Law & Government
Aircraft Launch and Recovery Specialists
Operate and maintain catapults, arresting gear, and associated mechanical, hydraulic, and control systems involved primarily in aircraft carrier takeoff and landing operations. Duties include installing and maintaining visual landing aids; testing and maintaining launch and recovery equipment using electric and mechanical test equipment and hand tools; activating airfield arresting systems, such as crash barriers and cables, during emergency landing situations; directing aircraft launch and recovery operations using hand or light signals; and maintaining logs of airplane launches, recoveries, and equipment maintenance.
Median salary (BLS)
$55,000
10th–90th percentile (BLS)
$34k – $99k
Job outlook
No separate BLS projection for this specific role
AI exposure
Early-career check: graduates of the matching programs below typically earn $105,000 ten years after starting college — an early-career figure, vs. the all-experience BLS median above. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard.
Plan a path to Aircraft Launch and Recovery Specialists
Education
Typical entry: Associate degree
Plan my path to this →Typical progression
Junior Aircraft Launch and Recovery Specialists
Entry / Junior
$34,100
~2 yrs to advance
Aircraft Launch and Recovery Specialists
Established
$55,000
~3 yrs to advance
Senior Aircraft Launch and Recovery Specialists
Senior
$77,000
Key skills
A typical day
Fields of study
Any field
Top colleges for Law & Government
Explore all- Yale University5% admit · $105,000 grad pay
- Harvard University4% admit · $119,000 grad pay
- Stanford University4% admit · $122,000 grad pay
- Columbia University4% admit · $103,000 grad pay
- University of Chicago5% admit · $91,000 grad pay
Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.