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Boston Career Explorer

Transportation and Material Moving

Aircraft Service Attendants

Service aircraft with fuel. May de-ice aircraft, refill water and cooling agents, empty sewage tanks, service air and oxygen systems, or clean and polish exterior.

Also called: Aircraft Deicer, Aircraft Refueler, Fueler, Refueler

Compare with my current job (Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers)
Median pay in Greater Boston
$44,190
$21.24/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
1,390
Massachusetts 2024–2034
+5.3%
140 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
High school diploma or equivalent
plus Short-term on-the-job training

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$40,130$40,440$44,190$45,510$58,320

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • Guide aircraft to designated areas using hand signals, batons, or other methods.
  • Radio to flight dispatchers or other personnel to discuss incoming or outgoing aircraft.
  • Complete forms describing tasks completed.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Lower exposure25 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • GPTs-are-GPTs 25

Observed AI use today: Not published (Anthropic Economic Index)

Aircraft Service Attendants have lower AI exposure. Most of the work is hands-on, such as fueling, de-icing, cleaning, and guiding aircraft, and AI tools do not do those tasks. AI tools may help a little with paperwork and with passing information to dispatchers and other staff. Massachusetts job growth is projected at 5.3% from 2024 to 2034.

Likely to change

  • Completing service forms and records
  • Sharing aircraft status with dispatchers

Still relies on people

  • Fueling and servicing aircraft by hand
  • Guiding aircraft with signals on the ramp

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Next steps from here

Related jobs that build on what you already do.

  • Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians

    You already work around aircraft and complete service paperwork. Mechanics read manuals and certify work, with Boston median pay of $93,280, though a postsecondary award is typical.

    Pay difference
    +$49,090 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +6.5%
    To get started
    Postsecondary nondegree award

  • Maintenance and Repair Workers, General

    Hands-on equipment checks and careful record-keeping carry over. This job needs only a high school diploma, has moderate on-the-job training, and pays $59,670 in Boston.

    Pay difference
    +$15,480 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +5.2%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

  • Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists

    Inspecting and servicing large vehicles builds on your equipment experience. It offers long-term on-the-job training and a Boston median pay of $75,770.

    Pay difference
    +$31,580 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +5.1%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

No college programs near Boston map to this job. Many people enter through on-the-job training or apprenticeship.

Talk to a career coach at the Office of Workforce Development about apprenticeships and City partner programs.

Related occupations

Talk to a career coach

A coach at the Office of Workforce Development can help you plan your next step, and connect you with training, apprenticeships and City partner programs that are not listed here.

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