Wichita at a Glance
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Wichita
2
Within 100 mi, FAA 2026
Top Score Nearby
72.2
K-State Salina
Aircraft Mechanic Jobs, Wichita Metro
580
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Metro Median Pay
$65,640
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location Quotient
2.12
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Area covered: Wichita, KS Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 48620).
Textron Aviation's Wichita Service Center is the largest of the company's service centers worldwide, performing maintenance, modifications, and upgrades on general aviation aircraft. Spirit AeroSystems, headquartered in the same city, builds fuselage sections and other aerostructures for Boeing jetliners. Wichita's aircraft mechanic employment concentration runs at 2.12 times the national rate, and local mechanics earn a median $65,640 a year.
WSU Tech trains 8.4 miles away at the National Center for Aviation Training, with instructors who together bring centuries of industry experience from Cessna, Boeing, Learjet, Beechcraft, and Spirit AeroSystems. Kansas State University Salina, 78.3 miles out, offers associate and bachelor's degrees with FAA certification eligibility and a hangar with direct ramp access to its airfield.
Top Picks
Top Picks Near Wichita
Among the aviation maintenance schools near Wichita, a pick appears only when one school clearly leads on its figure; ties produce none.
Top Pick Near Wichita
Best Outcomes Near Wichita
Kansas State University Salina
Highest overall score of the 3 ranked schools, 72.2 out of 100.
Highest IPEDS graduation rate of the 3 ranked schools that report one: 71%.
Most Affordable Near Wichita
Lowest comparable program cost of the 2 ranked schools with one: $10,856, from IPEDS in-state tuition and the published length.
Wichita Ranking
Top-Ranked Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Wichita
The ranked aviation maintenance schools within 100 miles of Wichita, ordered by score, plus the nearest ranked schools out to 132 miles so the list has at least 3. 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 Wichita.
Score bars: Outcomes (30)Cost (25)Program Depth (20)Access (15)Scale (10)
-
- Top Pick Near Wichita
- Best Outcomes Near Wichita
#1
Kansas State University Salina
Salina, Kansas 78 miles from Wichita #4 nationally
72.2 of 100
This public university program fits students who want both an associate and a bachelor's degree route to eligibility for the FAA mechanic certificate, with in-state tuition near $10,243 and hands-on hangar training in Salina, Kansas.
- Type
- University
- Credentials
- Associate degree and Bachelor's degree, with FAA A&P certification eligibility
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Avionics
- Avionics electronics technology certificate (NCATT certified)
-
- Most Affordable Near Wichita
#2
WSU Tech
Wichita, Kansas 8 miles from Wichita #35 nationally
57.4 of 100
This program fits Kansas students who want an 18-month combined aviation maintenance associate degree or a shorter technical certificate, training at the National Center for Aviation Training since the nearest alternative campus sits 75 miles away.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate of Applied Science, Aviation Maintenance Technology (Airframe & Powerplant); Technical Certificate, Aviation Maintenance Airframe; plus 4 more
- Length
- 18 months
- GI Bill
- Approved
-
#3
Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology, Tulsa Campus
Tulsa, Oklahoma 132 miles from Wichita #51 nationally
53.5 of 100
This program fits students who want a choice between a diploma and a longer associate degree, both covering the Airframe and Powerplant ratings, with a hybrid instruction option, at Spartan's Tulsa, Oklahoma campus.
- Type
- Private Aviation School
- Credentials
- Diploma; Associate of Applied Science
- Length
- 20 months (diploma) or 23 months (Associate of Applied Science)
- GI Bill
- Approved
| Rank | School | Score | Outcomes (30) | Cost (25) | Program Depth (20) | Access (15) | Scale (10) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | K-State Salina | 72.2 | 30 | † | 20 | 5 | 4.7 |
| 2 | WSU Tech | 57.4 | 20.2 | 10.7 | 14 | 5 | 7.5 |
| 3 | Spartan Tulsa | 53.5 | 24.5 | 2.4 | 14 | 5 | 7.6 |
See the full best aviation maintenance schools in Kansas ranking.
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Wichita
Aircraft mechanics in the Wichita metro area earn a median of $65,640 a year ($31.56 an hour), $14,630 below the Kansas median of $80,270.
Wichita Pay vs. Kansas and U.S. Medians
The Wichita median is $14,230 below the U.S. median of $79,870.
Avionics Technician Pay in Wichita
BLS counts 120 avionics technicians in the Wichita metro area, with a median of $59,790 a year.
Compare metro areas across the state on the Kansas aircraft mechanic salary page, or see the national aircraft mechanic salary breakdown.
Local Employers
Where Aircraft Mechanics Work in Wichita
BLS counts 580 aircraft mechanic jobs in the Wichita metro area as of May 2025, a location quotient of 2.12.
A location quotient above 1.00 means these jobs make up a larger share of local employment than they do nationally.
Manufacturer
Textron Aviation
Wichita Service Center at Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport, Wichita, KS
Textron Aviation's Wichita Service Center is the largest of the company's 20 service centers worldwide, performing maintenance, modifications and upgrades on general aviation aircraft.
Nearly 600 employees
Source: Textron Aviation marks 55 years of the Wichita Service Center (media.txtav.com)
Manufacturer
Spirit AeroSystems
Manufacturing plant at the former Boeing-Wichita factory complex, Wichita, KS
Spirit AeroSystems is headquartered in Wichita, where its plant builds fuselage sections and other aerostructures for Boeing jetliners including the 737.
Source: Spirit AeroSystems - Wikipedia (Wikipedia)
Airports
Commercial and Cargo Airports in the Area
Wichita Dwight D Eisenhower Ntl (ICT) recorded 885,585 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wichita Dwight D Eisenhower Ntl | ICT | Small hub | 885,585 | 188,784,300 |
Local Context
A Manufacturer's Service Center and an Aerostructures Plant
Textron Aviation runs its largest service center worldwide right in Wichita, handling maintenance, modifications, and upgrades on general aviation aircraft. Spirit AeroSystems, also headquartered here, builds fuselage sections and other aerostructures for Boeing jetliners. Between a manufacturer's service base and an aerostructures plant, Wichita's mechanic employment concentration runs at 2.12 times the national rate.
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Wichita: Common Questions
What Schools Near Wichita Train Aircraft Mechanics?
What Do Aircraft Mechanics Earn in Wichita?
Who Are the Largest Aviation Maintenance Employers in Wichita?
How Far Is Training From Where Mechanics Work in Wichita?
Does Experience at Textron or Spirit 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)
- Textron Aviation: Textron Aviation marks 55 years of the Wichita Service Center
- Spirit AeroSystems: Spirit AeroSystems - Wikipedia
All sources retrieved .
Read how we source and check school, wage, and airport data for every page on this site.