Raleigh at a Glance
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Raleigh
4
Within 100 mi, FAA 2026
Top Score Nearby
57.8
Wayne Community College
Aircraft Mechanic Jobs, Raleigh Metro
330
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Metro Median Pay
$91,600
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location Quotient
0.50
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Area covered: Raleigh-Cary, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 39580).
Endeavor Air operates a line maintenance base at Raleigh-Durham International Airport, home to 50 individuals who handle overnight maintenance, line checks, and A checks on the airline's regional jet fleet. Raleigh-Durham, a medium-hub airport, also landed 564,993,625 pounds of cargo in 2024. Metro mechanics earn a median $91,600, well above the $79,870 national median.
Wayne Community College's Aviation Systems Technology program at Wayne Executive Jetport is the closest option at 45.5 miles, a long-standing FAA Part 147 school. Lenoir Community College in Kinston follows at 67.7 miles, and Guilford Technical Community College in Greensboro is 75.7 miles out.
Top Picks
Top Picks Near Raleigh
Among the aviation maintenance schools near Raleigh, a pick appears only when one school clearly leads on its figure; ties produce none.
Top Pick Near Raleigh
Best Outcomes Near Raleigh
Highest overall score of the 4 ranked schools, 57.8 out of 100.
Highest IPEDS graduation rate of the 3 ranked schools that report one: 49%.
Most Affordable Near Raleigh
Forsyth Technical Community College
Lowest comparable program cost of the 2 ranked schools with one: $3,648, from IPEDS in-state tuition and the published length.
Raleigh Ranking
Top-Ranked Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Raleigh
The ranked aviation maintenance schools within 100 miles of Raleigh, ordered by score. 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 Raleigh.
Score bars: Outcomes (30)Cost (25)Program Depth (20)Access (15)Scale (10)
-
- Top Pick Near Raleigh
- Best Outcomes Near Raleigh
#1
Wayne Community College
Pikeville, North Carolina 46 miles from Raleigh #34 nationally
57.8 of 100
This fits North Carolina residents who want a long-established public program with low tuition and both airframe and powerplant diploma paths.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate in Applied Science; Airframe Diploma; plus 1 more
- GI Bill
- Approved
-
#2
Guilford Technical Community College
Greensboro, North Carolina 76 miles from Raleigh #45 nationally
55.4 of 100
This program fits someone who wants full-time day or evening training toward both Airframe and Powerplant ratings in a hangar tied to named industry partners.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate in Applied Science; Diploma; plus 3 more
- Length
- 6 semesters (2 years) for full A&P licensing
- Cost
- $9,850, total program (tuition, books, fees, tools)
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Schedule
- day (8 a.m.-2 p.m.) or evening (4 p.m.-9 p.m.)
- Starts
- Fall and Spring entry
-
#3
Lenoir Community College
Kinston, North Carolina 68 miles from Raleigh #64 nationally
50.7 of 100
This program fits North Carolina students, including dual-enrolled high schoolers, who want a two-year path covering both airframe and powerplant ratings at a dedicated aviation center in Kinston.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate Degree; Diploma (Airframe); plus 1 more
- Length
- Two Years
- Starts
- Open to high school students (dual enrollment)
-
- Most Affordable Near Raleigh
#4
Forsyth Technical Community College
Winston-Salem, North Carolina 91 miles from Raleigh #80 nationally
48.6 of 100
This program fits North Carolina students who want a choice between a two-year associate degree, shorter certificates, or a four-week accelerated prep course, all built around FAA Part 65 testing.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate Degree in Applied Science; Airframe Maintenance Certificate; plus 2 more
- Length
- Associate degree: two years
| Rank | School | Score | Outcomes (30) | Cost (25) | Program Depth (20) | Access (15) | Scale (10) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wayne Community College | 57.8 | 23.8 | † | 14 | 5 | 2.5 |
| 2 | GTCC | 55.4 | 6.8 | 13.1 | 14 | 15 | 6.5 |
| 3 | Lenoir Community College | 50.7 | † | † | 14 | 5 | † |
| 4 | Forsyth Tech | 48.6 | 10.5 | 22 | 14 | 0 | 2.1 |
See the full best aviation maintenance schools in North Carolina ranking.
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Raleigh
Aircraft mechanics in the Raleigh metro area earn a median of $91,600 a year ($44.04 an hour), $14,620 above the North Carolina median of $76,980.
Raleigh Pay vs. North Carolina and U.S. Medians
The Raleigh median is $11,730 above the U.S. median of $79,870.
Compare metro areas across the state on the North Carolina aircraft mechanic salary page, or see the national aircraft mechanic salary breakdown.
Local Employers
Where Aircraft Mechanics Work in Raleigh
BLS counts 330 aircraft mechanic jobs in the Raleigh metro area as of May 2025, a location quotient of 0.50.
A location quotient above 1.00 means these jobs make up a larger share of local employment than they do nationally.
Airline Maintenance
Endeavor Air
Line maintenance base at Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)
Endeavor Air operates a maintenance base at RDU that opened in 2019 and performs overnight maintenance, line checks, and A checks on its regional jet fleet.
The line base is home to 50 individuals
Source: Endeavor Air Maintenance Base Spotlight: RDU (edvonthefly.com)
Airports
Commercial and Cargo Airports in the Area
Raleigh-Durham International (RDU) recorded 7,584,394 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh-Durham International | RDU | Medium hub | 7,584,394 | 564,993,625 |
Local Context
Overnight Maintenance Work for Endeavor's Regional Jets
Endeavor Air operates a line maintenance base at Raleigh-Durham International Airport. The base is home to 50 individuals who perform overnight maintenance, line checks, and A checks on the airline's regional jet fleet.
RDU's Growing Passenger and Cargo Traffic
Raleigh-Durham International is classified as a medium-hub airport, handling 7,584,394 enplanements in 2024. The airport landed 564,993,625 pounds of cargo the same year, cargo volume that supports maintenance work beyond passenger operations.
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Raleigh: Common Questions
What Schools Train Aircraft Mechanics Near Raleigh?
What Do Aircraft Mechanics Earn in Raleigh?
Who Is the Largest Aviation Maintenance Employer in Raleigh?
How Far Is Training From Where Mechanics Work in Raleigh?
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)
- Endeavor Air: Endeavor Air Maintenance Base Spotlight: RDU
All sources retrieved .
Read how we source and check school, wage, and airport data for every page on this site.