Key Figures for Aviation Maintenance Schools in Connecticut
Aviation Maintenance Schools in Connecticut
2
FAA AV-Info, Sep 2026
Ranked in This State
2
Methodology 2.1
Top Score in the State
44.7
CT Aero Tech
Median Aircraft Mechanic Pay
$96,830
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Aircraft Mechanics Employed
1,430
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Connecticut's aircraft mechanics rank 5th nationally for state median pay, at $96,830 a year, well above the $79,870 national figure, even though the state has no IPEDS-tracked aviation maintenance degree program.
Connecticut Aero Tech School in Hartford and the Stratford School for Aviation Maintenance Technicians run as matched extension campuses of Bristol Technical Education Center, both teaching the same two-year Airframe and Powerplant certificate on identical day schedules, one based at Brainard Airport and the other at Sikorsky Memorial Airport.
Aircraft mechanics in Connecticut earn a median of $96,830 a year, among the top 5 state medians nationally and well above the $79,870 national figure. Growth is projected at 10% through 2034, above the national rate of 4%, adding 130 positions, with about 120 openings expected each year.
Connecticut Ranking
Top-Ranked Aircraft Mechanic Schools in Connecticut
The 2 ranked aviation maintenance schools in Connecticut, best score first. Each card shows the school's verified facts and the points it earned on each factor. Scores are national, out of 100, so a school scores the same here as on the national ranking.
Score bars: Outcomes (30)Cost (25)Program Depth (20)Access (15)Scale (10)
-
#1
Connecticut Aero Tech School
Hartford, Connecticut #106 nationally
44.7 of 100
Connecticut Aero Tech School fits day-schedule students working toward becoming an aircraft mechanic over two years at an extension campus based at Brainard Airport.
- Type
- Technical College
- Credentials
- Certificate (Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic, upon passing FAA exams)
- Length
- 2 years
- Starts
- December 2026 enrollment class applications open
-
#2
Stratford School for Aviation Maintenance Technicians
Stratford, Connecticut #109 nationally
44.7 of 100
This program fits Connecticut students who want a two-year airframe-and-powerplant certificate through a public extension campus based at Sikorsky Memorial Airport.
- Type
- Technical College
- Credentials
- Certificate (Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic, upon passing FAA exams)
- Length
- 2 years
- Starts
- December 2026 enrollment class applications open
| Rank | School | Score | Outcomes (30) | Cost (25) | Program Depth (20) | Access (15) | Scale (10) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CT Aero Tech | 44.7 | † | † | 8 | 5 | † |
| 2 | Stratford School for Aviation Maintenance Technicians | 44.7 | † | † | 8 | 5 | † |
Across the State Line
Top-Ranked Schools Near Connecticut
6 FAA-approved schools in neighboring states within 100 miles of Hartford, ranked by score.
Score bars: Outcomes (30)Cost (25)Program Depth (20)Access (15)Scale (10)
-
- Top Pick Near Connecticut
#1
National Aviation Academy, New England Campus
Concord, Massachusetts 82 miles from Hartford #98 nationally
45.7 of 100
This program suits students in the Boston area who want a 14-month path to FAA Airframe and Powerplant certification, with a shorter optional Advanced Aircraft Systems avionics add-on at National Aviation Academy's New England campus.
- Type
- Private Aviation School
- Credentials
- Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) certification
- Length
- AMT: 14 months, 3000 clock hours (implied by 45 FAA-mandated subjects)
- Avionics
- Advanced Aircraft Systems program (avionics equipment)
-
#2
Hudson Valley Community College
Albany, New York 86 miles from Hartford #173 nationally
36.7 of 100
This program fits students near Albany, New York who want a 12-month Aviation Maintenance Technician certification, trained on Air Force jet aircraft donated to the school.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- FAA Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) Certification
- Length
- 12-month program with extensive hands-on instruction and training
- Starts
- Monday, Jan. 11 (January 2027 cohort); Monday, June 28 (June 2027 cohort)
-
#3
Dutchess Community College
Wappingers Falls, New York 63 miles from Hartford #180 nationally
35.3 of 100
This program fits students in the Hudson Valley who want a four-semester associate degree covering both airframe and powerplant ratings at a public community college price.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate of Applied Science (AAS)
- Length
- 64 total credit hours across four semesters
| Rank | School | Score | Outcomes (30) | Cost (25) | Program Depth (20) | Access (15) | Scale (10) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NAA New England | 45.7 | † | † | 14 | 0 | † |
| 2 | Hudson Valley Community College | 36.7 | † | † | 0 | 5 | † |
| 3 | SUNY Dutchess | 35.3 | 5.2 | 12.5 | 14 | 0 | 3.6 |
By Metro Area
Aviation Maintenance School Rankings by Connecticut Metro Area
Each metro ranking scores every school within commuting range and adds the local airports, employers, and BLS pay for aircraft mechanics.
