Best degree programs for Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians, ranked by enrollment
3 college programs and 217 schools train Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians. Compare graduates per year, cost and pay, $79,870 median wage, 138,090 U.S. jobs. Federal data.
3 college programs at 217 schools train aircraft mechanics and service technicians, graduating 13,961 people a year (IPEDS completions). The largest is Airframe Mechanics and Aircraft Maintenance Technology/Technician. The job pays a median of $79,870 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
About aircraft mechanics and service technicians
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul aircraft engines and assemblies, such as hydraulic and pneumatic systems.
Fields of study that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level, the tier our program pages are built on. Numbers are graduates per year.
3 degree programs that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are College Scorecard figures for people who finished the program, reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. That is a different measurement from the occupation-wide wages further down this page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 47.0607 | 9,434 | 67.6% | 157 | $37,089 | $11,790 |
| 2 | CIP 47.0608 | 3,661 | 26.2% | 97 | $37,089 | $11,790 |
| 3 | CIP 01.0205 | 866 | 6.2% | 44 | $54,138 | $18,912 |
Top 50 schools by graduates into this job
Counting every feeder program a school offers, not just its largest one.
What aircraft mechanics and service technicians earn
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
Top-paying states
Top-paying metro areas
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Where the jobs are, state by state
Pick a state for in-state pay, the schools there, and the programs they run.
| State | Median pay | Jobs | Concentration | Schools | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $86,100 | 12,590 | 0.78× | 31 | 2,423 |
| Florida | $76,940 | 14,850 | 1.68× | 15 | 1,604 |
| Texas | $84,440 | 16,850 | 1.35× | 11 | 1,074 |
| Georgia | $75,640 | 6,720 | 1.55× | 10 | 1,016 |
| Oklahoma | $74,390 | 8,550 | 5.64× | 10 | 570 |
| Illinois | $81,680 | 3,370 | 0.62× | 10 | 518 |
| Kansas | $80,270 | 1,440 | 1.13× | 9 | 495 |
| Kentuckymoderate | $67,920 | 1,680 | 0.94× | 3 | 495 |
| Pennsylvaniamoderate | $78,000 | 2,080 | 0.39× | 4 | 463 |
| Alabamamoderate | $82,260 | 4,310 | 2.29× | 4 | 408 |
| Arizonamoderate | $75,300 | 5,670 | 1.97× | 4 | 361 |
| Michigan | $74,900 | 3,380 | 0.87× | 5 | 358 |
| Washington | $98,980 | 4,480 | 1.42× | 9 | 345 |
| New York | $102,800 | 4,300 | 0.50× | 7 | 310 |
| North Carolina | $76,980 | 4,700 | 1.07× | 8 | 292 |
| New Jerseylimited | $105,370 | 1,900 | 0.50× | 1 | 289 |
| Virginiamoderate | $82,200 | 2,260 | 0.62× | 4 | 231 |
| Massachusettsmoderate | $93,040 | 1,410 | 0.44× | 3 | 220 |
| Ohio | $80,570 | 2,840 | 0.58× | 5 | 211 |
| Tennessee | $81,040 | 4,670 | 1.60× | 5 | 200 |
| Nevadalimited | $94,890 | 2,570 | 1.87× | 1 | 186 |
| Coloradolimited | $82,080 | 2,690 | 1.05× | 2 | 180 |
| Oregonmoderate | $82,850 | 1,080 | 0.62× | 4 | 162 |
| Arkansas | $65,420 | 720 | 0.62× | 5 | 134 |
| Indianamoderate | $63,400 | 1,500 | 0.53× | 3 | 134 |
| Iowamoderate | $69,890 | 330 | 0.24× | 3 | 133 |
| Missourilimited | $71,470 | 1,700 | 0.65× | 2 | 117 |
| Wisconsin | $73,930 | 1,270 | 0.49× | 5 | 113 |
| Minnesota | $81,980 | 2,390 | 0.91× | 5 | 88 |
| Utahmoderate | $70,160 | 2,080 | 1.35× | 3 | 85 |
| West Virginialimited | $45,470 | 590 | 0.95× | 1 | 77 |
| New Mexicolimited | $84,440 | 860 | 1.11× | 2 | 74 |
| Alaskalimited | $91,150 | 1,470 | 5.07× | 2 | 73 |
| Nebraskalimited | $64,020 | 410 | 0.45× | 2 | 71 |
| Louisianamoderate | $79,780 | 1,150 | 0.67× | 4 | 53 |
| Mississippilimited | $74,880 | 1,360 | 1.32× | 2 | 42 |
| South Carolinalimited | $75,160 | 1,660 | 0.81× | 1 | 42 |
| Delawarelimited | $83,550 | 240 | 0.56× | 1 | 41 |
| Montanalimited | $64,170 | 310 | 0.69× | 2 | 39 |
| Hawaiilimited | $90,830 | 1,150 | 2.07× | 1 | 33 |
| North Dakotalimited | $77,740 | 200 | 0.53× | 1 | 31 |
| Idaholimited | $61,250 | 600 | 0.78× | 1 | 22 |
| South Dakotalimited | $75,750 | 150 | 0.36× | 2 | 19 |
| New Hampshirelimited | $79,610 | 190 | 0.32× | 1 | 15 |
| Vermontlimited | $76,370 | 160 | 0.61× | 1 | 1 |
Skills and tools
From O*NET, the U.S. Department of Labor's occupational database. Importance is a 1 to 5 scale.
