Melbourne-Palm Bay at a Glance
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Melbourne-Palm Bay
7
Within 100 mi, FAA 2026
Top Score Nearby
44.7
A&P Mechanic Institute
Aircraft Mechanic Jobs, Melbourne-Palm Bay Metro
660
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Metro Median Pay
$66,750
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location Quotient
3.01
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Area covered: Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 37340).
Melbourne is built around business jets. Embraer assembles its Phenom line of executive jets at the Executive Jet Campus at Melbourne International Airport, and aircraft mechanic employment here runs at a location quotient of 3.01, well above the national average. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians in the metro earn a median $66,750 a year.
Training takes more of a drive than in many metros. Eastern Florida State College in Titusville, the closest option, is 48 miles away and offers combined airframe and powerplant certificates. US Aviation Academy in Kissimmee is 52.6 miles out, and Aviation Institute of Maintenance Orlando, in Casselberry, is 64.7 miles from Melbourne.
Top Picks
Top Picks Near Melbourne-Palm Bay
Among the aviation maintenance schools near Melbourne-Palm Bay, a pick appears only when one school clearly leads on its figure; ties produce none.
Top Pick Near Melbourne-Palm Bay
Highest overall score of the 6 ranked schools, 44.7 out of 100.
Most Affordable Near Melbourne-Palm Bay
Lowest comparable program cost of the 3 ranked schools with one: $19,000, published by the school.
Melbourne-Palm Bay Ranking
Top-Ranked Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Melbourne-Palm Bay
The ranked aviation maintenance schools within 100 miles of Melbourne-Palm Bay, ordered by score. High school programs within 100 miles follow the ranking. 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 Melbourne-Palm Bay.
Score bars: Outcomes (30)Cost (25)Program Depth (20)Access (15)Scale (10)
-
- Top Pick Near Melbourne-Palm Bay
#1
A&P Mechanic Institute
Lakeland, Florida 82 miles from Melbourne-Palm Bay #105 nationally
44.7 of 100
This program suits students who want a single private campus offering combined airframe and powerplant ratings on a 15-month day or night schedule in Lakeland, Florida.
- Type
- Private Aviation School
- Credentials
- Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) Certification
- Length
- 15 months
- Schedule
- day and night classes
-
- Most Affordable Near Melbourne-Palm Bay
#2
Eastern Florida State College
Titusville, Florida 48 miles from Melbourne-Palm Bay #115 nationally
43.2 of 100
This program fits Florida residents who want a two-year combined airframe and powerplant certificate path at Melbourne International Airport, with GI Bill eligibility for veterans.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Career and Technical Certificate (two certificates, combined A&P)
- Length
- two years (2,250 total clock hours for both certificates)
- Cost
- $19,000, total program, Florida residents, both certificates combined
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Starts
- Spring 2026 (January Start); Fall 2026 (August Start)
-
#3
Aviation Institute of Maintenance Orlando
Casselberry, Florida 65 miles from Melbourne-Palm Bay #130 nationally
41.7 of 100
This certificate program fits someone in the Orlando area who wants hands-on day or evening training in a dedicated hangar rather than a two-year degree.
- Type
- Private Aviation School
- Credentials
- Certificate
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Schedule
- day and evening
-
#4
Epic Flight Academy
New Smyrna Beach, Florida 78 miles from Melbourne-Palm Bay #162 nationally
38.4 of 100
This program fits students who want a fast, hands-on path to an FAA Airframe and Powerplant certificate in 15 months, with GI Bill funding available at its Florida campus.
- Type
- Private Aviation School
- Credentials
- FAA Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) Certificate
- Length
- 15 months
- Cost
- $36,995, total program
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Starts
- September 28, 2026 (Erlanger, KY)
-
#5
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Daytona Beach, Florida 89 miles from Melbourne-Palm Bay #165 nationally
37.7 of 100
This program fits students who want a four-year bachelor's degree that pairs aviation maintenance science with an optional avionics minor, at a Daytona Beach campus dedicated to aviation.
- Type
- University
- Credentials
- BS in Aviation Maintenance Science
- Length
- 126 credits
- Avionics
- Avionics Line Maintenance minor
-
#6
US Aviation Academy Kissimmee
Kissimmee, Florida 53 miles from Melbourne-Palm Bay #201 nationally
29.1 of 100
This fits students who want a fast 16-month aircraft mechanic program with tools provided at a newly opened Florida campus near Orlando.
