Key Figures for Aviation Maintenance Schools in Maryland
Aviation Maintenance Schools in Maryland
2
FAA AV-Info, Sep 2026
Ranked in This State
2
Methodology 2.1
Top Score in the State
40.8
PIA Hagerstown
Median Aircraft Mechanic Pay
$100,500
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Aircraft Mechanics Employed
1,070
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Maryland's aircraft mechanics post the 3rd-highest state median wage in the country, at $100,500 a year, even though the state has no IPEDS-tracked aviation maintenance degree program.
In Hagerstown, Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics teaches a sixteen-month diploma over four terms at one of Maryland's 2 FAA Part 147 schools. University of Maryland Eastern Shore, in Salisbury, is the state's other option, on the opposite side of Maryland from Hagerstown.
Aircraft mechanics in Maryland earn a median of $100,500 a year, well above the $79,870 national median, and the state ranks 3rd among 50 states for that pay. Growth is projected at 3.9% through 2034, just below the national rate of 4%, with about 90 openings a year.
Maryland Ranking
Top-Ranked Aircraft Mechanic Schools in Maryland
The 2 ranked aviation maintenance schools in Maryland, 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
Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics, Hagerstown Campus
Hagerstown, Maryland #138 nationally
40.8 of 100
This program fits someone who wants a diploma-track aviation maintenance program at a chain school with a specialized shop setup, located along Hagerstown Regional Airport in western Maryland.
- Type
- Private Aviation School
- Credentials
- Diploma/Certificate
- Length
- 16 months, diploma/certificate (4 semesters, 65 credits for students starting after July 1, 2026)
- Cost
- $31,200, total program for students starting after July 1, 2026 (4 semesters, 65 credits)
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Starts
- Fall 2026 (Sept. 1); Spring 2027 (Jan. 5)
-
#2
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Salisbury, Maryland #195 nationally
31.7 of 100
This fits students who want an FAA-certificated program built through an airline industry partnership, training on-airport rather than at UMES's main campus.
- Type
- University
| Rank | School | Score | Outcomes (30) | Cost (25) | Program Depth (20) | Access (15) | Scale (10) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PIA Hagerstown | 40.8 | † | 3.6 | 8 | 10 | † |
| 2 | UMES | 31.7 | † | † | 0 | 0 | † |
Across the State Line
Top-Ranked Schools Near Maryland
3 FAA-approved schools in neighboring states within 100 miles of Baltimore, ranked by score.
Score bars: Outcomes (30)Cost (25)Program Depth (20)Access (15)Scale (10)
-
- Top Pick Near Maryland
#1
University of the District of Columbia Community College
Washington, District of Columbia 35 miles from Baltimore #67 nationally
50.7 of 100
This fits students who want a public two-year AAS combining airframe and powerplant training with quick certification results near two DC-area airports.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- AAS; Certificate of Completion for Aircraft Mechanic's Certification
- Length
- four semesters (approximately two years) for the certificate program
- Starts
- Admission deadlines: Fall May 15, Spring October 15, Summer April 15
-
#2
Delaware Technical Community College
Georgetown, Delaware 78 miles from Baltimore #121 nationally
42.2 of 100
Delaware Technical Community College fits Delaware residents who want the state's only FAA-certificated Part 147 program, training toward both the Airframe and Powerplant ratings over five semesters.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate Degree (AAS)
- Length
- 5 semesters
- GI Bill
- Approved
-
#3
Aviation Institute of Maintenance Manassas
Manassas, Virginia 60 miles from Baltimore #128 nationally
41.7 of 100
Veterans and students near Washington, D.C. who want a Veterans Lounge on campus, GI Bill eligibility, and hands-on time on single and multi-engine aircraft, fit well at the Manassas campus.
- Type
- Private Aviation School
- Credentials
- Certificate
- Length
- 21 months
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Schedule
- day and evening classes
| Rank | School | Score | Outcomes (30) | Cost (25) | Program Depth (20) | Access (15) | Scale (10) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UDC-CC | 50.7 | † | † | 14 | 5 | † |
| 2 | Delaware Tech | 42.2 | 1.1 | 19.6 | 14 | 5 | 2.5 |
| 3 | AIM Manassas | 41.7 | † | † | 0 | 10 | † |
By Metro Area
Aviation Maintenance School Rankings by Maryland 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 Baltimore | 5 | UDC-CC | $100,940 |
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Maryland
BLS reports a median annual wage of $100,500 ($48.32 an hour) for aircraft mechanics and service technicians in Maryland, where 1,070 people held the job in May 2025. That median ranks 3rd of the 50 states with published data; the national median is $79,870.
Projections Central expects statewide employment in the occupation to move from 1,060 in 2024 to 1,100 in 2034 (+3.9%), with about 90 openings a year.
Avionics Technician Pay in Maryland
See the full Maryland aircraft mechanic salary breakdown by metro area
Local Context
High Pay Without a Degree Program in Maryland
Maryland's aircraft mechanics rank 3rd nationally for pay, at $100,500 a year, yet the state has no IPEDS-tracked aviation maintenance degree program. Both in-state schools lead to a diploma or certificate rather than a tracked associate or bachelor's degree.
Baltimore's aircraft mechanics earn a median of $100,940 a year, close to the statewide figure, in a metro of 2,859,024 people. Neither of Maryland's 2 schools sits inside Baltimore itself; Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics is in Hagerstown, and the Eastern Shore school is in Salisbury.
Border Options Around Maryland's Two Schools
University of the District of Columbia Community College sits 34.7 miles from Baltimore, and Aviation Institute of Maintenance Manassas, in Virginia, is another nearby option at 59.8 miles. Delaware Technical Community College, in Georgetown, is 78 miles from Baltimore in the other direction.
Methodology
How We Rank Aviation Maintenance Schools in Maryland
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 Maryland 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 Maryland
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 Maryland?
Does Maryland Have a Degree Program in Aviation Maintenance?
How Does Aircraft Mechanic Pay in Maryland Compare to the National Median?
What Is the Job Growth Outlook for Aircraft Mechanics in Maryland?
How Long Is Aviation Maintenance School in Maryland?
How Much Does Aviation Maintenance School Cost in Maryland?
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.