Avionics Technician
$75KHigh match
High demand
Skills to develop
- — FAA A&P License (Airframe and Powerplant)
- — Specific aircraft type certifications
Live · Guide v1.0AET · Career GuideValidated · Lightcast Labor DataUpdated · Q2 20262026 Cohort Active
Home/Career Guides/AET
USCG · AETCareer Guide · Aviation · VWC.CG.AET.R.04
AET · USCG · EnlistedAviation Electronics
Aviation Electronics
Technician.
Coast Guard AET (Aviation Electronics Technician). 1,300 hours of formal training translate to 5 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $58K–$95K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.
Training hours1,300DoD pipeline
ACE creditACEUp to 21 semester hours in electronics technology
Tech roles4mapped to your code
Civilian pathways5validated
Cert coverage2/6direct + partial
/ 01 · Tech Roles
Roles your code maps to.
Industry tech roles your AET 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 AET training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.
Already have05
- 01Avionics systems troubleshooting→ Debugging complex systems
- 02Aircraft wiring and connectors→ Hardware/software integration
- 03Aviation Computerized Maintenance System (ACMS)→ Configuration management
- 04Procedural Compliance→ Adhering to coding standards and best practices
- 05Situational Awareness→ Quickly adapting to new information and changing priorities
To learn09
The concrete gap to bridge — specific to the roles above, not a generic checklist.
+C/C++ programming+Real-time operating systems (RTOS)+Linux system administration+Cloud computing (AWS, Azure, GCP)+Infrastructure-as-code (Terraform, CloudFormation)+Python+Test automation frameworks (pytest, Selenium)+Networking fundamentals+Help desk ticketing systems
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.
Electrical Engineer
$95KGood match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
- — Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering
- — CAD software proficiency
- — Circuit design knowledge
Wind Turbine Technician
$65KGood match
Very high demand
Skills to develop
- — Safety certifications (e.g., OSHA 30)
- — Climbing and rescue training
- — Experience with large electrical systems
Aerospace Engineering Technician
$68KGood match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
- — Associate's Degree in Aerospace Technology
- — CAD/CAM software skills
- — Materials science knowledge
Industrial Machinery Mechanic
$58KModerate match
High demand
Skills to develop
- — Experience with hydraulics and pneumatics
- — PLC programming
- — Formal apprenticeship or vocational training
/ 04 · Hidden Strengths
What the code built.
Cognitive skills your AET training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.
System Modeling
AETs must understand how various aircraft systems (electrical, hydraulic, fuel, etc.) interact and affect each other to diagnose malfunctions and ensure proper operation. They build mental models of these systems to predict behavior and troubleshoot effectively.
Transfers to
This ability to understand complex systems and their interdependencies translates directly to fields where you need to analyze and optimize processes, predict outcomes, and identify potential points of failure.
Procedural Compliance
AETs adhere to strict maintenance procedures, technical manuals, and safety regulations to ensure aircraft are airworthy and safe for flight. They must follow documented processes meticulously to prevent errors and maintain accountability.
Transfers to
Your dedication to following procedures and adhering to standards ensures quality, safety, and regulatory compliance. This is highly valued in industries where precision and consistency are paramount.
Situational Awareness
AETs maintain awareness of the overall operational status of aircraft, including maintenance schedules, ongoing repairs, and potential safety hazards. They need to anticipate problems, communicate effectively, and coordinate with other team members to ensure efficient maintenance operations.
Transfers to
Your ability to maintain a comprehensive understanding of your environment, anticipate potential problems, and communicate effectively is critical for success in dynamic and demanding situations. You're able to synthesize information from multiple sources and make informed decisions under pressure.
Degraded-Mode Operations
AETs troubleshoot and repair aircraft systems under pressure, often with limited resources or in challenging environments. They must be able to adapt to unexpected problems, think critically, and find innovative solutions to keep aircraft operational.
Transfers to
Your experience in troubleshooting and repairing complex systems under pressure has honed your problem-solving skills and ability to adapt to unexpected challenges. You can remain calm and focused in demanding situations, find creative solutions, and keep operations running smoothly.
