# 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.
- **Entity Type:** role
- **Schema Version:** role.v1
- **Soc Code:** 51-2011.00
- **Summary:** 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.

## Aliases

- Assembler
- Sheet Metal Assembler and Riveter (SMAR)
- Sheet Metal Mechanic
- Structures Technician
- A&P Technician (Airframe and Powerplant Technician)
- Aircraft Line Assembler
- Assembly Riveter
- Helicopter Technician
- Structures Mechanic
- Aerospace Assembler
- Aircraft De-Icer Installer
- Aircraft Fuselage Framer

## Tasks

| Text | Type | Iwa |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Assemble parts, fittings, or subassemblies on aircraft, using layout tools, hand tools, power tools, or fasteners, such as bolts, screws, rivets, or clamps. | Core | 4.A.3.a.2.aj |
| Set, align, adjust, or synchronize aircraft armament or rigging or control system components to established tolerances or requirements, using sighting devices and hand tools. | Supplemental | 4.A.3.a.2.i |
| Read blueprints, illustrations, or specifications to determine layouts, sequences of operations, or identities or relationships of parts. | Core | 4.A.1.a.1.b |
| Attach brackets, hinges, or clips to secure or support components or subassemblies, using bolts, screws, rivets, chemical bonding, or welding. | Core | 4.A.3.a.2.a |
| Join structural assemblies, such as wings, tails, or fuselage. | Supplemental | 4.A.3.a.2.a |
| Position and align subassemblies in jigs or fixtures, using measuring instruments and following blueprint lines and index points. | Supplemental | 4.A.3.a.2.ao |
| Inspect or test installed units, parts, systems, or assemblies for fit, alignment, performance, defects, or compliance with standards, using measuring instruments or test equipment. | Core | 4.A.1.b.2.f |
| Adjust, repair, rework, or replace parts or assemblies to ensure proper operation. | Core | 4.A.3.b.4.b |
| Cut, trim, file, bend, or smooth parts to ensure proper fit and clearance. | Core | 4.A.3.a.2.g |
| Layout and mark reference points and locations for installation of parts or components, using jigs, templates, or measuring and marking instruments. | Core | 4.A.3.a.2.ao |
| Fabricate parts needed for assembly or installation, using shop machinery or equipment. | Core | 4.A.3.a.2.aj |
| Assemble prototypes or integrated-technology demonstrators of new or emerging environmental technologies for aircraft. | Supplemental | 4.A.3.a.2.aj |

## Emerging Tasks


## Activities

| Name | Iwa |
| --- | --- |
| Assemble metal or plastic parts or products. | 4.A.3.a.2.aj |
| Align parts or workpieces to ensure proper assembly. | 4.A.3.a.2.ao |
| Assemble electrical or electronic equipment. | 4.A.3.a.2.d |
| Install mechanical components in production equipment. | 4.A.3.a.2.at |
| Assemble metal structures. | 4.A.3.a.2.a |
| Draw guide lines or markings on materials or workpieces using patterns or other references. | 4.A.3.a.2.ao |
| Inspect installed components or assemblies. | 4.A.1.b.2.f |
| Clean workpieces or finished products. | 4.A.3.a.1.h |
| Apply lubricants or coolants to workpieces. | 4.A.3.b.5.a |
| Adjust vehicle components according to specifications. | 4.A.3.a.2.i |
| Operate metal or plastic forming equipment. | 4.A.3.a.3.f |
| Operate cutting equipment. | 4.A.3.a.3.l |
| Solder parts or workpieces. | 4.A.3.a.2.ai |
| Operate welding equipment. | 4.A.3.a.2.ai |
| Measure dimensions of completed products or workpieces to verify conformance to specifications. | 4.A.1.b.3.a |
| Mark products, workpieces, or equipment with identifying information. | 4.A.1.b.1.a |
| Cut industrial materials in preparation for fabrication or processing. | 4.A.3.a.2.l |
| Sort recyclable materials. | 4.A.2.a.2.b |
| Review blueprints or other instructions to determine operational methods or sequences. | 4.A.1.a.1.b |
| Repair parts or assemblies. | 4.A.3.b.4.b |
| Replace worn equipment components. | 4.A.3.b.4.c |
| Reshape metal workpieces to established specifications. | 4.A.3.a.2.g |
| Trim excess material from workpieces. | 4.A.3.a.2.l |
| Signal others to coordinate work activities. | 4.A.4.b.1.b |
| Connect supply lines to production equipment or tools. | 4.A.3.a.2.ah |
| Assemble electromechanical or hydraulic systems. | 4.A.3.a.2.d |
| Mount attachments or tools onto production equipment. | 4.A.3.a.2.f |