| Metro Ranking | Schools Within 100 mi | Top-Ranked School | Median Pay, May 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aviation maintenance schools near Hartford | 13 | Nashua Community College | $87,730 |
| Aviation maintenance schools near Bridgeport-Stamford | 8 | Vaughn College | |
| Aviation maintenance schools near New Haven | 9 | Vaughn College | $75,110 |
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Connecticut
BLS reports a median annual wage of $96,830 ($46.55 an hour) for aircraft mechanics and service technicians in Connecticut, where 1,430 people held the job in May 2025. That median ranks 5th of the 50 states with published data; the national median is $79,870.
Projections Central expects statewide employment in the occupation to move from 1,300 in 2024 to 1,420 in 2034 (+10%), with about 120 openings a year.
See the full Connecticut aircraft mechanic salary breakdown by metro area
Local Context
Two Schools, One Shared Playbook
Connecticut Aero Tech School and the Stratford School for Aviation Maintenance Technicians both run out of Bristol Technical Education Center, teach the same Airframe and Powerplant certificate, and hold the same weekday morning-to-afternoon day schedule. One sits at Brainard Airport in Hartford, the other at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford.
That shared structure means the choice between them comes down to geography more than curriculum. Hartford's aircraft mechanics earn a median of $87,730 a year, while the wider state figure reaches $96,830.
Accredited Through the Council on Occupational Education
Both Connecticut schools carry the same outside accreditation, from the Council on Occupational Education, rather than through a college's regional accreditor. Applications for the two campuses open on the same December 2026 enrollment cycle.
No Four-Year Degree Path in Connecticut
Connecticut has no IPEDS-tracked aviation maintenance degree program, so both in-state paths end in a certificate rather than an associate or bachelor's degree. Nearby options in Massachusetts and New York offer a degree route for students who want one.
Methodology
How We Rank Aviation Maintenance Schools in Connecticut
Every open FAA-approved college-level school gets one national score out of 100: Outcomes 30 (IPEDS graduation rate), Cost 25 (comparable whole-program price), Program Depth 20, Access 15, and Scale 10 (IPEDS awards a year). This page orders the schools in Connecticut by that score, so the ranks here match the national list of 204 ranked schools.
The full rules, including how a missing figure is scored at the peer median, are on our ranking methodology page.
FAA Certification
Getting Your A&P License in Connecticut
The FAA issues the mechanic certificate with Airframe and Powerplant ratings, known as the A&P, under federal rules in 14 CFR Part 65, so the path is the same in every state. You qualify by graduating from an FAA-approved school or by documenting at least 30 months of hands-on work for both ratings, then passing three FAA knowledge tests and an oral and practical exam.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many FAA Part 147 Aircraft Maintenance Schools Are in Connecticut?
How Long Is Aviation Maintenance School in Connecticut?
How Does Aircraft Mechanic Pay in Connecticut Compare to the National Median?
What Is the Job Growth Outlook for Aircraft Mechanics in Connecticut?
Is the Aircraft Mechanic License a State or Federal Credential?
What Credential Do Connecticut's Aviation Maintenance Schools Lead To?
Sources
- FAA AV-Info Part 147 school records
- IPEDS via Hapi, CIP 47.0607-47.0609 (all levels) + 49.0104 (bachelor's/master's)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates
- Projections Central, State Occupational Employment Projections 2024-2034
- eCFR 14 CFR Part 65, Subpart D (Mechanics)
- FAA - Become an Aviation Mechanic
- FAA - Experience Requirements to Become an Aircraft Mechanic
All sources retrieved .
How we source and check each listing is explained on our data methodology page.