Phoenix School Rankings, 2026

Best Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Phoenix, AZ (2026)

This ranking orders the aviation maintenance schools near Phoenix by score: graduation rate, cost, program depth, access, and size, adding the nearest ranked schools out to 244 miles. Pima Community College ranks first with 52.8 out of 100.

Arizona 100 mi 12 mi30 mi31 mi Phoenix
  • Phoenix center
  • School, miles from center
  • 100-mile radius

Schools near Phoenix, by straight-line distance

  • Western Maricopa Education Center (Glendale): 12 miles
  • Chandler-Gilbert Community College (Mesa): 30 miles
  • American Leadership Academy Applied Technologies (Mesa): 31 miles

Phoenix at a Glance

Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Phoenix

3

Within 100 mi, FAA 2026

Top Score Nearby

52.8

Pima Community College

Aircraft Mechanic Jobs, Phoenix Metro

3,810

BLS OEWS, May 2025

Metro Median Pay

$76,610

BLS OEWS, May 2025

Location Quotient

1.81

BLS OEWS, May 2025

Area covered: Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 38060).

Honeywell Aerospace and StandardAero both keep their headquarters in the Phoenix metro, alongside a US Air Force maintenance group at Luke Air Force Base. That combination shows up in the data: aircraft mechanic employment here runs at 1.81 times the national concentration. Phoenix Sky Harbor International, a large-hub airport, added 25,595,723 enplanements in 2024.

West-MEC's Aviation Maintenance Technology program in Glendale is the closest option at 12 miles, an FAA Part 147 school near Sky Harbor, Luke Air Force Base, and several area MRO facilities. Chandler-Gilbert Community College in Mesa follows at 30 miles, and American Leadership Academy's Applied Technologies high school program in Mesa sits at 31.4 miles.

Top Picks

Top Picks Near Phoenix

Among the aviation maintenance schools near Phoenix, a pick appears only when one school clearly leads on its figure; ties produce none.

  • Top Pick Near Phoenix

    Pima Community College

    Tucson, Arizona #1, score 52.8

    Highest overall score of the 3 ranked schools, 52.8 out of 100.

  • Best Outcomes Near Phoenix

    Chandler-Gilbert Community College

    Mesa, Arizona #3, score 40.9

    Highest IPEDS graduation rate of the 2 ranked schools that report one: 30%.

Phoenix Ranking

Top-Ranked Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Phoenix

The ranked aviation maintenance schools within 100 miles of Phoenix, ordered by score, plus the nearest ranked schools out to 244 miles so the list has at least 3. High school programs within 100 miles follow the ranking. Scores are national, out of 100, and the table after the cards shows the points behind them.

Distances are straight-line miles from the center of Phoenix.

Score bars: Outcomes (30)Cost (25)Program Depth (20)Access (15)Scale (10)

    • Top Pick Near Phoenix

    #1

    Pima Community College

    Tucson, Arizona 119 miles from Phoenix #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
  1. #2

    Aviation Institute of Maintenance Las Vegas

    Las Vegas, Nevada 244 miles from Phoenix #91 nationally

    46.7 of 100

    This program fits Nevada students who need the state's only Part 147 school, near Harry Reid International Airport and Nellis Air Force Base, on a 21-month certificate track.

    Type
    Private Aviation School
    Credentials
    Certificate
    Length
    21 months for full-time students
    GI Bill
    Approved
    Schedule
    day, evening, and weekend classes available
    Starts
    September class start referenced in enrollment promotion
    • Best Outcomes Near Phoenix

    #3

    Chandler-Gilbert Community College

    Mesa, Arizona 30 miles from Phoenix #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
Points by Factor: Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Phoenix
RankSchoolScoreOutcomes (30)Cost (25)Program Depth (20)Access (15)Scale (10)
1Pima Community College52.83.222.62007
2AIM Las Vegas46.7015
3CGCC40.95.21454.2
Points by factor, methodology 2.1. † Peer median: the school has no figure for that factor, so it scores that factor's peer median (Outcomes 15, Cost 12.5, Scale its median among schools with an awards figure).

High School Pathways

High School Aviation Maintenance Programs Near Phoenix

These 2 FAA-approved programs are run by a high school or career center, so they are listed apart from the college ranking, nearest first.