## Capabilities

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Problem Sensitivity | ability | 3.75 |
| Near Vision | ability | 3.62 |
| Finger Dexterity | ability | 3.5 |
| Mathematics | knowledge | 3.48 |
| Education and Training | knowledge | 3.47 |
| Mechanical | knowledge | 3.44 |
| English Language | knowledge | 3.44 |
| Production and Processing | knowledge | 3.39 |
| Quality Control Analysis | transferable_skill | 3.38 |
| Design | knowledge | 3.38 |
| Information Ordering | ability | 3.38 |
| Visualization | ability | 3.38 |
| Manual Dexterity | ability | 3.38 |
| Computers and Electronics | knowledge | 3.14 |
| Active Listening | essential_skill | 3.12 |
| Critical Thinking | essential_skill | 3.12 |
| Monitoring | essential_skill | 3.12 |
| Oral Comprehension | ability | 3.12 |
| Written Comprehension | ability | 3.12 |
| Deductive Reasoning | ability | 3.12 |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | ability | 3.12 |
| Control Precision | ability | 3.12 |
| Extent Flexibility | ability | 3.12 |
| Speech Recognition | ability | 3.12 |
| Reading Comprehension | essential_skill | 3 |
| Speaking | essential_skill | 3 |
| Complex Problem Solving | transferable_skill | 3 |
| Equipment Maintenance | transferable_skill | 3 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | transferable_skill | 3 |
| Time Management | transferable_skill | 3 |
| Public Safety and Security | knowledge | 3 |
| Oral Expression | ability | 3 |
| Inductive Reasoning | ability | 3 |
| Category Flexibility | ability | 3 |
| Perceptual Speed | ability | 3 |
| Selective Attention | ability | 3 |
| Multilimb Coordination | ability | 3 |
| Auditory Attention | ability | 3 |
| Speech Clarity | ability | 3 |
| Engineering and Technology | knowledge | 2.96 |

## Skills

| Name | Type |
| --- | --- |
| Finger Dexterity | Common Skill |
| Mathematics | Common Skill |
| English Language | Common Skill |
| Visualization | Specialized Skill |
| Information Ordering | Specialized Skill |
| Speech Recognition | Specialized Skill |
| Deductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| Critical Thinking | Common Skill |
| Active Listening | Common Skill |
| Time Management | Common Skill |
| Reading Comprehension | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Word | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Outlook | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Excel | Common Skill |
| Inductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| Equipment Maintenance | Specialized Skill |
| Complex Problem Solving | Common Skill |
| Systems Analysis | Specialized Skill |
| Instructing | Specialized Skill |
| Installation | Specialized Skill |
| Equipment Selection | Specialized Skill |
| Active Learning | Common Skill |
| Writing | Common Skill |
| Social Perceptiveness | Common Skill |
| Depth Perception | Common Skill |
| Chemistry | Specialized Skill |
| Learning Strategies | Specialized Skill |
| Physics | Specialized Skill |
| Geography | Specialized Skill |
| Negotiation | Common Skill |
| Psychology | Specialized Skill |
| Telecommunications | Specialized Skill |
| Foreign Language | Common Skill |
| Biology | Specialized Skill |
| Industrial Control Software | Specialized Skill |

## Tools

| Example | Category | Hot | In Demand |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Microsoft Excel | Spreadsheet software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Office software | Office suite software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Outlook | Electronic mail software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Word | Word processing software | yes | no |
| SAP software | Enterprise resource planning ERP software | yes | no |
| Electrical power management system software | Industrial control software | no | no |

