Omaha at a Glance
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Omaha
2
Within 100 mi, FAA 2026
Top Score Nearby
61.7
Iowa Western Community College
Aircraft Mechanic Jobs, Omaha Metro
130
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Metro Median Pay
$67,350
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location Quotient
0.30
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Area covered: Omaha, NE-IA Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 36540).
Omaha's aircraft mechanic workforce is thinner than most metros its size, with a location quotient of 0.3, meaning the metro employs well under half the national share of aircraft mechanics relative to its population. Eppley Airfield handled 2,583,212 enplanements in 2024 and moved 454,986,610 pounds of cargo, and Duncan Aviation, the largest privately owned business jet MRO provider, runs a satellite avionics location there. Mechanics here earn a median $67,350.
Training is close even where local hiring is lighter. Iowa Western Community College, 15 miles away in Council Bluffs, awards both airframe and powerplant certificates alongside its associate degree. Western Iowa Tech Community College in Sioux City, 80.3 miles out, runs a two-year airframe program serving major and minor airline carriers.
Top Picks
Top Picks Near Omaha
Among the aviation maintenance schools near Omaha, a pick appears only when one school clearly leads on its figure; ties produce none.
Top Pick Near Omaha
Iowa Western Community College
Highest overall score of the 3 ranked schools, 61.7 out of 100.
Omaha Ranking
Top-Ranked Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Omaha
The ranked aviation maintenance schools within 100 miles of Omaha, ordered by score, plus the nearest ranked schools out to 174 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 Omaha.
Score bars: Outcomes (30)Cost (25)Program Depth (20)Access (15)Scale (10)
-
- Top Pick Near Omaha
#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
Aviation Institute of Maintenance Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri 174 miles from Omaha #127 nationally
41.7 of 100
This program fits students in the Kansas City area who have no other Part 147 school nearby and want GI Bill eligibility with day, evening, or weekend classes.
- Type
- Private Aviation School
- Credentials
- Certificate
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Schedule
- day, evening, and weekend
-
#3
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 | AIM Kansas City | 41.7 | † | † | 0 | 10 | † |
| 3 | Western Iowa Tech Community College | 37.7 | † | † | 6 | 0 | † |
See the full best aviation maintenance schools in Nebraska ranking.
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Omaha
Aircraft mechanics in the Omaha metro area earn a median of $67,350 a year ($32.38 an hour), $3,330 above the Nebraska median of $64,020.
Omaha Pay vs. Nebraska and U.S. Medians
The Omaha median is $12,520 below the U.S. median of $79,870.
Compare metro areas across the state on the Nebraska aircraft mechanic salary page, or see the national aircraft mechanic salary breakdown.
Local Employers
Where Aircraft Mechanics Work in Omaha
BLS counts 130 aircraft mechanic jobs in the Omaha metro area as of May 2025, a location quotient of 0.30.
A location quotient above 1.00 means these jobs make up a larger share of local employment than they do nationally.
Business Aviation
Duncan Aviation
Satellite avionics location at Eppley Airfield, Omaha, NE
Duncan Aviation, the largest privately owned business jet MRO provider, operates a satellite avionics location at Eppley Airfield in Omaha performing avionics troubleshooting, inspections, upgrades, and installations for business aircraft.
Source: Duncan Aviation - Omaha, NE location (duncanaviation.aero)
Airports
Commercial and Cargo Airports in the Area
Eppley Airfield (OMA) recorded 2,583,212 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eppley Airfield | OMA | Medium hub | 2,583,212 | 454,986,610 |
| Lincoln | LNK | Nonhub | 129,968 |
Local Context
A Business Jet Avionics Shop at Eppley Airfield
Duncan Aviation, the largest privately owned business jet MRO provider, keeps a satellite avionics location at Eppley Airfield. The shop handles avionics troubleshooting, inspections, upgrades and installations for business aircraft passing through Omaha, work that leans on electronics and instrument systems rather than the heavy structural repair found at a large airline hangar.
That business aviation focus fits a metro where the overall aircraft mechanic location quotient sits at 0.3, below the national average. Omaha's maintenance work centers on smaller, specialized shops like Duncan's rather than a single large airline base.
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Omaha: Common Questions
What Schools Near Omaha Train Aircraft Mechanics?
What Do Aircraft Mechanics Earn in Omaha?
What Is the Main Aviation Maintenance Employer in Omaha?
How Far Is Aviation Maintenance Training From Omaha?
Do Hours at a Local Employer Count Toward FAA Certification in Omaha?
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)
- Duncan Aviation: Duncan Aviation - Omaha, NE location
All sources retrieved .
Read how we source and check school, wage, and airport data for every page on this site.