day: 17.9%
- Every day: 8.33%
n = 33, Incumbent 07/2015
Consequence of error
- Not serious at all: 0%
- Fairly serious: 28.46%
- Serious: 18.01%
- Very serious: 30.55%
- Extremely serious: 22.98%
n = 33, Incumbent 07/2015
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O*NET-SOC 51-2011.00 · SOC 51-2011 (exact, high confidence) · dataset 2026.10.8