Avionics Technology major
Avionics Technology: courses, careers, and where to study
Avionics Technology trains you to install, test, and repair the electronic systems aboard aircraft, from navigation and communication to radar and flight instruments.
Avionics Technology studies the electronic and electrical systems that let aircraft fly, navigate, and communicate, and it teaches the hands-on skills to keep those systems working. Coursework covers flight instrumentation, communication and homing systems, radar and other sensory equipment, and navigation aids, along with the electrical theory behind them: circuits, signals, power distribution, and digital logic. Students learn to read wiring diagrams and schematics, use multimeters, oscilloscopes, and signal generators, solder and terminate connectors, follow approved maintenance manuals, and troubleshoot faults on both civilian and military systems while documenting work to strict standards. Where Aviation Maintenance focuses on the airframe and powerplant (the structures and engines that carry and move the aircraft), this field focuses on the electronics that sense, control, and guide it.
Most students enter through a certificate or associate degree at a technical school or community college, and some programs prepare graduates to pursue a Federal Aviation Administration repairman certificate or to work under an FAA-certificated repair station; certain electronics roles may also align with industry credentials such as those offered by aviation electronics associations. Graduates work for airlines, repair stations, aircraft manufacturers, general aviation operators, government agencies, and defense contractors, and military training in avionics can be a separate path into the field. A program is preparation for entry and certification testing, not a guaranteed job, and pay, available openings, and the systems you work on vary by employer, region, security-clearance requirements, and your experience.
In federal data for the closely related occupation of avionics technicians, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a 2024 median wage of $81,390 and projects employment to grow about 8.2% from 2024 to 2034; a postsecondary nondegree award is the typical entry-level education for that occupation. National figures are occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages or graduate outcomes.
Academic classification (CIP)
In the federal Classification of Instructional Programs, Avionics Technology maps to CIP 47.0609, Avionics Maintenance Technology/Technician, within the MECHANIC AND REPAIR TECHNOLOGIES/TECHNICIANS family. The official definition:
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to repair, service, and maintain all types of aircraft operating, control, and electronic systems. Includes instruction in flight instrumentation, aircraft communications and homing systems, radar and other sensory systems, navigation aids, and specialized systems for various types of civilian and military aircraft.
Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020. View on nces.ed.gov
What you'll study
- Electrical and electronics fundamentals: circuits, signals, power distribution, and digital logic
- Reading and interpreting aircraft wiring diagrams, schematics, and maintenance manuals
- Using test equipment such as multimeters, oscilloscopes, and signal generators to diagnose faults
- Flight instrumentation and air data systems, including altimeters, gyros, and sensors
- Aircraft communication and homing systems, antennas, and transmitter and receiver checks
- Radar, transponder, and other sensory systems used for surveillance and weather
- Navigation aids such as GPS, VOR, ILS, and inertial reference systems
- Soldering, crimping, connector termination, and inspection of wire bundles and harnesses
- Maintenance documentation, regulatory compliance, and safety and electrostatic-discharge practices
Typical careers
- Avionics Technician
- Aircraft Electronics Technician
- Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technician
- Aircraft Systems Assembler
- Avionics Installation Technician
- Aircraft Maintenance Technician
Typical salary range: Early-career wages vary by employer, region, and experience (BLS, 2024 avionics technicians median $81,390).Ranges are early-career estimates. Any BLS figure shown is the occupation-wide median across all experience levels, not a starting wage, and is informational only.
Related occupations
Occupations the federal CIP–SOC crosswalk associates with Avionics Technology. Linked titles open a CampusPin career page with BLS pay and outlook data; others are listed for reference.
- Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians
- Avionics Technicians
- Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers
Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Crosswalk: CIP 2020 to SOC 2018. A program of study does not guarantee any specific occupation.
Before you commit to a Avionics Technology major
CampusPin does not rank programs. Use these prompts to pressure-test whether a specific Avionics Technology program fits your goals, they are decision questions, not claims about any school.
Ask the Avionics Technology department
- Which concentrations or specializations are offered, and which faculty lead them?
- What does the typical course sequence look like, and how much is required vs. elective?
- What labs, studios, clinical placements, or research opportunities are available to undergraduates?
- Is there a capstone, thesis, internship, or co-op requirement?
Ask current students & check the curriculum
- How heavy is the workload, and how accessible is the faculty?
- What internships or co-ops did you do, and where do recent graduates end up?
- Does the required curriculum actually match the careers listed above?
- How easy is it to add a minor, double major, or switch tracks later?
Find a Avionics Technology program
CampusPin lists U.S. universities and community colleges that offer Avionics Technology programs. Filter by state, tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting, no account required.
Avionics Technology by state
- Avionics Technology in California
- Avionics Technology in Florida
- Avionics Technology in Georgia
- Avionics Technology in Illinois
- Avionics Technology in Maryland
- Avionics Technology in Massachusetts
- Avionics Technology in New York
- Avionics Technology in North Carolina
- Avionics Technology in Pennsylvania
- Avionics Technology in Texas
Related majors
Aviation Maintenance
Aviation maintenance trains students to inspect, repair, and service aircraft structures and systems, the hands-on technical work that keeps planes airworthy and ready to fly.
Aviation
Aviation trains students to fly and navigate fixed-wing aircraft, building the cockpit skills and federal certifications needed to work as professional pilots and flight crew.
Electrical Engineering Technology
Electrical Engineering Technology is a hands-on, applied major in building, testing, and maintaining electrical and electronic systems for students who prefer real hardware over heavy theory.
Mechatronics
Mechatronics integrates mechanical parts, electronics, sensors, and control software so students learn to build, test, and maintain automated systems like robots and production lines.
Aviation Management
Aviation Management trains students in the business and operations side of air travel, from airport and airline operations to ground, cargo, safety, and regulatory work.
Put this major in context
The salary above is an occupation-wide median from federal data, not a starting wage or a guarantee. These CampusPin guides and reports help you read it well, see where a Avionics Technology degree can lead, and weigh it against cost and program quality.
Explore Engineering & Architecture careers
Median pay, job outlook, and the occupations this field covers.
Explore Installation & Repair careers
Median pay, job outlook, and the occupations this field covers.
How one major leads to many careers
Why a single Avionics Technology degree can open more than one path, and how to read the occupations above.
Why a median wage is not a starting salary
How to read a BLS median, and why early-career pay usually sits below it.
When accreditation and licensure matter
How program accreditation and state licensure can shape a Avionics Technology path before you enroll.
Does a pricier college pay off?
How college cost lines up with graduation and earnings, an association, not a ranking.
How this guide is sourced
This is an editorial guide from the CampusPin Editorial Team. Career and wage figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages, and link to each career page. Program availability comes from CampusPin's free institution search; CampusPin does not assert that any specific school offers this exact major until that program data is verified. Last reviewed 2026-06-15. How CampusPin sources data · Report a correction.