Student wages and employment conditions as an aircraft technician.
How the flow of work protects both the craftsperson and the customer
One of the biggest advantages of taking a vocational education is that you earn money while you learn. As a flight technician, you enter a training contract with a company, and that contract includes pay throughout your training — even when you are at school. This applies when employed by Danish companies.
§Why does salary increase over time?
Student wages are step-wise: they start low and increase as you progress through the program. The logic is simple — the more you can the more value you create for the company and that is reflected in your wages. So you start with a starting rate and work your way up the pay scale for each year you complete.
§The agreement is your security
Your apprentice wages are anchored in the collective agreement system. This means wage increases do not depend on your boss's mood or the company's results that particular year — they are agreed between labor market parties and apply to everyone covered. It provides predictability: you know in advance how your salary develops.
Professional organizations like Dansk Metal and 3F negotiate the terms on behalf of apprentices and skilled workers. Because of the shortage of skilled labor, apprentice wages have filled much of the recent negotiation rounds.
§Terms beyond the wage
As an apprentice with a training agreement you are ordinarily employed with the rights that come with it — for example holidays and pensions according to the collective agreement's rules. You do not pay school fees and books and some equipment are typically provided. When you have your journeyman's certificate and EASA license you move from apprentice rate to skilled wages.
- 01PLACEHOLDER_61
- 02Stepwise increase set in collective agreement
- 03Vacation and pension according to collective agreement rules
- 04Transition to skilled worker pay after completing apprenticeship
§International agreements may look different
Be aware that the conditions may be different if your education agreement is with a company abroad. Always read the contract carefully, and get help from your trade union if you are unsure about what you are signing.
“You work your way up the pay scale — for each year you master more, both your responsibility and your salary increase.”