Desert Jet Center Hiring Part-Time Line Service Technicians in Thermal, California at $20–$23/hr
Why It MattersFBO ramp staffing continues to rely on entry-level, part-time hourly roles, showing how ground-handling capacity at smaller general-aviation airports depends on flexible local labor pools rather than specialized credentials.
What happened
Desert Jet Center in Thermal, California is recruiting part-time Line Service Technicians for its fixed base operation, with pay set between $20 and $23 per hour.
The role covers fueling aircraft, fuel quality control, lavatory and potable water services, catering delivery, and towing aircraft. Line Service Technicians will also marshal aircraft during arrivals and departures, greet and assist pilots, passengers, and crew members, load and unload luggage and cargo, operate ground support equipment and shuttle vehicles, and perform facility maintenance.
Applicants must hold a high school diploma or equivalent, possess a valid driver's license, and pass a pre-employment drug screen. The position requires the ability to lift up to 50 lbs, work outdoors in various weather conditions, and be available for flexible hours including early mornings, nights, weekends, and holidays. Desert Jet Center describes the position as an entry point into the aviation industry, citing supportive leadership and company-sponsored events among its benefits.
Industry impact & what to watch
Postings like this one illustrate how fixed base operators keep ramp operations running: hourly, part-time line staff cover fueling, towing, marshalling, and passenger handling with only a high school diploma and a driver's license required to start.
FBOs depend on a steady pipeline of entry-level hires because the job demands flexible availability across early mornings, nights, weekends, and holidays, and because physical requirements such as lifting up to 50 lbs and working outdoors limit who applies and stays. Pay set at $20 to $23 per hour gives a concrete data point for what a general-aviation airport in the Thermal, California area is paying to fill these shifts.
Whether Desert Jet Center fills the roles at this rate, and whether nearby FBOs match or diverge from that pay band, will show how tight the local labor market is for ramp positions.
