Key Figures for Aviation Maintenance Schools in Nebraska
Aviation Maintenance Schools in Nebraska
1
FAA AV-Info, Sep 2026
Ranked in This State
1
Methodology 2.1
Top Score in the State
39.3
Western Nebraska Community College
Median Aircraft Mechanic Pay
$64,020
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Aircraft Mechanics Employed
410
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Nebraska posts one of the lowest state median wages for aircraft mechanics in the country, ranking 46th of 50 states, and Western Nebraska Community College in Sidney is the state's only FAA Part 147 school.
Western Nebraska Community College, a public school in Sidney, teaches toward an Associate of Applied Science or a standalone certificate, both requiring a minimum number of clock hours set by the FAA.
Aircraft mechanics in Nebraska earn a median of $64,020 a year, well below the $79,870 national median, and the state ranks 46th among 50 states for that pay. Growth is projected at 4.4% through 2034, just above the national rate of 4%, adding 20 positions, with about 40 openings expected each year.
Nebraska Ranking
Top-Ranked Aircraft Mechanic Schools in Nebraska
The ranked school in Nebraska, with the facts behind its score. 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
Western Nebraska Community College
Sidney, Nebraska #160 nationally
39.3 of 100
This program fits Nebraska residents who want an in-state Associate of Applied Science or Certificate covering three maintenance phases, especially since it is the state's only FAA-certificated Part 147 school.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate of Applied Science; Certificate
- Length
- minimum 1,900 clock hours
- GI Bill
- Approved
Across the State Line
Top-Ranked Schools Near Nebraska
2 FAA-approved schools in neighboring states within 100 miles of Omaha, ranked by score.
Score bars: Outcomes (30)Cost (25)Program Depth (20)Access (15)Scale (10)
-
#1
Iowa Western Community College
Council Bluffs, Iowa 15 miles from Omaha #24 nationally
61.7 of 100
This program fits students near Omaha who want a public Aviation Maintenance Technology associate degree with flexible full-time, part-time, online, and evening scheduling.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.); Aviation Maintenance Tech: Airframe Certificate; plus 1 more
- Length
- 85.5 total semester hours
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Schedule
- Full-time, part-time, online, and evening options available
- Starts
- Fall; Spring; Summer
-
#2
Western Iowa Tech Community College
Sioux City, Iowa 80 miles from Omaha #169 nationally
37.7 of 100
This program fits northwest Iowa students who want a two-year AAS or shorter diploma in aircraft maintenance without traveling far, since no other Part 147 school sits within 85 miles.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate of Applied Science; Aviation Airframe Maintenance Technician Diploma
- Length
- two-year
| Rank | School | Score | Outcomes (30) | Cost (25) | Program Depth (20) | Access (15) | Scale (10) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iowa Western Community College | 61.7 | 16.2 | † | 14 | 15 | 4 |
| 2 | Western Iowa Tech Community College | 37.7 | † | † | 6 | 0 | † |
By Metro Area
Aviation Maintenance School Rankings by Nebraska 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 Omaha | 2 | Iowa Western Community College | $67,350 |
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Nebraska
BLS reports a median annual wage of $64,020 ($30.78 an hour) for aircraft mechanics and service technicians in Nebraska, where 410 people held the job in May 2025. That median ranks 46th of the 50 states with published data; the national median is $79,870.
Projections Central expects statewide employment in the occupation to move from 480 in 2024 to 500 in 2034 (+4.4%), with about 40 openings a year.
See the full Nebraska aircraft mechanic salary breakdown by metro area
Local Context
Omaha Is Far From Nebraska's Only School
Western Nebraska Community College in Sidney is Nebraska's only FAA Part 147 school, but Sidney sits far from Omaha, the state's largest metro and home to 1,001,010 people. Students in eastern Nebraska have a shorter drive to Iowa than to Sidney.
Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs sits just 15 miles from Omaha, and Western Iowa Tech Community College in Sioux City is another option at 80.3 miles. Both are closer to most of Nebraska's population than the state's own school.
A Single Public School on the State's Western Edge
Western Nebraska Community College in Sidney is a public school offering both an Associate of Applied Science and a standalone certificate, each requiring a minimum number of FAA-set clock hours. It's the only in-state option, located in the Nebraska panhandle rather than near Omaha.
Methodology
How We Rank Aviation Maintenance Schools in Nebraska
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 Nebraska 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 Nebraska
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 Nebraska?
What's the Closest Aircraft Maintenance School to Omaha?
How Does Aircraft Mechanic Pay in Nebraska Compare to the National Median?
Is the Aircraft Mechanic Certificate a State or Federal License?
How Long Is Aviation Maintenance School in Nebraska?
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.