What they do day to day
- Inspect completed work to certify that maintenance meets standards and that aircraft are ready for operation.
- Read and interpret maintenance manuals, service bulletins, and other specifications to determine the feasibility and method of repairing or replacing malfunctioning or damaged components.
- Maintain repair logs, documenting all preventive and corrective aircraft maintenance.
- Examine and inspect aircraft components, including landing gear, hydraulic systems, and deicers to locate cracks, breaks, leaks, or other problems.
- Conduct routine and special inspections as required by regulations.
- Replace or repair worn, defective, or damaged components, using hand tools, gauges, and testing equipment.
- Inspect airframes for wear or other defects.
- Check for corrosion, distortion, and invisible cracks in the fuselage, wings, and tail, using x-ray and magnetic inspection equipment.
Skills
- Reading Comprehension4.1
- Critical Thinking4.0
- Monitoring3.6
- Active Listening3.5
- Speaking3.3
- Active Learning3.1
- Writing3.0
- Mathematics2.9
Knowledge areas
- Mechanical4.7
- Public Safety and Security3.8
- Engineering and Technology3.8
- English Language3.7
- Transportation3.7
- Education and Training3.3
Abilities
- Problem Sensitivity4.5
- Written Comprehension4.1
- Near Vision4.1
- Information Ordering4.0
- Finger Dexterity4.0
- Manual Dexterity4.0
Core activities
- Documenting/Recording Information4.6
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards4.6
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials4.6
- Getting Information4.5
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems4.5
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge4.4
Tools and technology
hotmarks an O*NET hot technologyHow to get in
How to become a Aircraft Mechanic
Job zone 3 of 5 · SVP 6.0 to < 7.0- Typical entry education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 3 majors mapped to Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians3 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 01.0205Agricultural Mechanics and Equipment/Machine Technology/Technician
- 47.0607Airframe Mechanics and Aircraft Maintenance Technology/Technician
- 47.0608Aircraft Powerplant Technology/Technician
Related careers
Jobs O*NET identifies as close to this one, with their own pay and outlook.
Common questions
What degree do you need to become an Aircraft Mechanic?+
Postsecondary nondegree award is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Airframe Mechanics and Aircraft Maintenance Technology/Technician, which awarded 9,434 degrees in 2024-25, 67.6% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.
Which college majors lead to becoming an Aircraft Mechanic?+
The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 3 programs to this occupation. The largest are Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians, Agricultural Mechanization. Together they graduate about 13,961 people a year.
How much do aircraft mechanics and service technicians earn?+
The median is $79,870 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). The middle range runs from $48,780 at the 10th percentile to $128,890 at the 90th. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for aircraft mechanics and service technicians growing?+
BLS projects a +4.0% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, about as fast as average, with roughly 11,300 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career?+
217 institutions reported graduates from at least one of the 3 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do aircraft mechanics and service technicians work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Aircraft Mechanic, Aircraft Technician (Aircraft Tech), Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic (A and P Mechanic), Aircraft Maintenance Technician (Aircraft Maintenance Tech) among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 49-3011.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024-25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card