## Work Context

| Name | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets | 4.97 |
| Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls | 4.86 |
| Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams | 4.78 |
| Exposed to Contaminants | 4.67 |
| Importance of Being Exact or Accurate | 4.45 |
| Exposed to Hazardous Conditions | 4.09 |
| Indoors, Environmentally Controlled | 4.08 |
| Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team | 4.06 |
| Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable | 4.02 |
| Contact With Others | 3.97 |
| Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions | 3.96 |
| Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals | 3.82 |
| Spend Time Standing | 3.71 |
| Importance of Repeating Same Tasks | 3.65 |
| Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results | 3.61 |
| Freedom to Make Decisions | 3.59 |
| Time Pressure | 3.53 |
| Consequence of Error | 3.48 |
| Exposed to Hazardous Equipment | 3.44 |
| Health and Safety of Other Workers | 3.43 |
| Physical Proximity | 3.38 |
| Frequency of Decision Making | 3.24 |
| Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body | 3.21 |
| Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers | 3.18 |
| Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings | 3.13 |
| Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities | 3.01 |
| Spend Time Walking or Running | 2.89 |
| Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection | 2.61 |
| Level of Competition | 2.56 |
| Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled | 2.49 |
| Spend Time Sitting | 2.49 |
| Conflict Situations | 2.47 |
| Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions | 2.4 |
| Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment | 2.39 |
| Deal With External Customers or the Public in General | 2.29 |
| Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People | 2.29 |
| Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling | 2.29 |
| Telephone Conversations | 2.22 |
| Degree of Automation | 2.17 |
| Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures | 2.05 |

## Preparation

- **Job Zone:** 2
- **Job Zone Name:** Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- **Education:** Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- **Experience:** Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- **Svp Range:** (Below 6.0)

### Education Distribution

| Label | Percentage |
| --- | --- |
| High School Diploma | 54.84 |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 15.66 |
| Bachelor's Degree | 15.65 |
| Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 9.98 |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 3.23 |
| Some College Courses | 0.64 |

## Person Fit

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Realistic | career_interest_type | 7 |
| Physical/Manual Labor | specific_interest_area | 5.67 |
| Mechanics/Electronics | specific_interest_area | 5.55 |
| Engineering | specific_interest_area | 5.03 |
| Dependability | work_style | 4 |
| Conventional | career_interest_type | 3.82 |
| Attention to Detail | work_style | 3 |
| Investigative | career_interest_type | 2.66 |
| Cautiousness | work_style | 2.62 |
| Construction/Woodwork | specific_interest_area | 2.13 |
| Integrity | work_style | 2.1 |
| Artistic | career_interest_type | 1.74 |
| Transportation/Machine Operation | specific_interest_area | 1.7 |
| Mathematics/Statistics | specific_interest_area | 1.62 |
| Information Technology | specific_interest_area | 1.53 |
| Perseverance | work_style | 1.46 |

## Related Roles

| Soc Code | Slug | Title | Tier |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 51-2031.00 | role-51-2031-00 | Engine and Other Machine Assemblers | Primary-Short |
| 51-2041.00 | role-51-2041-00 | Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters | Primary-Short |
| 51-2023.00 | role-51-2023-00 | Electromechanical Equipment Assemblers | Primary-Short |
| 51-2022.00 | role-51-2022-00 | Electrical and Electronic Equipment Assemblers | Primary-Short |
| 51-4192.00 | role-51-4192-00 | Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic | Primary-Short |
| 49-2091.00 | role-49-2091-00 | Avionics Technicians | Primary-Long |
| 49-3011.00 | role-49-3011-00 | Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians | Primary-Long |
| 47-2211.00 | role-47-2211-00 | Sheet Metal Workers | Primary-Long |
| 49-9044.00 | role-49-9044-00 | Millwrights | Primary-Long |
| 51-4122.00 | role-51-4122-00 | Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | Primary-Long |
| 49-9041.00 | role-49-9041-00 | Industrial Machinery Mechanics | Supplemental |
| 51-4061.00 | role-51-4061-00 | Model Makers, Metal and Plastic | Supplemental |

## Career Clusters

| Cluster | Slug |
| --- | --- |
| Supply Chain & Transportation | supply-chain-transportation |

## Education Level

- **Category:** High school diploma or equivalent

## Study Programs

| Title | Slug |
| --- | --- |
| Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians | mechanic-and-repair-technologies-technicians |

## Market

- **Median Wage:** 61680
- **Mean Wage:** 66510
- **Pct10Wage:** 46040
- **Pct25Wage:** 53180
- **Pct75Wage:** 75240
- **Pct90Wage:** 94950
- **Employment:** 32890
- **Area Title:** U.S.

