Jackson at a Glance
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Jackson
1
Within 100 mi, FAA 2026
Top Score Nearby
58.9
Hinds Community College
Aircraft Mechanic Jobs, Jackson Metro
200
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Metro Median Pay
$67,750
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location Quotient
0.82
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Area covered: Jackson, MS Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 27140).
Mississippi's Air National Guard flies its Globemaster III aircraft out of Jackson, maintaining it through a dedicated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at its base here in the metro. Local aircraft mechanics and service technicians earn a median $67,750 a year, below the $79,870 U.S. median for the occupation.
Training is close to home. Hinds Community College's Aviation Maintenance Technology program, based at its Raymond campus and 11.5 miles from downtown Jackson, runs a four-semester path through classroom and hangar work, with the FAA's Powerplant Rating required before the fourth semester.
Top Picks
Top Picks Near Jackson
Among the aviation maintenance schools near Jackson, a pick appears only when one school clearly leads on its figure; ties produce none.
Top Pick Near Jackson
Most Affordable Near Jackson
Best Outcomes Near Jackson
Highest overall score of the 3 ranked schools, 58.9 out of 100.
Lowest comparable program cost of the 2 ranked schools with one: $7,400, from IPEDS in-state tuition and the published length.
Highest IPEDS graduation rate of the 2 ranked schools that report one: 43%.
Jackson Ranking
Top-Ranked Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Jackson
The ranked aviation maintenance schools within 100 miles of Jackson, ordered by score, plus the nearest ranked schools out to 142 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 Jackson.
Score bars: Outcomes (30)Cost (25)Program Depth (20)Access (15)Scale (10)
-
- Top Pick Near Jackson
- Most Affordable Near Jackson
- Best Outcomes Near Jackson
#1
Hinds Community College
Bolton, Mississippi 12 miles from Jackson #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
Pearl River Community College
Kiln, Mississippi 142 miles from Jackson #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
-
#3
Baton Rouge Community College
Central, Louisiana 132 miles from Jackson #116 nationally
43.1 of 100
This associate degree program fits someone in the Baton Rouge area who wants to earn stackable airframe and powerplant certificates on the way to a full degree.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate of Applied Science (AAS); Technical Diploma; plus 2 more
- Length
- 70 total semester credit hours across six semesters
- GI Bill
- Approved
| 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 | Pearl River Community College | 50.7 | † | † | 14 | 5 | † |
| 3 | BRCC | 43.1 | 6.8 | 13.7 | 14 | 5 | 3.6 |
See the full best aviation maintenance schools in Mississippi ranking.
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Jackson
Aircraft mechanics in the Jackson metro area earn a median of $67,750 a year ($32.57 an hour), $7,130 below the Mississippi median of $74,880.
Jackson Pay vs. Mississippi and U.S. Medians
The Jackson median is $12,120 below the U.S. median of $79,870.
Compare metro areas across the state on the Mississippi aircraft mechanic salary page, or see the national aircraft mechanic salary breakdown.
Local Employers
Where Aircraft Mechanics Work in Jackson
BLS counts 200 aircraft mechanic jobs in the Jackson metro area as of May 2025, a location quotient of 0.82.
A location quotient above 1.00 means these jobs make up a larger share of local employment than they do nationally.
Military Depot
172nd Airlift Wing (Mississippi Air National Guard)
Allen C. Thompson Field Air National Guard Base, Jackson
The Mississippi Air National Guard's 172nd Airlift Wing flies the C-17 Globemaster III and maintains it through a dedicated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at its Jackson base.
Source: 172nd Airlift Wing (Wikipedia)
Airports
Commercial and Cargo Airports in the Area
Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International (JAN) recorded 616,695 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International | JAN | Small hub | 616,695 | 85,765,000 |
Local Context
Where a Cargo Squadron Calls Jackson Home
The Airlift Wing, part of the Mississippi Air National Guard, flies its Globemaster III aircraft and maintains it through a dedicated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Allen C. Thompson Field. That base sits next to Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International, a small-hub airport that handled 616,695 enplanements in 2024.
Jackson's Airport Carries Its Own Freight
Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International landed 85,765,000 pounds of cargo in 2024 alongside 616,695 passenger enplanements, keeping a mix of freight and passenger aircraft moving through the same small-hub airport that sits beside the Guard base.
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Jackson: Common Questions
What Schools Near Jackson Train Aircraft Mechanics?
What Do Aircraft Mechanics Earn in Jackson?
Who Is the Largest Aviation Maintenance Employer in Jackson?
How Far Is Aviation Maintenance Training From Jackson?
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)
- Commercial Service Airports, CY2024 Enplanements
- Passenger Boarding (Enplanement) and All-Cargo Data for U.S. Airports
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
- 172nd Airlift Wing (Mississippi Air National Guard): 172nd Airlift Wing
All sources retrieved .
Read how we source and check school, wage, and airport data for every page on this site.