Chicago at a Glance
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Chicago
5
Within 100 mi, FAA 2026
Top Score Nearby
61.1
Lewis University
Aircraft Mechanic Jobs, Chicago Metro
2,090
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Metro Median Pay
$100,610
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location Quotient
0.52
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Area covered: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 16980).
American Airlines and United Airlines each run a maintenance hangar along the ramps at O'Hare International Airport, and AAR Corp, an independent maintenance and parts-supply company, is headquartered in the nearby suburb of Wood Dale. O'Hare handled 38,575,693 enplanements and landed 8,158,909,140 lb of cargo in 2024.
Training options cluster close to the airfields. Aviation Institute of Maintenance Chicago is 1.3 miles from both O'Hare and Midway, with employer partnerships at each carrier. Lewis University in Romeoville is 25.7 miles away, and Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan is 68.5 miles out.
Top Picks
Top Picks Near Chicago
Among the aviation maintenance schools near Chicago, a pick appears only when one school clearly leads on its figure; ties produce none.
Top Pick Near Chicago
Best Outcomes Near Chicago
Highest overall score of the 5 ranked schools, 61.1 out of 100.
Highest IPEDS graduation rate of the 2 ranked schools that report one: 67%.
Most Affordable Near Chicago
Lowest comparable program cost of the 2 ranked schools with one: $13,590, from IPEDS in-state tuition and the published length.
Chicago Ranking
Top-Ranked Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Chicago
The ranked aviation maintenance schools within 100 miles of Chicago, 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 Chicago.
Score bars: Outcomes (30)Cost (25)Program Depth (20)Access (15)Scale (10)
-
- Top Pick Near Chicago
- Best Outcomes Near Chicago
#1
Lewis University
Romeoville, Illinois 26 miles from Chicago #28 nationally
61.1 of 100
This program fits working adults in the Chicago area who want a four-year bachelor's degree with night labs and an AABI-accredited curriculum in airframe and powerplant maintenance.
- Type
- University
- Credentials
- Bachelor of Science; Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) Maintenance Certificate courses
- GI Bill
- Approved
-
#2
Aviation Institute of Maintenance Chicago
Chicago, Illinois 1 miles from Chicago #71 nationally
49.7 of 100
Students who want a large-scale campus near two major airports, with airline employer partnerships and a combined airframe and powerplant certificate, are the best fit for this program.
- Type
- Private Aviation School
- Credentials
- FAA-certified Aircraft Maintenance Technician Certificate
- Schedule
- day and evening classes
- Starts
- September class start referenced (apply-by-9/27 fee waiver)
-
- Most Affordable Near Chicago
#3
Rock Valley College
Rockford, Illinois 75 miles from Chicago #79 nationally
48.6 of 100
This program suits students who want hands-on training on a full-size regional jet and a tuition-reimbursement pathway through AAR EAGLE, in a two-year Aviation Maintenance Technology program in Rockford, Illinois.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate in Applied Science; Aviation Maintenance Certificate (7201); plus 2 more
- Length
- two-year program, with 11 months of instruction in each year
- GI Bill
- Approved
-
#4
Andrews University
Berrien Springs, Michigan 69 miles from Chicago #122 nationally
42.0 of 100
This program fits students who want a two-year, four-semester path to both airframe and powerplant ratings at a university that also offers a bachelor's degree in aviation maintenance, without requiring an FAA medical certificate.
- Type
- University
- Credentials
- FAA Part 147 Aircraft Maintenance Technician Certificate (Airframe & Powerplant)
- Length
- four semesters (two school years) for both ratings
- Cost
- $25,480, total program (non-credit certificate rate)
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Starts
- Fall semester for freshmen; flexible for community/certificate students
-
#5
Milwaukee Area Technical College
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 76 miles from Chicago #132 nationally
41.7 of 100
This program fits students in the Milwaukee area willing to wait for a limited-capacity seat, since the General Certificate is a required first step before the Airframe Diploma, and the nearest other certificated program sits 77.3 miles away.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Certificate
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Starts
- Program starts only in the Fall semester (August)
| Rank | School | Score | Outcomes (30) | Cost (25) | Program Depth (20) | Access (15) | Scale (10) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lewis University | 61.1 | 28.5 | † | 8 | 10 | 2.1 |
| 2 | AIM Chicago | 49.7 | † | † | 8 | 10 | † |
| 3 | Rock Valley College | 48.6 | 13.3 | 9.2 | 14 | 5 | 7.1 |
| 4 | Andrews University | 42.0 | † | 4.8 | 8 | 10 | † |
| 5 | Milwaukee Area Technical College | 41.7 | † | † | 0 | 10 | † |
See the full best aviation maintenance schools in Illinois ranking.