## Industries


### Top

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Median Wage | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 31-33 | 31-33 | Manufacturing | Sector | 30040 | 61680 | 11.03 |
| 48-49 | 48-49 | Transportation and Warehousing | Sector | 1250 | 61620 | 0.79 |
| 56 | 56 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | Sector | 980 | 43620 | 0.51 |
| 561320 | 561320 | Temporary Help Services | National industry | 980 | 43620 | 1.73 |
| 54 | 54 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | Sector | 440 | 73480 | 0.19 |
| 541330 | 541330 | Engineering Services | National industry | 430 | 73480 | 1.74 |
| 61 | 61 | Educational Services | Sector | 90 | 49750 |  |

### Concentrated

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 31-33 | 31-33 | Manufacturing | Sector | 30040 | 11.03 |
| 541330 | 541330 | Engineering Services | National industry | 430 | 1.74 |
| 561320 | 561320 | Temporary Help Services | National industry | 980 | 1.73 |
| 48-49 | 48-49 | Transportation and Warehousing | Sector | 1250 | 0.79 |
| 56 | 56 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | Sector | 980 | 0.51 |
| 54 | 54 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | Sector | 440 | 0.19 |
- **Count:** 7

## Ai Signals

| Source | Label | Score | Scale | Release |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| frey_osborne | Computerization probability | 0.79 | 0-1 probability | 2013-baseline-2016-employment-snapshot |
| felten_aioe | AI occupational exposure | -0.8684706 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_image_generation_aioe | Image generation occupational exposure | -0.5211912 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_language_modeling_aioe | Language modeling occupational exposure | -0.9270664 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |

## Ai Outlook


### Index

- **Value:** 14
- **Percentile:** 10
- **Band:** Low
- **Version:** ai-exposure-index-v1

#### Components

| Percentile | Source |
| --- | --- |
| 23 | felten_aioe |
| 7 | openai_gpts_are_gpts |
| 12 | microsoft_working_with_ai |
- **Component Count:** 3

### Exposure

| Source | Label | Value | Percentile | Band | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| felten_aioe | Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.) | -0.8684706 | 23 | Low | How much this job's abilities overlap with what AI systems can do, across many AI capabilities. A relative research score, not a forecast of job loss. |
| eloundou_gamma | LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou) | 0.05 | 7 | Low | Share of this job's tasks where a large language model plus simple tools could cut the time to do them by at least half. γ is capped at 1.0 and many jobs reach that ceiling, so treat a top score as 'in the top group', not a precise rank. |
| microsoft_applicability | AI assistant applicability (Microsoft) | 0.05373628447885607 | 12 | Low | How applicable today's AI assistants are to this job's activities, measured from real Microsoft Copilot conversations. Applicability is not the same as replacement. |

### Frey Historical

- **Source:** frey
- **Label:** Computerization probability (Frey & Osborne, 2013)
- **Value:** 0.79
- **Percentile:** 64
- **Band:** Moderate
- **Note:** A pre-LLM (2013) estimate of how automatable this job is by computerization and robotics. Shown for historical context only — it is not part of any current AI ranking.
- **Teleworkable:** no

### Eloundou

- **Alpha:** 0
- **Beta:** 0.025
- **Gamma:** 0.05

### Usage Tasks

| Task | Usage Percent | Importance |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Read blueprints, illustrations, or specifications to determine layouts, sequences of operations, or identities or relationships of parts. | 0.0020541557625231607 | 4.4 |
- **Usage Release:** 2026-01-15-v4-plus-2025-03-27-v2

### Bls

- **Growth Percent:** -14.5
- **Growth Percentile:** 3
- **Direction:** Declining
- **Annual Openings Thousands:** 2.8
- **Annual Openings Percentile:** 36
- **Employment2024Thousands:** 33.6
- **Employment2034Thousands:** 28.7

### Sources

| Source | Version |
| --- | --- |
| bls_employment_projections | 2024-2034 |
| dingel_neiman | dingel-neiman-workathome |
| felten_aioe | felten-raj-seamans-aioe |
| frey_osborne | frey-osborne-automation |
| microsoft_working_with_ai | working-with-ai |
| openai_gpts_are_gpts | gpts-are-gpts |

## Counts

- **Tasks:** 27
- **Skills:** 35
- **Capabilities:** 120
- **Tools:** 6
- **Related Roles:** 20

## Source

- **Dataset:** gold.onet_role_starter_surface
- **Version:** 30.3
- **Generated At:** 2026-06-02T21:00:32.945303+00:00
- **Content Hash:** e37b8bb585909fce