Los Angeles at a Glance
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Los Angeles
10
Within 100 mi, FAA 2026
Top Score Nearby
74.1
Spartan Los Angeles
Aircraft Mechanic Jobs, Los Angeles Metro
5,020
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Metro Median Pay
$83,250
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location Quotient
0.90
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Area covered: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 31080).
Delta Air Lines built a new maintenance hangar at Los Angeles International Airport, sized for a wide-body jet with room for a narrow-body aircraft alongside it. LAX is a large-hub airport that moved 37,760,834 passengers through in 2024. Local aircraft mechanics and service technicians earn a median $83,250 a year, above the $79,870 U.S. median.
Training options sit close together. West Los Angeles College, in Culver City, is 1.7 miles away, with a program built through a partnership with American Airlines. Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology's Los Angeles campus, in Inglewood, is 4.8 miles out, with hangar and lab space for airframe and powerplant coursework. North Valley Occupational Center, in Van Nuys, is 13.9 miles away and tuition-free.
Top Picks
Top Picks Near Los Angeles
Among the aviation maintenance schools near Los Angeles, a pick appears only when one school clearly leads on its figure; ties produce none.
Top Pick Near Los Angeles
Best Outcomes Near Los Angeles
Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology, Los Angeles Campus
Highest overall score of the 10 ranked schools, 74.1 out of 100.
Highest IPEDS graduation rate of the 8 ranked schools that report one: 64%.
Most Affordable Near Los Angeles
Lowest comparable program cost of the 4 ranked schools with one: $2,208, from IPEDS in-state tuition and the published length.
Los Angeles Ranking
Top-Ranked Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Los Angeles
The ranked aviation maintenance schools within 100 miles of Los Angeles, 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 Los Angeles.
Score bars: Outcomes (30)Cost (25)Program Depth (20)Access (15)Scale (10)
-
- Top Pick Near Los Angeles
- Best Outcomes Near Los Angeles
#1
Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology, Los Angeles Campus
Inglewood, California 5 miles from Los Angeles #2 nationally
74.1 of 100
This program fits students who want a choice between an 18-month diploma or a 22-month associate degree, both covering the Airframe and Powerplant ratings, at Spartan's main campus in Inglewood, California.
- Type
- Private Aviation School
- Credentials
- Diploma; Associate of Occupational Studies (AOS)
- Length
- Diploma: 18 Months; Associate of Occupational Studies: 22 months
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Schedule
- Day Shift (Airframe & Powerplant Diploma, Mon-Fri 7:30am-1:45pm)
- Starts
- 1/5/26; 3/16/26; 5/26/26; 8/3/26; 9/8/26; 11/16/26
-
#2
Victor Valley College
Victorville, California 73 miles from Los Angeles #5 nationally
71.1 of 100
This fits budget-conscious California residents who want a low-cost, year-round associate degree combining airframe and powerplant training.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate in Science (AS) in Aviation Maintenance Technology
- Length
- 18 months (per catalog)
- Cost
- $3,772, total program (8 required AVA courses, 82 units at $46/unit California resident rate)
- GI Bill
- Approved
-
#3
Orange Coast College
Costa Mesa, California 38 miles from Los Angeles #7 nationally
69.4 of 100
This program fits a working adult in Orange County who needs evening, weekend, or online scheduling and wants airframe, powerplant, avionics, and helicopter maintenance training under one roof.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Certificate of Specialization; Certificate of Achievement; plus 1 more
- Length
- Certificate of Achievement: less than 2 years; Associate Degree: under 4 years
- Cost
- $46, per unit, in-state (CA resident)
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Schedule
- Evening, Weekend, and Online Courses
- Avionics
- Avionics track
-
- Most Affordable Near Los Angeles
#4
Chaffey College
Rancho Cucamonga, California 49 miles from Los Angeles #9 nationally
67.0 of 100
This program fits students who want avionics training added to their airframe and powerplant coursework, on a two-year track toward an associate degree in Southern California's Inland Empire.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate degree (Airframe and Powerplant AS); Certificate - Airframe and Powerplant Technician; plus 2 more
- Length
- 2-year curriculum
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Avionics
- Aircraft Electrical and Avionics Technician certificate
-
#5
Mt. San Antonio College
Walnut, California 32 miles from Los Angeles #10 nationally
66.5 of 100
This program suits California residents who want a public two-year path to an AS degree or certificate in Aircraft Maintenance Technology, at a $2,760 total in-state cost with day or evening class options in Walnut, California.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- AS; Certificate
- Length
- two years
- Cost
- $2,760, total program, in-state (A.S. degree, 60 units)
- Schedule
- day or evening
- Starts
- Next potential application period opens April 2027 for a fall 2027 start
-
#6
West Los Angeles College
Culver City, California 2 miles from Los Angeles #36 nationally
57.0 of 100
This fits Los Angeles-area students who want a public college program offering airframe, powerplant, and avionics paths, including a bachelor's option.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Bachelor's Degree (Avionics); Associate Degree; plus 2 more
- Length
- twenty-three-month continuing program
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Schedule
- Morning, afternoon, or evening sections
-
#7
Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology, Inland Empire Campus
Riverside, California 58 miles from Los Angeles #75 nationally
49.7 of 100
This program fits students who want a shorter, 15-month diploma covering both the Airframe and Powerplant ratings at a Spartan College affiliate campus in Riverside, California.
