Tucson at a Glance
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Tucson
3
Within 100 mi, FAA 2026
Top Score Nearby
52.8
Pima Community College
Aircraft Mechanic Jobs, Tucson Metro
1,390
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Metro Median Pay
$73,340
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location Quotient
4.02
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Area covered: Tucson, AZ Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 46060).
Tucson's aircraft mechanic workforce is concentrated at more than four times the national rate, a location quotient of 4.02, driven in large part by AMARG at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. AMARG stores, maintains, and regenerates military aircraft for every branch of the armed forces, employing civilian mechanics alongside military personnel. Local mechanics earn a median $73,340 a year.
Pima Community College is just 5.4 miles from downtown, with an aviation technology center at the airport and real aircraft on site for hands-on training. American Leadership Academy Applied Technologies in Mesa is 90.9 miles away, and Chandler-Gilbert Community College, also in Mesa, is 92.7 miles out.
Tucson Ranking
Top-Ranked Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Tucson
The ranked aviation maintenance schools within 100 miles of Tucson, ordered by score. 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 Tucson.
Score bars: Outcomes (30)Cost (25)Program Depth (20)Access (15)Scale (10)
-
#1
Pima Community College
Tucson, Arizona 5 miles from Tucson #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 93 miles from Tucson #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 Near Tucson
This FAA-approved program is run by a high school or career center, so it is 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 Tucson
Aircraft mechanics in the Tucson metro area earn a median of $73,340 a year ($35.26 an hour), $1,960 below the Arizona median of $75,300.
Tucson Pay vs. Arizona and U.S. Medians
The Tucson median is $6,530 below the U.S. median of $79,870.
Avionics Technician Pay in Tucson
BLS counts 240 avionics technicians in the Tucson metro area, with a median of $80,620 a year.
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 Tucson
BLS counts 1,390 aircraft mechanic jobs in the Tucson metro area as of May 2025, a location quotient of 4.02.
A location quotient above 1.00 means these jobs make up a larger share of local employment than they do nationally.
Military Depot
309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG)
Aircraft storage, maintenance and regeneration facility at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Tucson, AZ
AMARG is an Air Force Materiel Command facility at Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson that stores, maintains, and regenerates military aircraft for all branches of the US military, employing civilian aircraft mechanics alongside military personnel.
Typically holds more than 4,200 aircraft in inventory
Source: The AMARC Experience - What is AMARG? (amarcexperience.com)
Airports
Commercial and Cargo Airports in the Area
Tucson International (TUS) recorded 1,959,789 passenger boardings in 2024, the most of the airports listed here.
| Airport | FAA ID | Hub Class | Passenger Boardings, 2024 | All-Cargo Landed Weight, 2024 (lb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson International | TUS | Small hub | 1,959,789 | 135,578,172 |
Local Context
A Military Regeneration Depot at Davis-Monthan
AMARG runs its aircraft storage, maintenance, and regeneration operation at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson. The facility employs civilian aircraft mechanics working alongside military personnel, part of why the metro's mechanic employment concentration runs at 4.02 times the national rate.
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Tucson: Common Questions
What Schools Near Tucson Train Aircraft Mechanics?
What Do Aircraft Mechanics Earn in Tucson?
What Is the Largest Aviation Maintenance Employer in Tucson?
How Far Is Training From Where Mechanics Work in Tucson?
Does Experience at AMARG Count Toward FAA Certification?
More Metro Guides
Aviation Maintenance School Rankings in Other Metro Areas
Sources for School and Pay Data
- FAA AV-Info Part 147 school records
- Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2025: Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians (49-3011)
- Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2025: Avionics Technicians (49-2091)
- Commercial Service Airports, CY2024 Enplanements
- Passenger Boarding (Enplanement) and All-Cargo Data for U.S. Airports
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
- 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG): The AMARC Experience - What is AMARG?
All sources retrieved .
Read how we source and check school, wage, and airport data for every page on this site.