Fresno at a Glance
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Fresno
2
Within 100 mi, FAA 2026
Top Score Nearby
67.0
Gavilan College
Aircraft Mechanic Jobs, Fresno Metro
320
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Metro Median Pay
$71,240
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location Quotient
0.76
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Area covered: Fresno, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 23420).
Signature TECHNICAir runs a full-service FAA repair station at Fresno Yosemite International Airport, handling line maintenance, avionics and AOG support for operators passing through the airfield. Local median pay for aircraft mechanics and service technicians is $71,240 a year, close to but still under the $79,870 U.S. median.
Training is about as close as it gets. San Joaquin Valley College's Aviation Maintenance Technology program is 3.8 miles from downtown Fresno, and Reedley College adds a second, long-certified option 22.4 miles away with hands-on training at Reedley Municipal Airport.
Top Picks
Top Picks Near Fresno
Among the aviation maintenance schools near Fresno, a pick appears only when one school clearly leads on its figure; ties produce none.
Top Pick Near Fresno
Most Affordable Near Fresno
Highest overall score of the 3 ranked schools, 67.0 out of 100.
Lowest comparable program cost of the 2 ranked schools with one: $2,888, from IPEDS in-state tuition and the published length.
Fresno Ranking
Top-Ranked Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Fresno
The ranked aviation maintenance schools within 100 miles of Fresno, ordered by score, plus the nearest ranked schools out to 102 miles so the list has at least 3. 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 Fresno.
Score bars: Outcomes (30)Cost (25)Program Depth (20)Access (15)Scale (10)
-
- Top Pick Near Fresno
- Most Affordable Near Fresno
#1
Gavilan College
San Martin, California 102 miles from Fresno #8 nationally
67.0 of 100
This program fits someone who wants a full two-year Associate of Science in Aviation with both Airframe and Powerplant ratings, training at a public California community college's own airport campus.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Certificate of Completion in Aviation Maintenance Technology (Airframe); Certificate of Completion in Aviation Maintenance Technology (Powerplant); plus 1 more
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Starts
- fall semester; spring semester
-
#2
Reedley College
Reedley, California 22 miles from Fresno #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
-
#3
San Joaquin Valley College
Fresno, California 4 miles from Fresno #153 nationally
39.7 of 100
San Joaquin Valley College's program fits students who want a single certificate covering both airframe and powerplant ratings, finished in as few as 14 months at the Fresno campus.
- Type
- Technical College
- Credentials
- Certificate of Completion
- Length
- as few as 14 months
| Rank | School | Score | Outcomes (30) | Cost (25) | Program Depth (20) | Access (15) | Scale (10) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gavilan College | 67.0 | 18.2 | 23.2 | 14 | 10 | 1.6 |
| 2 | Reedley College | 54.6 | 18.2 | 14.6 | 14 | 5 | 2.8 |
| 3 | SJVC | 39.7 | † | † | 8 | 0 | † |
See the full best aviation maintenance schools in California ranking.
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Fresno
Aircraft mechanics in the Fresno metro area earn a median of $71,240 a year ($34.25 an hour), $14,860 below the California median of $86,100.
Fresno Pay vs. California and U.S. Medians
The Fresno median is $8,630 below the U.S. median of $79,870.
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 Fresno
BLS counts 320 aircraft mechanic jobs in the Fresno metro area as of May 2025, a location quotient of 0.76.
A location quotient above 1.00 means these jobs make up a larger share of local employment than they do nationally.
Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul
Signature TECHNICAir
Repair station at Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT)
Signature TECHNICAir operates a full-service FAA Part 145 repair station at Fresno Yosemite International Airport providing line maintenance, avionics, and AOG support.
Source: Aircraft Maintenance & Repair in Fresno, CA (FAT) - Signature TECHNICAir (technicair.com)
Airports
Commercial and Cargo Airports in the Area
Fresno Yosemite International (FAT) recorded 1,318,250 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno Yosemite International | FAT | Small hub | 1,318,250 | 141,322,640 |
Local Context
A Repair Station at Fresno Yosemite International
Signature TECHNICAir operates a full-service FAA-certified repair station at Fresno Yosemite International Airport, covering line maintenance, avionics work and AOG support. It's the kind of shop that keeps aircraft moving rather than performing heavy checks, which means a steady flow of day-to-day maintenance work at the field.
Training Almost at the Airport's Doorstep
San Joaquin Valley College's Aviation Maintenance Technology program sits 3.8 miles from downtown Fresno at the school's Trades Education Center campus, about as short a commute as aircraft mechanic training gets. Reedley College is a second, long-running option 22.4 miles out, with hands-on training at Reedley Municipal Airport and a tool ownership program built into the coursework.
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Fresno: Common Questions
What Schools Train Aircraft Mechanics Near Fresno?
What Do Aircraft Mechanics Earn in Fresno?
What Is the Largest Aviation Maintenance Employer in Fresno?
How Far Is the Commute to Aircraft Mechanic Training From Fresno?
Does Work at a Local Repair Station Count Toward FAA Mechanic 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)
- Commercial Service Airports, CY2024 Enplanements
- Passenger Boarding (Enplanement) and All-Cargo Data for U.S. Airports
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
- Signature TECHNICAir: Aircraft Maintenance & Repair in Fresno, CA (FAT) - Signature TECHNICAir
All sources retrieved .
Read how we source and check school, wage, and airport data for every page on this site.