Is Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Structures) in shortage in Australia?

As of 2026-04-26, Jobs and Skills Australia rates Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Structures) as "In shortage" on the national Skills Priority List. 9,900 Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Structures) are currently employed across Australia.

How much do Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Structures) earn in Australia?

Median full-time earnings for Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Structures) are A$1,980 per week, or approximately A$102,960 per year. Source: Jobs and Skills Australia, refreshed 2026-04-26.

Which Australian visas am I eligible to apply for as a Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Structures)?

Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Structures) (ANZSCO 323113) is eligible for the following visa subclasses: 482, 186, 190, 407, 489, 494, 491. It appears on the STSOL, CSOL occupation lists.

Who assesses Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Structures) skills for Australian migration?

Skills assessment for Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Structures) (ANZSCO 323113) is conducted by Trades Recognition Australia.

Does Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Structures) require registration or licensing in Australia?

Registration or licensing may be required for Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Structures), but only for specific scopes of practice. Most general work in this occupation does not require licensing.

Where in Australia do most Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Structures) work?

The top three Statistical Area Level 4 (SA4) regions for Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Structures) employment are: Sydney - Inner South West, Melbourne - West, Melbourne - North West. Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics labour-force survey via Jobs and Skills Australia.

Is Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Structures) on the MLTSSL or CSOL?

Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Structures) (ANZSCO 323113) is currently listed on the STSOL, CSOL. List membership controls which permanent and provisional skilled visas the occupation is eligible for.

What qualifications do I need to work as a Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Structures) in Australia?

The most common qualification held by working Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Structures) is Certificate III/IV (60% of the workforce). Specific skills assessment evidence requirements depend on the assessing authority.

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Call Us+61 8 7081 5229

ANZSCO3231133Skill LevelSTSOLCSOLIn ShortageJSARegistration May Apply

Aircraft Maintenance Engineer
(Structures)

Inspects, dismantles and reassembles aircraft structures, and repairs and replaces components of aircraft frames. Works with both metal and carbon fibre composite materials. Registration or licensing may be required.

07/09

Eligible visas

States

Trades Recognition Australia

Authority

Migration Outlook

7 DHA-recognised pathways for Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Structures)

Broad state reach across 8 jurisdictions. Listed on the CSOL — employer-sponsored pathways prioritised.

STSOLCSOLTrades Recognition Australia

Fastest PR path

SC 190

Skilled Nominated

States nominating

8 / 8

Broad nationwide demand

Pathway mix

3 · 2 · 2

PR · Provisional · Temporary

Get your points scored

Run a free EOI assessment against current DHA cut-offs.

Assess eligibility

Chapter I

The occupation

“AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE ENGINEERS maintain and repair aircraft structures, and avionic and mechanical systems.”
Unit Group 3231 Aircraft Maintenance Engineers · ABS ANZSCO

Specialisations

Aircraft Structural Fitter (Air Force, Army)

Skill level

/ 5

Certificate IV or III with experience

Qualification requirements

AQF Certificate III including at least two years of on-the-job training, or AQF Certificate IV (ANZSCO Skill Level 3)

Trades Recognition Australia· Skills Assessment required

Chapter II

Your visa pathways

3 direct PR routes, 2 provisional regional routes (convert via 191), and 2 temporary work visas. Subclass 186 and 482 are assessed under ANZSCO 2022; all other visas use ANZSCO 2013.

3PRPermanent Residence

2RegionalProvisional (Regional)

2TempTemporary Work

Distribution across pathway groups7 total

Eligible

DHA-recognised
visa pathways

Occupation lists

STSOLCSOL

Classifications

20132022

Permanent Residence

Pathways that lead directly to Australian permanent residency

190

Skilled Nominated

ANZSCO 2013TRA75%: 5 months·90%: 10 months

186

Employer Nomination Scheme visa

Direct Entry Pathway

ANZSCO 2022TRA75%: 7 months·90%: 14 months

494

Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (provisional)

Employer sponsored stream

ANZSCO 2013TRA75%: 7 months·90%: 13 months

Skilled Regional (Provisional)

Live, work, and study in a regional area — lead to PR via 191

491

Skilled Work Regional (provisional) visa

State or Territory nominated

ANZSCO 2013TRA75%: 6 months·90%: 12 months

489

Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa

State or Territory nominated

ANZSCO 2013TRAClosed

Temporary Work & Training

Short to medium-term visas — some offer a PR pathway

482

Skills in Demand

Core Skills stream

ANZSCO 2022TRA75%: 30 days·90%: 60 days

407

Training visa

ANZSCO 2013TRA

Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMA)

This occupation is eligible under the following DAMA regions, which may offer concessions on age, English, and salary requirements.

East Kimberley DAMA Far North Queensland DAMA WA DAMA

How to read thisANZSCO 2013— governs GSM + 491 + 494 + 407 + 485ANZSCO 2022— governs 186 + 482 (employer-sponsored)DAMA— regional concessions on age, English & salary

Chapter III

DHA Expression of Interest pool

A snapshot of how many people are competing for this occupation right now. Tap “View full EOI insights” for wait-time estimates, state-by-state difficulty, peer comparisons and cohort tracking.

Chapter IV

State & territory nominations

Choose a state to view nomination criteria, place allocations, and recent invitation rounds.