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Chicago
Aircraft mechanics in the Chicago metro area earn a median of $100,610 a year ($48.37 an hour), $18,930 above the Illinois median of $81,680.
Chicago Pay vs. Illinois and U.S. Medians
The Chicago median is $20,740 above the U.S. median of $79,870.
Avionics Technician Pay in Chicago
BLS counts 110 avionics technicians in the Chicago metro area, with a median of $81,620 a year.
Compare metro areas across the state on the Illinois aircraft mechanic salary page, or see the national aircraft mechanic salary breakdown.
Local Employers
Where Aircraft Mechanics Work in Chicago
BLS counts 2,090 aircraft mechanic jobs in the Chicago metro area as of May 2025, a location quotient of 0.52.
A location quotient above 1.00 means these jobs make up a larger share of local employment than they do nationally.
Airline Maintenance
American Airlines
Hangar 2 maintenance hangar at O'Hare International Airport
American Airlines built a new wide-body-capable maintenance hangar at O'Hare to handle line and base maintenance for its fleet.
191,000-square-foot structure
Source: American Airlines Joins Mayor Rahm Emanuel for Unveiling of New Maintenance Hangar at O'Hare International Airport (news.aa.com)
Airline Maintenance
United Airlines
Hangar 710 maintenance complex at O'Hare International Airport
United operates Hangar 710 at O'Hare, a large maintenance complex built to service its widebody fleet.
Source: United Airlines Aircraft Maintenance Hangar, O'Hare International Airport - Bowman (bowman.com)
Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul
AAR Corp
Corporate headquarters and OEM parts supply operation, Wood Dale, IL
AAR, a major independent aviation maintenance and parts-supply company, is headquartered in the Chicago suburb of Wood Dale and runs an OEM supply operation there.
Source: AAR CORP. worldwide locations (aarcorp.com)
Airports
Commercial and Cargo Airports in the Area
Chicago O'Hare International (ORD) recorded 38,575,693 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago O'Hare International | ORD | Large hub | 38,575,693 | 8,158,909,140 |
| Chicago Midway International | MDW | Large hub | 10,360,093 | |
| Gary/Chicago International | GYY | 64,856,432 |
Local Context
Two Airline Hangars Anchor O'Hare's Ramps
American Airlines and United Airlines each keep a maintenance hangar on O'Hare's ramps, servicing line and base work for their fleets.
AAR Corp, an independent maintenance and parts-supply company, is headquartered nearby in Wood Dale, adding a third kind of aviation maintenance employer to the metro.
O'Hare's Scale in Passengers and Cargo
O'Hare International Airport handled 38,575,693 enplanements and landed 8,158,909,140 lb of cargo in 2024. Chicago Midway International added another 10,360,093 enplanements the same year, and Gary/Chicago International landed 64,856,432 lb of cargo.
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Chicago: Common Questions
What Schools Near Chicago Train Aircraft Mechanics?
What Do Aircraft Mechanics Earn in Chicago?
Who Are the Major Aviation Maintenance Employers in Chicago?
How Far Is Training From Where Mechanics Work in Chicago?
Do Hours 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)
- American Airlines: American Airlines Joins Mayor Rahm Emanuel for Unveiling of New Maintenance Hangar at O'Hare International Airport
- United Airlines: United Airlines Aircraft Maintenance Hangar, O'Hare International Airport - Bowman
- AAR Corp: AAR CORP. worldwide locations
All sources retrieved .
Read how we source and check school, wage, and airport data for every page on this site.