Baltimore at a Glance
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Baltimore
5
Within 100 mi, FAA 2026
Top Score Nearby
50.7
UDC-CC
Aircraft Mechanic Jobs, Baltimore Metro
580
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Metro Median Pay
$100,940
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location Quotient
0.48
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Area covered: Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 12580).
Southwest Airlines built its first maintenance base in the northeastern United States at Baltimore/Washington International, a new Tech Ops Hangar East for servicing Boeing narrow-body jets. The airport itself is a large hub, moving 13,221,461 passengers through in 2024. Local aircraft mechanics and service technicians earn a median $100,940 a year.
Training is scattered across the wider region. University of the District of Columbia Community College is 34.7 miles away in Washington, Aviation Institute of Maintenance Manassas is 59.8 miles out in Virginia, and Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics' Hagerstown campus is 65.9 miles from Baltimore.
Top Picks
Top Picks Near Baltimore
Among the aviation maintenance schools near Baltimore, a pick appears only when one school clearly leads on its figure; ties produce none.
Top Pick Near Baltimore
University of the District of Columbia Community College
Highest overall score of the 5 ranked schools, 50.7 out of 100.
Most Affordable Near Baltimore
Delaware Technical Community College
Lowest comparable program cost of the 2 ranked schools with one: $5,718, from IPEDS in-state tuition and the published length.
Baltimore Ranking
Top-Ranked Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Baltimore
The ranked aviation maintenance schools within 100 miles of Baltimore, 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 Baltimore.
Score bars: Outcomes (30)Cost (25)Program Depth (20)Access (15)Scale (10)
-
- Top Pick Near Baltimore
#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
-
- Most Affordable Near Baltimore
#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
-
#4
Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics, Hagerstown Campus
Hagerstown, Maryland 66 miles from Baltimore #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)
-
#5
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Salisbury, Maryland 89 miles from Baltimore #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 | 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 | † |
| 4 | PIA Hagerstown | 40.8 | † | 3.6 | 8 | 10 | † |
| 5 | UMES | 31.7 | † | † | 0 | 0 | † |
See the full best aviation maintenance schools in Maryland ranking.
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Baltimore
Aircraft mechanics in the Baltimore metro area earn a median of $100,940 a year ($48.53 an hour), $440 above the Maryland median of $100,500.
Baltimore Pay vs. Maryland and U.S. Medians
The Baltimore median is $21,070 above the U.S. median of $79,870.
Avionics Technician Pay in Baltimore
BLS counts 70 avionics technicians in the Baltimore metro area, with a median of $101,850 a year.
Compare metro areas across the state on the Maryland aircraft mechanic salary page, or see the national aircraft mechanic salary breakdown.
Local Employers
Where Aircraft Mechanics Work in Baltimore
BLS counts 580 aircraft mechanic jobs in the Baltimore metro area as of May 2025, a location quotient of 0.48.
A location quotient above 1.00 means these jobs make up a larger share of local employment than they do nationally.
Airline Maintenance
Southwest Airlines - BWI Tech Ops Hangar East
New Tech Ops Hangar East maintenance base at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport
Southwest Airlines built a new heavy-maintenance hangar at BWI, its first maintenance facility in the northeastern United States, where technicians service Boeing 737 aircraft.
129,000-square-foot facility that can accommodate three commercial airplanes inside and eight on the apron
Source: Southwest Airlines BWI New Tech Ops Hangar East (clarkconstruction.com)
Airports
Commercial and Cargo Airports in the Area
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall (BWI) recorded 13,221,461 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall | BWI | Large hub | 13,221,461 | 1,299,048,185 |
Local Context
Southwest's New Maintenance Hangar at BWI
Southwest Airlines opened a new Tech Ops Hangar East at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, its first maintenance facility in the northeastern United States. The hangar holds three commercial airplanes inside, with room for eight more on the apron, where technicians work on Boeing narrow-body jets.
A Large-Hub Airport With Heavy Cargo Traffic
BWI ranks as a large-hub airport, moving 13,221,461 passengers through in 2024. The same airport landed 1,299,048,185 pounds of cargo that year, freight volume that adds ramp and maintenance activity beyond passenger traffic alone.
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Baltimore: Common Questions
What Schools Near Baltimore Train Aircraft Mechanics?
What Do Aircraft Mechanics Earn in Baltimore?
Who Are the Largest Aviation Maintenance Employers in Baltimore?
How Far Is Training From Where Mechanics Work in Baltimore?
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)
- Southwest Airlines - BWI Tech Ops Hangar East: Southwest Airlines BWI New Tech Ops Hangar East
All sources retrieved .
Read how we source and check school, wage, and airport data for every page on this site.