Aircraft Mechanic/Technician
$75KHigh match
High demand
Live · Guide v1.06056 · Career GuideValidated · Lightcast Labor DataUpdated · Q2 20262026 Cohort Active
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USMC · 6056Career Guide · Maintenance · VWC.CG.6056.R.04
6056 · USMC · EnlistedAircraft Maintenance
Aircraft Maintenance
Technician.
Marine Corps 6056 (Aircraft Maintenance Technician). 960 hours of formal training translate to 5 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $60K–$125K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.
Training hours960DoD pipeline
ACE creditACEUp to 18 semester hours recommended in aviation maintenance technology
Tech roles4mapped to your code
Civilian pathways5validated
Cert coverage2/5direct + partial
/ 01 · Tech Roles
Roles your code maps to.
Industry tech roles your 6056 background maps to — picked from BLS-anchored occupations using your training, cognitive skills, and systems experience.
Sort · Match descending
/ 02 · Skill Bridge
The gap, named.
What 6056 training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.
Already have05
- 01System Modeling→ Understanding and visualizing complex systems
- 02Procedural Compliance→ Commitment to following established procedures and maintaining high standards
- 03Situational Awareness→ Ability to perceive surroundings, anticipate problems, and maintain focus in a dynamic environment
- 04Degraded-Mode Operations→ Working through challenges and finding solutions in unexpected situations
- 05Naval Aviation Logistics Command Management Information System (NALCOMIS)→ Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) software
To learn08
The concrete gap to bridge — specific to the roles above, not a generic checklist.
+Python fundamentals+Selenium or Cypress for web testing+SQL for data querying+Data visualization tools like Tableau or Power BI+Operating system fundamentals (Windows, Linux)+Basic networking concepts+Systems analysis methodologies+Database design principles
How VWC fits
Vets Who Code is a free, full-time software engineering accelerator for veterans, active duty, and military spouses. We close the fundamentals — terminal, web platform, AI tooling, portfolio projects — so the rest of this list becomes specialization, not square one.
See VWC Programs →/ 03 · Civilian Pathways
Where your code lands.
Aerospace Engineer
$125KGood match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
- — Bachelor's Degree in Aerospace Engineering
- — CAD software proficiency
- — FEA (Finite Element Analysis)
Avionics Technician
$78KGood match
High demand
Skills to develop
- — FCC license
- — Specific avionics systems training (e.g., Garmin, Honeywell)
Wind Turbine Technician
$60KModerate match
Very high demand
Skills to develop
- — Climbing certification
- — OSHA 10 or 30
- — Specific wind turbine maintenance training
Maintenance Supervisor
$85KGood match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
- — Project management certification
- — Advanced knowledge of maintenance management systems
/ 04 · Hidden Strengths
What the code built.
Cognitive skills your 6056 training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.
System Modeling
As an aircraft maintenance technician, you develop a mental model of how the aircraft's various systems (hydraulic, electrical, engine) are interconnected and how they should function together. You use this model to diagnose problems and predict the impact of repairs.
Transfers to
This ability to understand and visualize complex systems translates directly into roles requiring you to analyze and troubleshoot intricate processes or technologies.
Procedural Compliance
Aircraft maintenance is governed by strict regulations and procedures to ensure safety and airworthiness. You consistently adhere to detailed technical manuals, checklists, and quality control protocols in your work.
Transfers to
Your commitment to following established procedures and maintaining high standards is highly valuable in regulated industries or roles where precision and consistency are paramount.
Situational Awareness
Maintaining awareness of the aircraft's overall condition, the maintenance environment, and potential hazards is crucial. You constantly assess the situation to identify risks and prevent accidents.
Transfers to
Your ability to perceive your surroundings, anticipate potential problems, and maintain focus in a dynamic environment is directly transferable to roles requiring vigilance and quick decision-making.
Degraded-Mode Operations
When aircraft systems malfunction, you need to troubleshoot and repair them under pressure, often with limited resources or time. This requires adaptability and the ability to find creative solutions.
Transfers to
This experience in working through challenges and finding solutions makes you valuable in fields that require you to adapt to unexpected problems.
/ 05 · Non-Obvious Matches
Roles the recruiter won't suggest.
Adjacent civilian roles your training maps to that conventional military-to-civilian advice tends to miss.
Quality Assurance Analyst
SOC 19-4041You've been trained to adhere to the highest standards of quality and safety when maintaining complex aircraft systems. As a Quality Assurance Analyst, you can apply that same attention to detail to ensure that products and processes meet established standards.
Adjacent · MatchIndustrial Machinery Mechanic
SOC 49-9041You've been working on power plants, you have a high degree of mechanical aptitude and experience troubleshooting complex mechanical systems. As an industrial machinery mechanic, you can leverage your skills to maintain and repair equipment in manufacturing or other industrial settings.
Adjacent · MatchWind Turbine Technician
SOC 49-9099You've been working on aircraft, you already have experience maintaining complex mechanical and electrical systems in a challenging environment. As a Wind Turbine Technician, you can use your skills to install, inspect, and repair wind turbines, contributing to renewable energy production.
Adjacent · Match/ 06 · Training & Certs
What you trained on.
Academy
Aviation Maintenance Technician School
Naval Air Station Pensacola, FL960hHours
24wkWeeks
ACECredit
Up to 18 semester hours recommended in aviation maintenance technology
Topics · 8
- Basic Electricity and Electronics
- Aircraft Hydraulic Systems
- Aircraft Engines (Theory and Operation)
- Airframe Structures and Repair
- Corrosion Control and Prevention
- Nondestructive Inspection Techniques
- Aircraft Weight and Balance
- Aviation Safety Procedures
Partial coverage · 2
- Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) Mechanic70%
FAA regulations, specific aircraft models not covered in military training, and hands-on experience requirements for certification.
- Certified Aviation Manager (CAM)30%
Business management, leadership, and aviation-specific regulations. This certification focuses on the management aspects of aviation, which may require further study beyond the technical maintenance background.
Recommended next · 03
- Inspection Authorization (IA)Adjacent
- FAA Part 147 Aviation Maintenance Technician School InstructorAdjacent
- Project Management Professional (PMP)Adjacent
/ 07 · Systems Translation
What you ran, in their words.
Military systems you operated and their civilian equivalents for your resume.
| Military System | Civilian Equivalent | Domain |
|---|---|---|
| Joint Technical Data Integration (JTDI) | SAE International standards database and technical publications | Operations |
| Naval Aviation Logistics Command Management Information System (NALCOMIS) | Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) software like IBM Maximo or SAP EAM | Networking |
| Automated Test Equipment (ATE) for aircraft components | Automated diagnostic and testing equipment for aerospace or automotive components | Aviation |
| Support Equipment Recommendation Data (SERD) | Maintenance planning and resource optimization software | Networking |
| Advanced Composite Repair Training | Certified composite technician programs (e.g., FAA-approved repair courses) | Operations |
| Oil Analysis Program (JOAP) | Predictive maintenance programs using oil analysis (e.g., POLARIS Laboratories) | Operations |
/ Translator · Live
Translate 6056 into a resume that ships.
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