New South Wales

Sydney

Visit migration portal

2023-24

4,150

2024-25

5,000

2025-26

3,600

SC 190Eligible

Skilled Nominated Stream

2025–26 places2,100

Key requirements & pathways

›New South Wales 190 Visa Group: Aircraft Maintenance Engineers 3231. Available to Onshore and Offshore candidates; The selection process is extremely competitive. To meet NSW requirements the applicant will need to have genuinely resided in NSW for a minimum period of six months ORcurrently employed in NSW in their nominated occupation OR have continuously resided offshore for the past six months

SC 491Eligible

Regional (Provisional) Stream

2025–26 places1,500

Min. salary (TSMIT)$76,515

Residency (some streams)6 month

Key requirements & pathways

›NSW Regional areas 491 Visa Pathway 1 (Stream A) Available to applicants who have been living and working in their nominated occupation, or a closely related occupation, in a designated regional area of NSW, for at least the previous 6 months with the same regional NSW-based employer; Minimum of the TSMIT/CSIT salary rate: $76,515 New applications for this pathway are no longer being accepted for the program year ending 30 June 2026
›Pathway 2 (Stream B) Available to applicants who currently residing in NSW, or offshore, and have continuously done so for a minimum period of three months OR Working in NSW in their nominated occupation. High-ranking EOIs in occupations outside of the NSW target sectors may be taken into consideration during invitation rounds; Pathway 3 To apply under pathway 3, recent graduates from a regional NSW institution must meet the following criteria: Completed a bachelor's degree or higher in the last two years, related to their nominated occupation. The study must qualify for points under 'Study in regional Australia' and be reflected in their SkillSelect EOI. Must currently reside in NSW or Offshore and have lived there for at least three months continuously. OR the applicant is working in NSW in their nominated occupation New applications for this pathway are no longer being accepted for the program year ending 30 June 2026
›Pathway 1 (Stream A) Available to applicants who have been living and working in their nominated occupation, or a closely related occupation, in a designated regional area of NSW, for at least the previous 6 months with the same regional NSW-based employer; Minimum of the TSMIT/CSIT salary rate: $76,515 New applications for this pathway are no longer being accepted for the program year ending 30 June 2026

Allocation ledger

Places allocated FY 2025–26

Subclass 190 + 491 nominations · ranked by total places · sourced from each state nomination program.

National total

18,950

−27.8% YoY

Rank

State

Distribution

Places

8 states & territories·Click a row to drill into its programs

Up YoYDown YoY

Chapter V

Tasks & duties

Your employment history should align with these ANZSCO-defined tasks. The assessing authority looks for demonstrable experience in at least five.

dismantling, inspecting, testing, repairing and reassembling aircraft engines, ancillary motors and engine accessories, electrical systems, and subassemblies of aircraft frames

installing electrical circuits and equipment

testing aircraft communication equipment, aircraft instrumentation and electronic systems using electronic testing equipment and specialised test apparatus

replacing and testing aircraft oxygen system components

assembling parts and subassemblies of aircraft frames

conducting routine pre-flight inspections of engines, aircraft frames and mechanical systems

maintaining records of action taken

may manufacture aircraft electrical, instrument and radio hardware components

Chapter VI

Skills assessment

TRAD

Assessing Authority

Trades Recognition Australia

Visit Trades Recognition Australiatradesrecognitionaustralia.gov.au

Lodge application

Online portal · documents uploaded

Assessment fees

Standard + priority options

Processing

See authority for current times

Outcome letter

Valid for 3 years for DHA lodgement

Chapter VII

Labour market overview

The headline workforce, pay, shortage and demographic indicators for this occupation, sourced from Jobs and Skills Australia.

Live data

ANZSCO 323113Unit group 3231Refreshed 2026-04-26

Workforce

9,900

employed across Australia

12-month trend

Declining-400 · -3.9% YoY

Benchmark: +1.5% for all jobs nationally

Median earnings

$1,980/wk

≈ $103k per year, full-time

Compared to all jobs

In line with the national workforce median.

Shortage

In shortage

Skills Priority List · S

Median age

46yrs

of employed workers

Female workforce

of 10k workers

Top qualification

Certificate III/IV

Held by 60% of workers

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia Atlas

Refreshed 2026-04-26 · Updated monthly · Australian Government

Full reportView labour market insights

Begin your case

Turn 7 pathways into a signed application.

Our OMARA-registered agents will audit your points, cross-check Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Structures) nuances against the latest DHA bulletins, and map a step-by-step case file — in one free 30-minute consultation.

Book Consultation Run Eligibility Check

Free 30-minute consultationOMARA registered98% case success · 2018–2026

ANZSCO3231133Skill LevelSTSOLCSOLIn ShortageJSARegistration May Apply

Aircraft Maintenance Engineer
(Structures)

07/09

Eligible visas

States

Trades Recognition Australia

Authority

Migration Outlook

7 DHA-recognised pathways for Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Structures)

Broad state reach across 8 jurisdictions. Listed on the CSOL — employer-sponsored pathways prioritised.

STSOLCSOLTrades Recognition Australia

Fastest PR path

SC 190

Skilled Nominated

States nominating

8 / 8

Broad nationwide demand

Pathway mix

3 · 2 · 2

PR · Provisional · Temporary

Get your points scored

Run a free EOI assessment against current DHA cut-offs.

Assess eligibility

Chapter I