San Jose at a Glance
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near San Jose
5
Within 100 mi, FAA 2026
Top Score Nearby
67.0
Gavilan College
Aircraft Mechanic Jobs, San Jose Metro
260
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Metro Median Pay
$98,760
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location Quotient
0.26
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Area covered: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 41940).
San Jose's aviation maintenance work runs through two fixed-base operators at Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International: Atlantic Aviation and Signature Flight Support, both offering aircraft maintenance alongside fueling and hangar space. Local aircraft mechanics and service technicians earn a median $98,760 a year, above the $79,870 U.S. median, even though the metro's mechanic workforce sits well below the national concentration for the job (location quotient 0.26).
Five training options sit within reach. Aviation Institute of Maintenance Fremont, 13.3 miles away, and Gavilan College, 18 miles away in San Martin, are the closest, both running FAA Part 147 certificate programs. College of Alameda is 38.6 miles out, Solano Community College is 78.6 miles away in Vacaville, and Sacramento City College, 97.9 miles away in McClellan, rounds out the options.
Top Picks
Top Picks Near San Jose
Among the aviation maintenance schools near San Jose, a pick appears only when one school clearly leads on its figure; ties produce none.
Top Pick Near San Jose
Best Outcomes Near San Jose
Highest overall score of the 5 ranked schools, 67.0 out of 100.
Highest IPEDS graduation rate of the 4 ranked schools that report one: 42%.
Most Affordable Near San Jose
Lowest comparable program cost of the 3 ranked schools with one: $2,208, from IPEDS in-state tuition and the published length.
San Jose Ranking
Top-Ranked Aviation Maintenance Schools Near San Jose
The ranked aviation maintenance schools within 100 miles of San Jose, 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 Jose.
Score bars: Outcomes (30)Cost (25)Program Depth (20)Access (15)Scale (10)
-
- Top Pick Near San Jose
- Best Outcomes Near San Jose
#1
Gavilan College
San Martin, California 18 miles from San Jose #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
Sacramento City College
McClellan, California 98 miles from San Jose #17 nationally
63.8 of 100
This program suits students able to start only in summer and attend evening or Saturday classes, at one of the longest-running aircraft mechanic schools, based at McClellan Hangar near Sacramento, California.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate in Science (A.S.) degree; Certificate of Achievement
- Length
- Four semesters (2 years)
- Cost
- $3,220, total program, California resident (as of Fall 2022)
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Schedule
- Monday to Friday, 3:30pm-9:35pm, and some selected Saturdays
- Starts
- Summer (required entry course AMTP 309 offered only in Summer)
-
- Most Affordable Near San Jose
#3
College of Alameda
Alameda, California 39 miles from San Jose #19 nationally
63.7 of 100
College of Alameda suits someone who can commit to two years of evening classes, five days a week, and who can wait, since the school has paused new Aviation Maintenance Technology applications for the next two years.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate of Science (AS) in Airframe; Associate of Science (AS) in Powerplant; plus 2 more
- Length
- Two years full-time, or part-time option, delivered in 18-week blocks
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Schedule
- Evening, five days a week from 3:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. (holidays excluded)
- Admissions
- The school notes it is not accepting new applications for the next two years due to demand
-
#4
Aviation Institute of Maintenance Fremont
Fremont, California 13 miles from San Jose #126 nationally
41.7 of 100
Bay Area students drawn to aerospace and airline employers like United Airlines, Archer Aviation, and NASA, and who want transit access via BART or ACE trains, are the best fit for the Fremont campus.
- Type
- Private Aviation School
- Credentials
- Certificate
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Schedule
- day/evening classes
-
#5
Solano Community College
Vacaville, California 79 miles from San Jose #141 nationally
40.4 of 100
Solano Community College fits students who want flexibility between a single-rating certificate, a single-rating degree, or a combined airframe-and-powerplant path, all taught at a hangar facility at Nut Tree Airport.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Certificate of Achievement (Airframe or Powerplant), 41 units; Associate in Science Degree (Airframe or Powerplant), 41-unit major plus GE to 60+ units; plus 2 more
- Length
- 41-unit major (single rating) or 62-unit combined major (Airframe & Powerplant)
| 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 | Sacramento City College | 63.8 | 9.1 | 22.3 | 14 | 15 | 3.4 |
| 3 | College of Alameda | 63.7 | 9.1 | 24.9 | 14 | 10 | 5.7 |
| 4 | AIM Fremont | 41.7 | † | † | 0 | 10 | † |
| 5 | Solano Community College | 40.4 | 12.3 | † | 14 | 0 | 1.6 |
See the full best aviation maintenance schools in California ranking.
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in San Jose
Aircraft mechanics in the San Jose metro area earn a median of $98,760 a year ($47.48 an hour), $12,660 above the California median of $86,100.
San Jose Pay vs. California and U.S. Medians
The San Jose median is $18,890 above the U.S. median of $79,870.
Avionics Technician Pay in San Jose
BLS counts 40 avionics technicians in the San Jose metro area, with a median of $94,400 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 Jose
BLS counts 260 aircraft mechanic jobs in the San Jose metro area as of May 2025, a location quotient of 0.26.
A location quotient above 1.00 means these jobs make up a larger share of local employment than they do nationally.
Business Aviation
Atlantic Aviation
FBO at San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC), 1250 Aviation Avenue, San Jose, CA
Atlantic Aviation is one of two fixed-base operators the airport authority lists at San Jose Mineta International Airport that may provide aircraft maintenance services alongside fueling and hangar space.
Source: San José Mineta International Airport, Fixed Base Operators page (flysanjose.com)
Business Aviation
Signature Flight Support
FBO at San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC), 323 Martin Avenue, Santa Clara, CA
Signature Flight Support is the second FBO the airport authority lists at San Jose Mineta International Airport that may provide aircraft maintenance services alongside fueling and hangar space.
Source: Signature Flight Support on flysanjose.com (flysanjose.com)
Airports
Commercial and Cargo Airports in the Area
Norman Y Mineta San Jose International (SJC) recorded 5,822,019 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norman Y Mineta San Jose International | SJC | Medium hub | 5,822,019 | 200,172,450 |
| Monterey Regional | MRY | Nonhub | 305,434 |
Local Context
Business Aviation Service at San Jose Mineta
Two fixed-base operators serve the general aviation and business jet traffic at San Jose Mineta International. Atlantic Aviation and Signature Flight Support both list aircraft maintenance alongside fueling and hangar space for the field, work that runs on the same Airframe and Powerplant certification as any other maintenance job in the Bay Area.
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near San Jose: Common Questions
What Schools Near San Jose Train Aircraft Mechanics?
What Do Aircraft Mechanics Earn in San Jose?
Who Are the Largest Aviation Maintenance Employers in San Jose?
How Far Is Training From Where Mechanics Work?
Do Hours Working 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)
- Atlantic Aviation: San José Mineta International Airport, Fixed Base Operators page
All sources retrieved .
Read how we source and check school, wage, and airport data for every page on this site.