What Is the Average Age of an Aviation Mechanic?

The average FAA-certificated aviation mechanic is 54 years old, according to the 2025 ATEC/Oliver Wyman Pipeline Report. That is 12 years older than the median U.S. worker age of 42. Forty-one percent of certificated mechanics are over 60, and more than 45,000 are expected to reach retirement age within the next decade.

The FAA issued 9,013 new certificates in 2024 — the second-highest on record — but this is still insufficient to offset projected retirements and fleet growth. The concentration of experience at the top of the age range means the industry faces a compressed timeline to recruit, train, and retain the next generation of mechanics.