Key Figures for Aviation Maintenance Schools in New York
Aviation Maintenance Schools in New York
6
FAA AV-Info, Sep 2026
Ranked in This State
3
Methodology 2.1
Top Score in the State
50.5
Vaughn College
Median Aircraft Mechanic Pay
$102,800
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Aircraft Mechanics Employed
4,300
BLS OEWS, May 2025
New York's aircraft mechanics rank 2nd nationally for pay, at $102,800 a year, and the field is projected to grow 4.2% through 2034, just above the national rate of 4%.
Wilson Technological Center in Farmingdale accepts GI Bill benefits for its five-semester program, and Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology in Flushing can be completed in as little as sixteen months. Aviation High School in Long Island City teaches aircraft maintenance at the public high school level, with a dedicated fifth year for advanced licensure, while Hudson Valley, Mohawk Valley, and Dutchess Community Colleges round out the state's 6 schools.
Aircraft mechanics in New York earn a median of $102,800 a year, well above the $79,870 national median, and the state ranks 2nd among 50 states for that pay. Growth is projected at 4.2% through 2034, adding 100 positions, with about 200 openings expected each year.
Top Picks
Top Picks in New York
Among the aviation maintenance schools in New York, a pick appears only when one school clearly leads on its figure; ties and one-school lists produce none.
Top Pick in New York
Best Outcomes in New York
Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology
Highest overall score of the 3 ranked schools, 50.5 out of 100.
Highest IPEDS graduation rate of the 2 ranked schools that report one: 39%.
New York Ranking
Top-Ranked Aircraft Mechanic Schools in New York
The 3 ranked aviation maintenance schools in New York, 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 New York
- Best Outcomes in New York
#1
Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology
Flushing, New York #68 nationally
50.5 of 100
This fits students who want a fast certificate at a private aeronautics college with airline hiring connections in the New York City area.
- Type
- University
- Credentials
- Certificate
- Length
- can be completed in as little as 16 months
- GI Bill
- Approved
-
#2
Hudson Valley Community College
Albany, New York #173 nationally
36.7 of 100
This program fits students near Albany, New York who want a 12-month Aviation Maintenance Technician certification, trained on Air Force jet aircraft donated to the school.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- FAA Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) Certification
- Length
- 12-month program with extensive hands-on instruction and training
- Starts
- Monday, Jan. 11 (January 2027 cohort); Monday, June 28 (June 2027 cohort)
-
#3
Dutchess Community College
Wappingers Falls, New York #180 nationally
35.3 of 100
This program fits students in the Hudson Valley who want a four-semester associate degree covering both airframe and powerplant ratings at a public community college price.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate of Applied Science (AAS)
- Length
- 64 total credit hours across four semesters
| Rank | School | Score | Outcomes (30) | Cost (25) | Program Depth (20) | Access (15) | Scale (10) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vaughn College | 50.5 | 15 | † | 8 | 5 | 10 |
| 2 | Hudson Valley Community College | 36.7 | † | † | 0 | 5 | † |
| 3 | SUNY Dutchess | 35.3 | 5.2 | 12.5 | 14 | 0 | 3.6 |
High School Pathways
High School Aviation Maintenance Programs in New York
These 2 FAA-approved programs are run by a high school or career center, so they are listed apart from the college rankings.
Mohawk Valley Community College is left out because the school says the program is closing to new students.
Across the State Line
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near the New York Border
4 FAA-approved schools in neighboring states within 100 miles of New York City, nearest first.
By Metro Area
Aviation Maintenance School Rankings by New York Metro Area
Each metro ranking scores every school within commuting range and adds the local airports, employers, and BLS pay for aircraft mechanics.
| Top-Ranked School | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Aviation maintenance schools near New York City | 8 | Vaughn College | $127,140 |
| Aviation maintenance schools near Buffalo | 0 | PIA Youngstown | $80,040 |
| Aviation maintenance schools near Rochester | 0 | Johnson College | $79,200 |
| Aviation maintenance schools near Albany | 6 | CT Aero Tech | $72,490 |
| Aviation maintenance schools near Poughkeepsie-Newburgh | 11 | Johnson College | $87,280 |
| Aviation maintenance schools near Syracuse | 1 | Johnson College | $75,360 |
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in New York
BLS reports a median annual wage of $102,800 ($49.42 an hour) for aircraft mechanics and service technicians in New York, where 4,300 people held the job in May 2025. That median ranks 2nd of the 50 states with published data; the national median is $79,870.
Projections Central expects statewide employment in the occupation to move from 2,440 in 2024 to 2,540 in 2034 (+4.2%), with about 200 openings a year.
Avionics Technician Pay in New York
See the full New York aircraft mechanic salary breakdown by metro area
Local Context
A Public High School Path to Airframe and Powerplant Licensure
Aviation High School in Long Island City teaches toward the FAA mechanic certificate with Airframe and Powerplant ratings, known as the A&P, inside a public high school, with a dedicated fifth year built specifically for advanced training and licensure.
New York's other schools, from Hudson Valley Community College in Albany to Vaughn College in Flushing, serve students after high school instead.
New York City's Pay Doesn't Match Its Size
New York City, with 19,940,274 people, is by far the state's largest metro, yet Buffalo's aircraft mechanics earn a median of $80,040 a year and Poughkeepsie-Newburgh's earn $87,280, both competitive figures despite far smaller populations of 1,160,172 and 711,730.
Methodology
How We Rank Aviation Maintenance Schools in New York
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 New York 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 New York
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 New York?
Which New York School Accepts GI Bill Benefits?
Can New York High School Students Train as Aircraft Mechanics?
How Does Aircraft Mechanic Pay in New York Compare to the National Median?
How Long Is Aviation Maintenance School in New York?
What Credentials Do New York'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.