Key Figures for Aviation Maintenance Schools in Mississippi
Aviation Maintenance Schools in Mississippi
3
FAA AV-Info, Sep 2026
Ranked in This State
3
Methodology 2.1
Top Score in the State
58.9
Hinds Community College
Median Aircraft Mechanic Pay
$74,880
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Aircraft Mechanics Employed
1,360
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Mississippi's aircraft mechanic job growth is projected at 8.7% through 2034, more than double the national rate of 4%.
Hinds Community College in Bolton and Northwest Mississippi Community College in Olive Branch both run four-semester tracks leading to a technical certificate or Associate of Applied Science. Pearl River Community College in Kiln offers the same four-semester Associate in Applied Science along the state's southern border.
Aircraft mechanics in Mississippi earn a median of $74,880 a year, below the $79,870 national median, and the state ranks 35th among 50 states for that pay. Growth is still projected at 8.7% through 2034, adding about 140 positions over the decade.
Top Picks
Top Picks in Mississippi
Among the aviation maintenance schools in Mississippi, a pick appears only when one school clearly leads on its figure; ties and one-school lists produce none.
Top Pick in Mississippi
Highest overall score of the 3 ranked schools, 58.9 out of 100.
Mississippi Ranking
Top-Ranked Aircraft Mechanic Schools in Mississippi
The 3 ranked aviation maintenance schools in Mississippi, 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)
-
- Top Pick in Mississippi
#1
Hinds Community College
Bolton, Mississippi #32 nationally
58.9 of 100
This program fits students near Jackson, Mississippi who want a public four-semester path to a technical certificate or associate degree covering both airframe and powerplant ratings.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Technical Certificate; Associate of Applied Science
- Length
- four-semester instructional program
- Schedule
- face-to-face, with select courses available online
-
#2
Northwest Mississippi Community College
Olive Branch, Mississippi #65 nationally
50.7 of 100
This program suits someone near Memphis or the Mississippi hill country who wants both the airframe and powerplant ratings in a single degree, and who can commit to a fall-only start.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Technical Certificate; Associate of Applied Science
- Length
- Four Semesters
- Starts
- August
-
#3
Pearl River Community College
Kiln, Mississippi #66 nationally
50.7 of 100
This program fits someone along the Mississippi Gulf Coast who wants a combined airframe and powerplant associate degree and can wait for the single fall start each year.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate in Applied Science
- Length
- four semesters (fall, spring, and summer)
- Starts
- Fall Semester
| Rank | School | Score | Outcomes (30) | Cost (25) | Program Depth (20) | Access (15) | Scale (10) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hinds Community College | 58.9 | 20.2 | 17.6 | 14 | 5 | 2.1 |
| 2 | Northwest Mississippi Community College | 50.7 | † | † | 14 | 5 | † |
| 3 | Pearl River Community College | 50.7 | † | † | 14 | 5 | † |
By Metro Area
Aviation Maintenance School Rankings by Mississippi 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 Jackson | 1 | Hinds Community College | $67,750 |
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Mississippi
BLS reports a median annual wage of $74,880 ($36.00 an hour) for aircraft mechanics and service technicians in Mississippi, where 1,360 people held the job in May 2025. That median ranks 35th of the 50 states with published data; the national median is $79,870.
Projections Central expects statewide employment in the occupation to move from 1,640 in 2024 to 1,780 in 2034 (+8.7%), with about 140 openings a year.
Avionics Technician Pay in Mississippi
See the full Mississippi aircraft mechanic salary breakdown by metro area
Local Context
One Entry Date Sets Olive Branch Apart
Northwest Mississippi Community College in Olive Branch accepts new aviation maintenance students only in the fall, unlike Hinds Community College and Pearl River Community College, which don't note that same restriction.
Olive Branch sits closest to Mississippi's northern border, near the Memphis area, while Hinds Community College in Bolton and Pearl River Community College in Kiln serve the central and southern parts of the state instead.
A Mix of Online and In-Person Coursework
Hinds Community College in Bolton teaches most of its aviation maintenance program face-to-face, with select courses available online, giving students some flexibility without moving the hands-on shop work off campus.
Methodology
How We Rank Aviation Maintenance Schools in Mississippi
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 Mississippi 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 Mississippi
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 Mississippi?
Which Mississippi School Only Admits Students in the Fall?
How Does Aircraft Mechanic Pay in Mississippi Compare to the National Median?
What Is the Job Growth Outlook for Aircraft Mechanics in Mississippi?
How Long Is Aviation Maintenance School in Mississippi?
What Credentials Do Mississippi's Aviation Maintenance Schools Award?
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.