- Type
- Private Aviation School
- Credentials
- FAA Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) Certification
- Length
- 16-month program
- Cost
- $36,000, total program
| Rank | School | Score | Outcomes (30) | Cost (25) | Program Depth (20) | Access (15) | Scale (10) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A&P Mechanic Institute | 44.7 | † | † | 8 | 5 | † |
| 2 | Eastern Florida State College | 43.2 | † | 6 | 8 | 10 | † |
| 3 | AIM Orlando | 41.7 | † | † | 0 | 10 | † |
| 4 | Epic Flight Academy | 38.4 | † | 1.2 | 8 | 10 | † |
| 5 | Embry-Riddle | 37.7 | † | † | 6 | 0 | † |
| 6 | USAA Kissimmee | 29.1 | † | 1.9 | 8 | 0 | † |
High School Pathways
High School Aviation Maintenance Programs Near Melbourne-Palm Bay
This FAA-approved program is run by a high school or career center, so it is listed apart from the college ranking, nearest first.
See the full best aviation maintenance schools in Florida ranking.
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Melbourne-Palm Bay
Aircraft mechanics in the Melbourne-Palm Bay metro area earn a median of $66,750 a year ($32.09 an hour), $10,190 below the Florida median of $76,940.
Melbourne-Palm Bay Pay vs. Florida and U.S. Medians
The Melbourne-Palm Bay median is $13,120 below the U.S. median of $79,870.
Avionics Technician Pay in Melbourne-Palm Bay
BLS counts 280 avionics technicians in the Melbourne-Palm Bay metro area, with a median of $84,160 a year.
Compare metro areas across the state on the Florida aircraft mechanic salary page, or see the national aircraft mechanic salary breakdown.
Local Employers
Where Aircraft Mechanics Work in Melbourne-Palm Bay
BLS counts 660 aircraft mechanic jobs in the Melbourne-Palm Bay metro area as of May 2025, a location quotient of 3.01.
A location quotient above 1.00 means these jobs make up a larger share of local employment than they do nationally.
Manufacturer
Embraer Executive Jets
Executive Jet Campus assembly plant at Melbourne International Airport, Melbourne, FL
Embraer assembles Phenom 100 and Phenom 300 executive jets at its Melbourne, Florida campus, which also houses a global customer center.
208 employees (as of July 2012)
Source: Embraer Executive Jet Assembly Facility in Melbourne Florida USA | Aviation Pros (aviationpros.com)
Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul
Southeast Aerospace
Avionics repair station at Melbourne International Airport, Melbourne, FL
Southeast Aerospace runs an FAA and EASA Part 145 certified avionics repair station at Melbourne International Airport, specializing in avionics and instrument repair and certification plus aircraft line maintenance.
30 avionics & instrument technicians
Source: Avionic Repair Shop Services | Southeast Aerospace (seaerospace.com)
Manufacturer
L3Harris Technologies
Corporate headquarters, 1025 W Nasa Blvd, Melbourne, FL
L3Harris Technologies has been headquartered in Melbourne since 1978 and is the largest private employer on Florida's Space Coast, with engineering and production operations in the area.
Source: L3Harris Office Locations and Headquarters: Melbourne, FL - Zippia (zippia.com)
Airports
Commercial and Cargo Airports in the Area
Melbourne Orlando International (MLB) recorded 348,283 passenger boardings in 2024, the most of the airports listed here.
| Airport | FAA ID | Hub Class | Passenger Boardings, 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melbourne Orlando International | MLB | Nonhub | 348,283 |
| Vero Beach Regional | VRB | Nonhub | 88,608 |
Local Context
Embraer's Executive Jet Campus at Melbourne
Embraer assembles its Phenom line of executive jets at the Executive Jet Campus at Melbourne International Airport, which also houses a global customer center for the aircraft. Southeast Aerospace runs an FAA and EASA certified avionics repair station at the same airport, giving Melbourne a second maintenance specialty beyond assembly work.
Avionics Work Is Especially Concentrated Here
Avionics and instrument technicians in Melbourne show a location quotient of 9.5, meaning the job is far more common here than in most of the country. Southeast Aerospace repairs and certifies avionics and instruments and handles line maintenance at Melbourne International Airport, work that fits squarely inside that concentration.
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Melbourne-Palm Bay: Common Questions
What Schools Near Melbourne Train Aircraft Mechanics?
What Do Aircraft Mechanics Earn in Melbourne-Palm Bay?
Who Are the Largest Aviation Employers in Melbourne?
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
- Embraer Executive Jets: Embraer Executive Jet Assembly Facility in Melbourne Florida USA | Aviation Pros
- Southeast Aerospace: Avionic Repair Shop Services | Southeast Aerospace
- L3Harris Technologies: L3Harris Office Locations and Headquarters: Melbourne, FL - Zippia
All sources retrieved .
Read how we source and check school, wage, and airport data for every page on this site.