Winston-Salem at a Glance
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Winston-Salem
3
Within 100 mi, FAA 2026
Top Score Nearby
55.4
GTCC
Aircraft Mechanic Jobs, Winston-Salem Metro
240
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Metro Median Pay
$73,480
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location Quotient
0.99
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Area covered: Winston-Salem, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 49180).
Two maintenance operations run at Smith Reynolds Airport in Winston-Salem: Signature TECHNICAir, a full-service FAA-certificated repair station handling airframe, engine and avionics work, and Landmark Aviation, which built its largest maintenance facility there out of a former R.J. Reynolds Tobacco corporate hangar. Local aircraft mechanics and service technicians earn a median $73,480 a year, below the $79,870 U.S. median, in a metro of 705,187 people.
Training is close by. Forsyth Technical Community College, 2.9 miles away in Winston-Salem, offers an Aviation Systems Technology associate degree plus airframe and powerplant certificates, with a four-week Part 65 accelerated prep option. Guilford Technical Community College is 17.2 miles away in Greensboro, and Aviation Institute of Maintenance Charlotte is 70.4 miles out, both leading to airframe and powerplant credentials.
Top Picks
Top Picks Near Winston-Salem
Among the aviation maintenance schools near Winston-Salem, a pick appears only when one school clearly leads on its figure; ties produce none.
Top Pick Near Winston-Salem
Guilford Technical Community College
Highest overall score of the 3 ranked schools, 55.4 out of 100.
Most Affordable Near Winston-Salem
Best Outcomes Near Winston-Salem
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.
Highest IPEDS graduation rate of the 2 ranked schools that report one: 34%.
Winston-Salem Ranking
Top-Ranked Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Winston-Salem
The ranked aviation maintenance schools within 100 miles of Winston-Salem, 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 Winston-Salem.
Score bars: Outcomes (30)Cost (25)Program Depth (20)Access (15)Scale (10)
-
- Top Pick Near Winston-Salem
#1
Guilford Technical Community College
Greensboro, North Carolina 17 miles from Winston-Salem #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
-
#2
Aviation Institute of Maintenance Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina 70 miles from Winston-Salem #70 nationally
49.7 of 100
This program fits Charlotte-area students who want a single combined airframe and powerplant certificate on a 21-month schedule, with dual-credit ties to two local school districts.
- Type
- Private Aviation School
- Credentials
- Certificate
- Length
- 21 months
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Starts
- Next start date listed as September 28 (rolling starts)
-
- Most Affordable Near Winston-Salem
- Best Outcomes Near Winston-Salem
#3
Forsyth Technical Community College
Winston-Salem, North Carolina 3 miles from Winston-Salem #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 | GTCC | 55.4 | 6.8 | 13.1 | 14 | 15 | 6.5 |
| 2 | AIM Charlotte | 49.7 | † | † | 8 | 10 | † |
| 3 | 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 Winston-Salem
Aircraft mechanics in the Winston-Salem metro area earn a median of $73,480 a year ($35.33 an hour), $3,500 below the North Carolina median of $76,980.
Winston-Salem Pay vs. North Carolina and U.S. Medians
The Winston-Salem median is $6,390 below 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 Winston-Salem
BLS counts 240 aircraft mechanic jobs in the Winston-Salem metro area as of May 2025, a location quotient of 0.99.
A location quotient above 1.00 means these jobs make up a larger share of local employment than they do nationally.
Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul
Signature TECHNICAir Winston-Salem
FAA Part 145 repair station at Smith Reynolds Airport, Winston-Salem, NC
Signature TECHNICAir Winston-Salem is a total-service FAA Part 145 repair station at Smith Reynolds Airport performing full aircraft maintenance, engine overhaul and replacement, and avionics installations.
Source: Aircraft Maintenance & Repair in Winston-Salem, NC (INT) - Signature TECHNICAir (technicair.com)
Business Aviation
Landmark Aviation
Hangar and maintenance/fuel operation at Smith Reynolds Airport, Winston-Salem, NC
Landmark Aviation operates a maintenance facility, described as its largest, alongside fuel and charter services out of a former R.J. Reynolds Tobacco corporate hangar at Smith Reynolds Airport.
35,000 square feet of hangar space
Source: Landmark Aviation Completes Purchase of Hangar Space at Smith Reynolds Airport | Aviation Pros (aviationpros.com)
Local Context
Two Maintenance Operations at Smith Reynolds Airport
Signature TECHNICAir Winston-Salem is a full-service FAA-certificated repair station at Smith Reynolds Airport, performing full aircraft maintenance, engine overhaul and replacement, and avionics installations.
Landmark Aviation runs what it calls its largest maintenance facility alongside fuel and charter services at the same airport, based in a former R.J. Reynolds Tobacco corporate hangar.
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Winston-Salem: Common Questions
What Schools Near Winston-Salem Train Aircraft Mechanics?
What Do Aircraft Mechanics Earn in Winston-Salem?
Who Are the Largest Aviation Maintenance Employers in Winston-Salem?
How Far Is Training From Where Mechanics Work in Winston-Salem?
Do Hours Working at a Local Employer Count Toward FAA Certification in Winston-Salem?
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)
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
- Signature TECHNICAir Winston-Salem: Aircraft Maintenance & Repair in Winston-Salem, NC (INT) - Signature TECHNICAir
- Landmark Aviation: Landmark Aviation Completes Purchase of Hangar Space at Smith Reynolds Airport | Aviation Pros
All sources retrieved .
Read how we source and check school, wage, and airport data for every page on this site.