Boise at a Glance
Nearest FAA-Approved School
195 mi
FAA, 2026
Top Score Nearby
56.0
Idaho State University
Aircraft Mechanic Jobs, Boise Metro
350
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Metro Median Pay
$62,190
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location Quotient
0.99
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Area covered: Boise City, ID Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 14260).
Boise sits at the intersection of two very different maintenance operations. SkyWest Airlines built a large regional-jet maintenance hangar at Boise Airport, and the Idaho Air National Guard's fighter wing maintains A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft at Gowen Field next door. Local aircraft mechanics and service technicians earn a median $62,190 a year.
Training is far from Boise. Idaho State University's program, the nearest option, sits 194.6 miles away in Pocatello, and Utah State University is 257.9 miles out in Logan. Both offer associate degrees leading to airframe and powerplant certification.
Top Picks
Top Picks Near Boise
Among the aviation maintenance schools near Boise, a pick appears only when one school clearly leads on its figure; ties produce none.
Top Pick Near Boise
Highest overall score of the 3 ranked schools, 56.0 out of 100.
Most Affordable Near Boise
Columbia Gorge Community College
Lowest comparable program cost of the 2 ranked schools with one: $9,000, from IPEDS in-state tuition and the published length.
Best Outcomes Near Boise
Highest IPEDS graduation rate of the 3 ranked schools that report one: 59%.
Boise Ranking
Top-Ranked Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Boise
The ranked aviation maintenance schools closest to Boise, 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 Boise.
Score bars: Outcomes (30)Cost (25)Program Depth (20)Access (15)Scale (10)
-
- Top Pick Near Boise
#1
Idaho State University
Pocatello, Idaho 195 miles from Boise #39 nationally
56.0 of 100
This program fits students in Idaho who want the state's only FAA Part 147 school, with associate, certificate, and bachelor's paths covering both airframe and powerplant ratings.
- Type
- University
- Credentials
- Associate of Applied Science: Airframe and Powerplant; Advanced Technical Certificate: Airframe and Powerplant; plus 2 more
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Starts
- August
-
- Best Outcomes Near Boise
#2
Utah State University
Logan, Utah 258 miles from Boise #59 nationally
51.5 of 100
This fits students who want a public university AAS with in-state tuition and access to two Utah campuses for hands-on airframe and powerplant training.
- Type
- University
- Credentials
- Associate of Applied Science (AAS)
- Length
- two-year technical program; 2030 total program hours
-
- Most Affordable Near Boise
#3
Columbia Gorge Community College
The Dalles, Oregon 280 miles from Boise #123 nationally
41.7 of 100
Columbia Gorge Community College fits students who want a two-year path to an AAS with stackable certificates along the way, in a location where the next certificated school is 80.9 miles off.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate of Applied Science
- Length
- 2 years, full-time (104 credits)
- GI Bill
- Approved
| Rank | School | Score | Outcomes (30) | Cost (25) | Program Depth (20) | Access (15) | Scale (10) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Idaho State University | 56.0 | 15 | † | 14 | 10 | 4.5 |
| 2 | Utah State University | 51.5 | 25.5 | 8 | 14 | 0 | 4 |
| 3 | Columbia Gorge Community College | 41.7 | 4.1 | 16.1 | 14 | 5 | 2.5 |
See the full best aviation maintenance schools in Idaho ranking.
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Boise
Aircraft mechanics in the Boise metro area earn a median of $62,190 a year ($29.90 an hour), $940 above the Idaho median of $61,250.
Boise Pay vs. Idaho and U.S. Medians
The Boise median is $17,680 below the U.S. median of $79,870.
Avionics Technician Pay in Boise
BLS counts avionics technicians in the Boise metro area, with a median of $79,680 a year.
Compare metro areas across the state on the Idaho aircraft mechanic salary page, or see the national aircraft mechanic salary breakdown.
Local Employers
Where Aircraft Mechanics Work in Boise
BLS counts 350 aircraft mechanic jobs in the Boise metro area as of May 2025, a location quotient of 0.99.
A location quotient above 1.00 means these jobs make up a larger share of local employment than they do nationally.
Airline Maintenance
SkyWest Airlines
135,000 sq ft aircraft maintenance hangar at Boise Airport
SkyWest Airlines built a large regional-jet maintenance hangar at Boise Airport where it performs routine maintenance on its fleet, including larger 66-to-76-seat regional jets.
135,000 sq ft maintenance facility on a 14-acre site
Source: SkyWest Airlines Aircraft Maintenance Hangar - Boise - McAlvain (mcalvain.com)
Business Aviation
Western Aircraft
FBO and FAA-certified repair station at Boise Airport
Western Aircraft operates an FAA-certified repair facility at Boise Airport, providing maintenance and repair work as a factory-authorized service center for several business aircraft manufacturers.
Source: Western Aircraft - FBO Airport | Aircraft Services (westair.com)
Military Depot
124th Fighter Wing / 124th Maintenance Group
A-10 Thunderbolt II maintenance unit at Gowen Field Air National Guard Base, Boise
The Idaho Air National Guard's 124th Fighter Wing operates a 124th Maintenance Group at Gowen Field that maintains the wing's A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft.
Source: 124th Fighter Wing - Wikipedia (Wikipedia)
Airports
Commercial and Cargo Airports in the Area
Boise Air Trml/Gowen Field (BOI) recorded 2,475,370 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boise Air Trml/Gowen Field | BOI | Medium hub | 2,475,370 | 449,939,982 |
Local Context
The Air National Guard's Fighter Wing at Gowen Field
The Guard unit operates a maintenance group at Gowen Field, the base it shares with Boise Airport. It maintains the wing's A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft, work that runs alongside the airport's civilian traffic and SkyWest's regional-jet hangar on the same field.
SkyWest's Regional-Jet Maintenance Hangar at Boise Airport
SkyWest Airlines operates the hangar on a 14-acre site, where it performs routine maintenance on its regional-jet fleet, including larger jets that carry dozens of passengers. Western Aircraft, an FBO and FAA-certified repair station on the same field, adds a second maintenance option for business aircraft.
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Boise: Common Questions
What Are the Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Boise?
What Do Aircraft Mechanics Earn in Boise?
Who Are the Largest Aviation Maintenance Employers in Boise?
How Far Is Training From Where Mechanics Work in Boise?
Do Hours at a Local Employer Count Toward FAA Certification?
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)
- SkyWest Airlines: SkyWest Airlines Aircraft Maintenance Hangar - Boise - McAlvain
- Western Aircraft: Western Aircraft - FBO Airport | Aircraft Services
- 124th Fighter Wing / 124th Maintenance Group: 124th Fighter Wing - Wikipedia
All sources retrieved .
Read how we source and check school, wage, and airport data for every page on this site.