Bakersfield at a Glance
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Bakersfield
5
Within 100 mi, FAA 2026
Top Score Nearby
54.6
Reedley College
Aircraft Mechanic Jobs, Bakersfield Metro
710
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Metro Median Pay
$91,750
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location Quotient
2.37
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Area covered: Bakersfield-Delano, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 12540).
Bakersfield's aircraft mechanics and service technicians work at a concentration of employment 2.37 times the national rate for the occupation, and pay follows: a local median of $91,750 a year against the $79,870 U.S. median. Golden State Aircraft Maintenance runs its largest facility at Meadows Field Airport, performing engine overhauls and inspections on Citation airframes and turboprop aircraft.
California Aeronautical University trains students right at Meadows Field, 5.6 miles from downtown Bakersfield, toward a diploma or associate degree in aviation maintenance technology. Antelope Valley College in Lancaster is 63.2 miles out, and Reedley College is 89.6 miles away, both leading to the FAA's airframe and powerplant certificate.
Top Picks
Top Picks Near Bakersfield
Among the aviation maintenance schools near Bakersfield, a pick appears only when one school clearly leads on its figure; ties produce none.
Top Pick Near Bakersfield
Most Affordable Near Bakersfield
Best Outcomes Near Bakersfield
Highest overall score of the 5 ranked schools, 54.6 out of 100.
Lowest comparable program cost of the 2 ranked schools with one: $9,617, published by the school.
Highest IPEDS graduation rate of the 3 ranked schools that report one: 42%.
Bakersfield Ranking
Top-Ranked Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Bakersfield
The ranked aviation maintenance schools within 100 miles of Bakersfield, ordered by score. 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 Bakersfield.
Score bars: Outcomes (30)Cost (25)Program Depth (20)Access (15)Scale (10)
-
- Top Pick Near Bakersfield
- Most Affordable Near Bakersfield
- Best Outcomes Near Bakersfield
#1
Reedley College
Reedley, California 90 miles from Bakersfield #47 nationally
54.6 of 100
This program suits GI Bill-eligible students who want a 24-month certificate or degree track with on-site FAA testing at Reedley Municipal Airport in California.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Certificate of Achievement in Aircraft General Maintenance; Certificate of Achievement in Aircraft Airframe Maintenance; plus 3 more
- Length
- 24 months
- Cost
- $9,617, total program
- GI Bill
- Approved
-
#2
Cuesta College
San Luis Obispo, California 91 miles from Bakersfield #74 nationally
49.7 of 100
Cuesta College fits students who want a low-cost two-year path to aircraft mechanic certification with direct pathways into ACI Jet and Vandenberg Space Force Base placement.
- Type
- Community College
- Length
- two-year program delivered in cohort style, new cohorts starting each Spring semester (48 units)
- Cost
- $2,208, total tuition ($46/unit x 48 units, $552 per semester)
- Schedule
- Full-time cohort: Even years - Night Cohort Monday-Friday 4:30pm-approx. 10pm
- Starts
- each Spring semester
-
#3
North Valley Occupational Center
Van Nuys, California 85 miles from Bakersfield #151 nationally
39.7 of 100
This program suits Los Angeles-area students who want a tuition-free, public path to General, Airframe, and Powerplant certificates through Los Angeles Unified School District's adult education division, though it currently carries a minimum two-year enrollment wait.
- Type
- Technical College
- Credentials
- Certificate in General; Certificate in Airframe; plus 1 more
- Cost
- Tuition-free
-
#4
Antelope Valley College
Lancaster, California 63 miles from Bakersfield #161 nationally
38.6 of 100
This program fits students near Lancaster who want a public community college route into aerospace manufacturing, with composites fabrication training and direct partnerships with Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, and Boeing.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate in Science degree
-
#5
California Aeronautical University
Bakersfield, California 6 miles from Bakersfield #198 nationally
30.8 of 100
This is a for-profit certificate and degree program, so it fits someone in Bakersfield who wants year-round, fast-paced training with GI Bill benefits and direct employer networking.
- Type
- Private Aviation School
- Credentials
- Diploma; Associate of Science Degree
- Length
- Diploma: 17 months; Associate of Science Degree: 22 months
- GI Bill
- Approved
| Rank | School | Score | Outcomes (30) | Cost (25) | Program Depth (20) | Access (15) | Scale (10) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reedley College | 54.6 | 18.2 | 14.6 | 14 | 5 | 2.8 |
| 2 | Cuesta College | 49.7 | † | † | 8 | 10 | † |
| 3 | North Valley Occupational Center | 39.7 | † | † | 8 | 0 | † |
| 4 | Antelope Valley College | 38.6 | 10.5 | † | 6 | 0 | 9.6 |
| 5 | CalAero | 30.8 | 5.2 | 5.7 | 14 | 5 | 0.9 |
See the full best aviation maintenance schools in California ranking.
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Bakersfield
Aircraft mechanics in the Bakersfield metro area earn a median of $91,750 a year ($44.11 an hour), $5,650 above the California median of $86,100.
Bakersfield Pay vs. California and U.S. Medians
The Bakersfield median is $11,880 above the U.S. median of $79,870.
Avionics Technician Pay in Bakersfield
BLS counts 90 avionics technicians in the Bakersfield metro area, with a median of $97,620 a year.
Compare metro areas across the state on the California aircraft mechanic salary page, or see the national aircraft mechanic salary breakdown.
Local Employers
Where Aircraft Mechanics Work in Bakersfield
BLS counts 710 aircraft mechanic jobs in the Bakersfield metro area as of May 2025, a location quotient of 2.37.
A location quotient above 1.00 means these jobs make up a larger share of local employment than they do nationally.
Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul
Golden State Aircraft Maintenance
Largest maintenance facility at Meadows Field Airport (KBFL), 1701 Skyway Drive, Bakersfield
Golden State Aircraft Maintenance runs a full-service maintenance, repair and overhaul operation at Meadows Field, performing engine overhauls and phase/annual inspections on Citation airframes and turboprop aircraft.
Source: Golden State Aircraft Maintenance on gsamaintenance.com (gsamaintenance.com)
Airports
Commercial and Cargo Airports in the Area
Meadows Field (BFL) recorded 195,148 passenger boardings in 2024, the most of the airports listed here.
| Airport | FAA ID | Hub Class | Passenger Boardings, 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meadows Field | BFL | Nonhub | 195,148 |
Local Context
A Concentration of Aircraft Mechanics Above the National Average
Bakersfield's aircraft mechanic and service technician workforce is concentrated at 2.37 times the national rate, a location quotient that points to more maintenance work here relative to the metro's size. Golden State Aircraft Maintenance anchors that work at Meadows Field Airport, running its largest maintenance, repair and overhaul facility there and performing engine overhauls and inspections on Citation airframes and turboprop aircraft.
Meadows Field's Place in the Local Job Market
Meadows Field Airport handled 195,148 enplanements in 2024 as a nonhub facility. That's modest next to a major hub, but it supports steady general aviation and maintenance traffic, including the overhaul and inspection work Golden State Aircraft Maintenance performs there.
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Bakersfield: Common Questions
What Schools Near Bakersfield Train Aircraft Mechanics?
What Do Aircraft Mechanics Earn in Bakersfield?
Who's the Largest Aviation Maintenance Employer Near Bakersfield?
How Far Is Training From Where Mechanics Work in Bakersfield?
Do Hours at a Local Employer 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
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
- Golden State Aircraft Maintenance: Golden State Aircraft Maintenance
All sources retrieved .
Read how we source and check school, wage, and airport data for every page on this site.