- Type
- Private Aviation School
- Credentials
- Diploma
- Length
- 15 Months
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Starts
- 1/5/26; 3/9/26; 5/11/26; 7/20/26; 9/21/26; 11/30/26
-
#8
North Valley Occupational Center
Van Nuys, California 14 miles from Los Angeles #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
-
#9
Antelope Valley College
Lancaster, California 51 miles from Los Angeles #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
-
#10
San Bernardino Valley College
San Bernardino, California 63 miles from Los Angeles #178 nationally
36.3 of 100
This program suits students who want an FAA-certificated maintenance track alongside a professional pilot pathway and emerging drone curriculum, at San Bernardino Valley College's Aeronautics Department in California.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Certificate of Achievement in Airframe Maintenance Technician; Certificate of Achievement in Powerplant Maintenance Technician; plus 2 more
- Length
- minimum 60 units (Associate of Science degree)
- GI Bill
- Approved
| Rank | School | Score | Outcomes (30) | Cost (25) | Program Depth (20) | Access (15) | Scale (10) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spartan Los Angeles | 74.1 | 27.1 | † | 14 | 15 | 5.5 |
| 2 | Victor Valley College | 71.1 | 26.2 | 21.7 | 14 | 5 | 4.2 |
| 3 | Orange Coast College | 69.4 | 22.9 | † | 20 | 10 | 4 |
| 4 | Chaffey College | 67.0 | 12.3 | 24.9 | 20 | 5 | 4.8 |
| 5 | Mt. SAC | 66.5 | 21.2 | 23.7 | 6 | 10 | 5.6 |
| 6 | West Los Angeles College | 57.0 | 3.2 | 24.4 | 14 | 10 | 5.4 |
| 7 | Spartan Inland Empire | 49.7 | † | † | 8 | 10 | † |
| 8 | North Valley Occupational Center | 39.7 | † | † | 8 | 0 | † |
| 9 | Antelope Valley College | 38.6 | 10.5 | † | 6 | 0 | 9.6 |
| 10 | San Bernardino Valley College | 36.3 | 3.2 | † | 14 | 5 | 1.6 |
See the full best aviation maintenance schools in California ranking.
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Los Angeles
Aircraft mechanics in the Los Angeles metro area earn a median of $83,250 a year ($40.03 an hour), $2,850 below the California median of $86,100.
Los Angeles Pay vs. California and U.S. Medians
The Los Angeles median is $3,380 above the U.S. median of $79,870.
Avionics Technician Pay in Los Angeles
BLS counts 500 avionics technicians in the Los Angeles metro area, with a median of $98,020 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 Los Angeles
BLS counts 5,020 aircraft mechanic jobs in the Los Angeles metro area as of May 2025, a location quotient of 0.90.
A location quotient above 1.00 means these jobs make up a larger share of local employment than they do nationally.
Airline Maintenance
Delta Air Lines
Maintenance hangar at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Delta built a new maintenance hangar at LAX sized to accommodate a Boeing 777-300 with a hardstand position for an Airbus A320.
Source: Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Delta Air Lines Maintenance Hangar - Skanska (skanska.com)
Manufacturer
Northrop Grumman
Air Force Plant 42 site, Palmdale, CA (Los Angeles County)
Northrop Grumman operates production and testing operations for military aircraft at the Air Force Plant 42 site in Palmdale.
Source: Northrop Grumman in Palmdale, California (northropgrumman.com)
Business Aviation
West Coast Aviation Services
Maintenance facility at Long Beach Airport, with a satellite facility in Santa Ana
West Coast Aviation Services runs a 24/7 maintenance, repair and overhaul facility for business and general aviation aircraft based in Long Beach.
30,000-square-foot facility
Source: Aircraft Maintenance - West Coast Aviation Services (wcas.aero)
Airports
Commercial and Cargo Airports in the Area
Los Angeles International (LAX) recorded 37,760,834 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles International | LAX | Large hub | 37,760,834 | 8,348,397,632 |
| John Wayne/Orange County | SNA | Medium hub | 5,370,273 | 120,342,900 |
| Bob Hope | BUR | Medium hub | 3,383,237 | |
| Long Beach (Daugherty Field) | LGB | Small hub | 2,031,810 | 104,889,000 |
| Jack Northrop Field/Hawthorne Municipal | HHR | 6,417 |
Local Context
Delta Builds a New Hangar at LAX
Delta Air Lines built a new maintenance hangar at Los Angeles International Airport, sized to hold a wide-body jet with a hardstand position for a narrow-body aircraft alongside it. That kind of hangar capacity keeps airframe and engine work flowing at one of the country's busiest airports, alongside the general aviation and business jet work spread across the metro's other fields.
Aircraft Manufacturing Work in Palmdale
Northrop Grumman runs production and testing operations for military aircraft at an Air Force site in Palmdale, part of the Los Angeles County job market. That's manufacturing work, not maintenance, but it draws on many of the same airframe and systems skills mechanics train for.
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Los Angeles: Common Questions
What Schools Near Los Angeles Train Aircraft Mechanics?
What Do Aircraft Mechanics Earn in Los Angeles?
Who Are the Largest Aviation Maintenance Employers in Los Angeles?
How Far Is Training From Where Mechanics Work in Los Angeles?
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
- Passenger Boarding (Enplanement) and All-Cargo Data for U.S. Airports
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
- Delta Air Lines: Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Delta Air Lines Maintenance Hangar - Skanska
- Northrop Grumman: Northrop Grumman in Palmdale, California
- West Coast Aviation Services: Aircraft Maintenance - West Coast Aviation Services
All sources retrieved .
Read how we source and check school, wage, and airport data for every page on this site.