See the full best aviation maintenance schools in Arizona ranking.

BLS Wage Data

Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Phoenix

Aircraft mechanics in the Phoenix metro area earn a median of $76,610 a year ($36.83 an hour), $1,310 above the Arizona median of $75,300.

Aircraft Mechanic Salary, Phoenix Metro $76,610median/yr ($36.83/hr)
$48,810 $122,120
Box shows the 25th to 75th percentile. Line spans the 10th to 90th percentile. BLS OEWS, May 2025.

Phoenix Pay vs. Arizona and U.S. Medians

The Phoenix median is $3,260 below the U.S. median of $79,870.

Median Annual Aircraft Mechanic Wage
Phoenix metro $76,610
United States $79,870

BLS OEWS, May 2025

Avionics Technician Pay in Phoenix

BLS counts 340 avionics technicians in the Phoenix metro area, with a median of $78,690 a year.

Avionics Technicians, Phoenix Metro $78,690median/yr ($37.83/hr)
$57,320 $102,070
Box shows the 25th to 75th percentile. Line spans the 10th to 90th percentile. BLS OEWS, May 2025.

Compare metro areas across the state on the Arizona aircraft mechanic salary page, or see the national aircraft mechanic salary breakdown.

Local Employers

Where Aircraft Mechanics Work in Phoenix

BLS counts 3,810 aircraft mechanic jobs in the Phoenix metro area as of May 2025, a location quotient of 1.81.

A location quotient above 1.00 means these jobs make up a larger share of local employment than they do nationally.

  • Manufacturer

    Honeywell Aerospace

    Headquarters, Phoenix, AZ

    Honeywell Aerospace, a major maker of aircraft engines, avionics and components, is headquartered in Phoenix.

    Source: Honeywell Aerospace - Wikipedia (Wikipedia)

  • Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul

    StandardAero

    Headquarters, Scottsdale, AZ (Phoenix metro)

    StandardAero, a major engine and airframe MRO provider, is headquartered in the Phoenix metro area.

    Source: StandardAero - Wikipedia (Wikipedia)

  • Military Depot

    Luke Air Force Base (U.S. Air Force)

    56th Maintenance Group, Luke Air Force Base, Glendale, AZ

    Luke Air Force Base, just outside Phoenix, has dedicated aircraft and component maintenance squadrons servicing its F-35 and F-16 fleets.

    Source: Luke Air Force Base - Wikipedia (Wikipedia)

Airports

Commercial and Cargo Airports in the Area

Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX) recorded 25,595,723 passenger boardings in 2024, the most of the airports listed here.

FAA Commercial Service and All-Cargo Airports, Phoenix Area
AirportFAA IDHub ClassPassenger Boardings, 2024All-Cargo Landed Weight, 2024 (lb)
Phoenix Sky Harbor InternationalPHXLarge hub25,595,7231,825,488,355
Mesa GatewayIWASmall hub978,296
FAA CY2024 enplanement and all-cargo landed weight data.

Local Context

Luke Air Force Base's Maintenance Squadrons

Luke Air Force Base, just outside Phoenix in Glendale, has dedicated aircraft and component maintenance squadrons servicing its fighter jet fleets. That work sits alongside two other major employers in the metro: Honeywell Aerospace, headquartered in Phoenix, and StandardAero, headquartered in nearby Scottsdale.

Sky Harbor's Passenger and Cargo Scale

Phoenix Sky Harbor International, a large-hub airport, handled 25,595,723 enplanements in 2024 and landed 1,825,488,355 pounds of cargo the same year. Mesa Gateway, a smaller airport in the East Valley, added another 978,296 enplanements.

Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Phoenix: Common Questions

What Schools Train Aircraft Mechanics Near Phoenix?

What Do Aircraft Mechanics Earn in Phoenix?

Who Are the Largest Aviation Maintenance Employers in Phoenix?

How Far Is Training From Where Mechanics Work in Phoenix?

Do Hours at a Local Employer Count Toward FAA Certification?

More Metro Guides

Aviation Maintenance School Rankings in Other Metro Areas

Arizona

See the Best Aviation Maintenance Schools in Arizona

The Arizona ranking scores every FAA-approved school in the state, with top picks and pay.