Key Figures for Aviation Maintenance Schools in Arizona
Aviation Maintenance Schools in Arizona
4
FAA AV-Info, Sep 2026
Ranked in This State
2
Methodology 2.1
Top Score in the State
52.8
Pima Community College
Median Aircraft Mechanic Pay
$75,300
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Aircraft Mechanics Employed
5,670
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Job growth is the standout number for aircraft mechanics in Arizona, projected at 19.6% through 2034, well above the national rate of 4%, even as Phoenix's aircraft mechanic employment sits at a location quotient of 1.81.
Western Maricopa Education Center in Glendale runs an evening Airframe and Powerplant certificate, accepts GI Bill benefits, and publishes a total program cost on its site. Chandler-Gilbert Community College in Mesa, a public school, offers the same ratings across a seven-term Associate of Applied Science or certificate, while Pima Community College in Tucson runs separate shorter certificates in general mechanics, structural repair, and avionics alongside a longer AAS.
Aircraft mechanics in Arizona earn a median of $75,300 a year, below the $79,870 national median, and the state ranks 32nd among 50 states for that pay. Job growth is projected at 19.6% through 2034, well above the national rate of 4%, adding 460 positions.
Arizona Ranking
Top-Ranked Aircraft Mechanic Schools in Arizona
The 2 ranked aviation maintenance schools in Arizona, best score first. Each card shows the school's verified facts and the points it earned on each factor. Scores are national, out of 100, so a school scores the same here as on the national ranking.
Score bars: Outcomes (30)Cost (25)Program Depth (20)Access (15)Scale (10)
-
#1
Pima Community College
Tucson, Arizona #54 nationally
52.8 of 100
This program fits someone in Tucson who wants more than a single credential option, from short single-semester certificates up through a two-year Associate of Applied Science covering airframe, powerplant, and avionics.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Certificate: Aircraft General Mechanics; Certificate: Aircraft Airframe and Powerplant Mechanics; plus 4 more
- Length
- Aircraft General Mechanics: 2 years part-time evening
- Avionics
- Avionics Technician certificate
-
#2
Chandler-Gilbert Community College
Mesa, Arizona #137 nationally
40.9 of 100
This program fits Phoenix-area students who can secure one of just 50 seats per semester, split into morning and afternoon cohorts, for a combined airframe and powerplant associate degree.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - General AMT, Airframe, or Powerplant; Certificate of Completion (CCL) - General AMT, Airframe, or Powerplant
- Length
- 88-115 credit hours, presented as a 7-term full-time sequence
- Starts
- Enrollment form opens Monday, Aug. 10, 2026
| Rank | School | Score | Outcomes (30) | Cost (25) | Program Depth (20) | Access (15) | Scale (10) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pima Community College | 52.8 | 3.2 | 22.6 | 20 | 0 | 7 |
| 2 | CGCC | 40.9 | 5.2 | † | 14 | 5 | 4.2 |
High School Pathways
High School Aviation Maintenance Programs in Arizona
These 2 FAA-approved programs are run by a high school or career center, so they are listed apart from the college rankings.
By Metro Area
Aviation Maintenance School Rankings by Arizona Metro Area
Each metro ranking scores every school within commuting range and adds the local airports, employers, and BLS pay for aircraft mechanics.
| Metro Ranking | Schools Within 100 mi | Top-Ranked School | Median Pay, May 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aviation maintenance schools near Phoenix | 3 | Pima Community College | $76,610 |
| Aviation maintenance schools near Tucson | 3 | Pima Community College | $73,340 |
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Arizona
BLS reports a median annual wage of $75,300 ($36.20 an hour) for aircraft mechanics and service technicians in Arizona, where 5,670 people held the job in May 2025. That median ranks 32nd of the 50 states with published data; the national median is $79,870.
Projections Central expects statewide employment in the occupation to move from 4,470 in 2024 to 5,350 in 2034 (+19.6%), with about 460 openings a year.
Avionics Technician Pay in Arizona
See the full Arizona aircraft mechanic salary breakdown by metro area
Local Context
Where Arizona's Aircraft Mechanics Actually Work
Phoenix carries most of Arizona's aircraft mechanic jobs by sheer size, with a metro population of 5,186,958 against Tucson's 1,080,149. Pay tips slightly toward Phoenix too, at a median of $76,610 versus Tucson's $73,340, though both metros host their own FAA Part 147 school.
Chandler-Gilbert Community College in Mesa trains inside the Phoenix metro, while Pima Community College in Tucson serves the state's second-largest market directly. A student's choice of school tends to line up with where they'd rather work.
A Head Start Through Arizona High School
American Leadership Academy Applied Technologies in Mesa builds aircraft maintenance coursework into a high school diploma track, giving students exposure to the field years before they'd apply to a college program.
Evening, Multi-Term, or Single-Certificate Tracks
Western Maricopa Education Center runs its Glendale program entirely in the evening, Monday through Thursday. Chandler-Gilbert Community College spreads the same ratings across seven terms, and Pima Community College lets students pick one shorter certificate, such as structural repair or avionics, instead of committing to the full Airframe and Powerplant sequence.
Methodology
How We Rank Aviation Maintenance Schools in Arizona
Every open FAA-approved college-level school gets one national score out of 100: Outcomes 30 (IPEDS graduation rate), Cost 25 (comparable whole-program price), Program Depth 20, Access 15, and Scale 10 (IPEDS awards a year). This page orders the schools in Arizona by that score, so the ranks here match the national list of 204 ranked schools.
The full rules, including how a missing figure is scored at the peer median, are on our ranking methodology page.
FAA Certification
Getting Your A&P License in Arizona
The FAA issues the mechanic certificate with Airframe and Powerplant ratings, known as the A&P, under federal rules in 14 CFR Part 65, so the path is the same in every state. You qualify by graduating from an FAA-approved school or by documenting at least 30 months of hands-on work for both ratings, then passing three FAA knowledge tests and an oral and practical exam.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many FAA Part 147 Aircraft Maintenance Schools Are in Arizona?
How Long Is Aviation Maintenance School in Arizona?
How Does Aircraft Mechanic Pay in Arizona Compare to the National Median?
What Is the Job Growth Outlook for Aircraft Mechanics in Arizona?
Is the Aircraft Mechanic License a State or Federal Credential?
How Much Does Aviation Maintenance School Cost in Arizona?
Sources
- FAA AV-Info Part 147 school records
- IPEDS via Hapi, CIP 47.0607-47.0609 (all levels) + 49.0104 (bachelor's/master's)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates
- Projections Central, State Occupational Employment Projections 2024-2034
- eCFR 14 CFR Part 65, Subpart D (Mechanics)
- FAA - Become an Aviation Mechanic
- FAA - Experience Requirements to Become an Aircraft Mechanic
All sources retrieved .
How we source and check each listing is explained on our data methodology page.