[Excerpt] In 2000, aircraft mechanics and service technicians certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) earned on average $20.16 per hour. Aircraft mechanics and technicians without FAA certification earned on average $15.78 per hour, over $4.00 less than their FAA certified counterparts. Total employment for aircraft mechanics and service technicians in all industries in 2000 was 135,730. Because the Federal Government may use Federal certification types other than FAA for its aircraft mechanics, only private industry data are presented in this summary. Private industry employed 118,770 aircraft mechanics and service technicians in 2000. Of this total, almost 83 percent were FAA certified. Over 95 percent of the private industry employment for aircraft mechanics and service technicians could be found in seven industries: Aircraft and parts manufacturing; air transportation, scheduled; air transportation, nonscheduled; airports, flying fields, and services; machinery, equipment, and supplies, wholesale trade; personnel supply services; and management and public relations. (Two of these industries, personnel supply services and management and public relations, have been combined for this summary.)