San Diego at a Glance
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near San Diego
6
Within 100 mi, FAA 2026
Top Score Nearby
74.6
San Diego Miramar College
Aircraft Mechanic Jobs, San Diego Metro
1,720
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Metro Median Pay
$87,560
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location Quotient
1.26
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Area covered: San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 41740).
Fleet Readiness Center Southwest, based at Naval Air Station North Island, overhauls, repairs, and modifies Navy and Marine Corps tactical, logistical, and rotary-wing aircraft. San Diego International Airport, a large hub, handled 12,780,013 enplanements in 2024. Local aircraft mechanics and service technicians earn a median $87,560 a year, above the $79,870 U.S. median for the occupation.
San Diego Miramar College is 5.4 miles from downtown San Diego, with a multi-year path through Airframe, Powerplant, or combined certificates and an associate degree that meets the FAA's practical experience requirement. The next closest options sit much farther out: Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, 73.6 miles away, and Spartan College's Inland Empire campus in Riverside, 81.9 miles away.
Top Picks
Top Picks Near San Diego
Among the aviation maintenance schools near San Diego, a pick appears only when one school clearly leads on its figure; ties produce none.
Top Pick Near San Diego
Highest overall score of the 6 ranked schools, 74.6 out of 100.
Most Affordable Near San Diego
Lowest comparable program cost of the 3 ranked schools with one: $2,208, from IPEDS in-state tuition and the published length.
San Diego Ranking
Top-Ranked Aviation Maintenance Schools Near San Diego
The ranked aviation maintenance schools within 100 miles of San Diego, 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 San Diego.
Score bars: Outcomes (30)Cost (25)Program Depth (20)Access (15)Scale (10)
-
- Top Pick Near San Diego
#1
San Diego Miramar College
San Diego, California 5 miles from San Diego
74.6 of 100
This program suits students who want to choose between day and night tracks and can use credit for prior learning, in a Part 147 certificated program at San Diego Miramar College.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Certificate of Achievement in Aviation Maintenance Technology Airframe; Certificate of Achievement in Aviation Maintenance Technology Powerplant; plus 2 more
- Length
- approximately 1900 hours, 5 semesters, 78 units, 2.5 years to complete
- Cost
- $46, per unit, California resident (78 units for the Certificate; non-resident $304 per unit; tools and equipment not included)
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Schedule
- Day or night track (students choose one, not a combination)
-
#2
Orange Coast College
Costa Mesa, California 74 miles from San Diego #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 San Diego
#3
Chaffey College
Rancho Cucamonga, California 95 miles from San Diego #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
-
#4
Mt. San Antonio College
Walnut, California 94 miles from San Diego #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
-
#5
Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology, Inland Empire Campus
Riverside, California 82 miles from San Diego #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
-
#6
San Bernardino Valley College
San Bernardino, California 88 miles from San Diego #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 | San Diego Miramar College | 74.6 | 22.9 | 23.7 | 14 | 10 | 4 |
| 2 | Orange Coast College | 69.4 | 22.9 | † | 20 | 10 | 4 |
| 3 | Chaffey College | 67.0 | 12.3 | 24.9 | 20 | 5 | 4.8 |
| 4 | Mt. SAC | 66.5 | 21.2 | 23.7 | 6 | 10 | 5.6 |
| 5 | Spartan Inland Empire | 49.7 | † | † | 8 | 10 | † |
| 6 | 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 San Diego
Aircraft mechanics in the San Diego metro area earn a median of $87,560 a year ($42.10 an hour), $1,460 above the California median of $86,100.
San Diego Pay vs. California and U.S. Medians
The San Diego median is $7,690 above the U.S. median of $79,870.
Avionics Technician Pay in San Diego
BLS counts 180 avionics technicians in the San Diego metro area, with a median of $92,480 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 San Diego
BLS counts 1,720 aircraft mechanic jobs in the San Diego metro area as of May 2025, a location quotient of 1.26.
A location quotient above 1.00 means these jobs make up a larger share of local employment than they do nationally.
Military Depot
Fleet Readiness Center Southwest (FRCSW)
Naval aviation depot at Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego (Coronado)
Fleet Readiness Center Southwest, based at NAS North Island, overhauls, repairs and modifies Navy and Marine Corps tactical, logistical and rotary-wing aircraft and employed more than 4,100 people in 2023, most of them civilians.
4,172 employees in 2023 (697 military)
Source: Fleet Readiness Center Southwest - Wikipedia (Wikipedia)
Airports
Commercial and Cargo Airports in the Area
San Diego International (SAN) recorded 12,780,013 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego International | SAN | Large hub | 12,780,013 | 534,319,560 |
| McClellan-Palomar | CRQ | Nonhub | 17,434 |
Local Context
Naval Aircraft Overhaul at North Island
Fleet Readiness Center Southwest, based at Naval Air Station North Island in Coronado, overhauls, repairs, and modifies Navy and Marine Corps tactical, logistical, and rotary-wing aircraft.
San Diego International Airport, a large-hub facility, handled 12,780,013 enplanements and landed 534,319,560 pounds of cargo in 2024, air traffic that runs alongside the naval aviation work based at North Island across the bay.
A Second Airport in North County
McClellan-Palomar Airport, a nonhub facility in the metro's north county, handled 17,434 enplanements in 2024, a smaller counterpart to San Diego International's larger passenger and cargo volume.
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near San Diego: Common Questions
What Schools Train Aircraft Mechanics Near San Diego?
What Do Aircraft Mechanics Earn in San Diego?
Who Are the Largest Aviation Maintenance Employers in San Diego?
How Far Is Aviation Maintenance Training From San Diego?
Do Hours at a Local Employer 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)
- 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)
- Fleet Readiness Center Southwest (FRCSW): Fleet Readiness Center Southwest - Wikipedia
All sources retrieved .
Read how we source and check school, wage, and airport data for every page on this site.