Pattern Recognition
Through experience, AETs learn to recognize patterns in system behavior and failure modes. Recognizing these patterns helps them to quickly diagnose issues and apply appropriate solutions.
Transfers to
Your ability to quickly identify patterns and anomalies in data or system behavior allows you to proactively address potential issues and improve overall efficiency. This skill is invaluable in data-driven environments where identifying trends and insights is essential.
/ 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.
Wind Turbine Technician
SOC 49-9099.01You've been maintaining complex electromechanical systems on aircraft, so you already have the skills to diagnose, repair, and maintain wind turbines. Plus, you're comfortable working at heights and in challenging conditions.
Adjacent · MatchRobotics Technician
SOC 49-9069.00You've worked extensively with aircraft avionics, electrical systems, and automated systems which gives you a solid foundation for robotics. Your troubleshooting skills and understanding of complex systems will make you a valuable asset in this field.
Adjacent · MatchBuilding Automation Systems Technician
SOC 49-9021.00You're an expert in electrical systems, control systems, and troubleshooting, making you well-equipped to maintain and repair building automation systems. Your experience with complex systems will enable you to quickly learn the specifics of this industry.
Adjacent · MatchIndustrial Machinery Mechanic
SOC 49-9041.00You're highly skilled in diagnosing and repairing mechanical and electrical systems, skills that directly transfer to maintaining industrial machinery. You also bring a strong work ethic and commitment to safety, which are highly valued in this field.
Adjacent · Match/ 06 · Training & Certs
What you trained on.
Academy
Aviation Technical Training Center
Elizabeth City, NC1,300hHours
32wkWeeks
ACECredit
Up to 21 semester hours in electronics technology
Topics · 8
- Basic electricity and electronics theory
- Avionics systems troubleshooting
- Aircraft communication systems (ICS, VHF, UHF, HF)
- Aircraft navigation systems (VOR, ILS, GPS, TACAN)
- Radar systems maintenance
- Air data systems
- Aircraft wiring and connectors
- Aircraft power generation and distribution
Partial coverage · 2
- FCC General Radiotelephone Operator License (GROL)70%
AETs gain extensive knowledge of radio and communication systems, but formal study of FCC rules and regulations, as well as specific test-taking strategies, are needed.
- Certified Electronics Technician (CET)60%
While AETs work on avionics systems, the CET covers a broader range of electronics. Focus study on consumer electronics, industrial controls, and specific troubleshooting techniques outside of aviation.
Recommended next · 04
- Avionics Technician Certification (NCATT)Adjacent
- Certified Aviation Manager (CAM)Adjacent
- Project Management Professional (PMP)Adjacent
- Six Sigma Green BeltAdjacent
/ 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 |
|---|---|---|
| AN/ARC-210 (VHF/UHF Radio) | Commercial aviation VHF/UHF communication radios (e.g., Garmin GTR series) | Operations |
| AN/ARN-147 (VOR/ILS Navigation System) | Commercial aviation VOR/ILS receivers (e.g., Collins NavCore series) | Operations |
| AN/APX-118 (IFF Transponder) | Civilian aviation transponders (Mode S) with ADS-B out | Operations |
| AN/APS-143 (Radar System) | Marine radar systems (e.g., Furuno, Raymarine) | Signals |
| TACAN (Tactical Air Navigation System) | Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) for civilian aircraft | Operations |
| GPS (Global Positioning System) with SAASM | Civilian GPS receivers (e.g., Garmin, Lowrance) with differential GPS (DGPS) | Operations |
| ELT (Emergency Locator Transmitter) | Commercial ELT beacons (e.g., 406 MHz ELTs) | Operations |
| Aviation Computerized Maintenance System (ACMS) | Aircraft Maintenance Tracking Software (e.g., CAMP, Flightdocs) | Operations |
/ Translator · Live
Translate AET into a resume that ships.
Pair this guide with the VWC AI-powered translator: drop in your service record, get back ATS-optimized civilian resume language tuned to the tech roles above.