Akron at a Glance
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Akron
3
Within 100 mi, FAA 2026
Top Score Nearby
65.9
PIA Pittsburgh
Aircraft Mechanic Jobs, Akron Metro
100
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Metro Median Pay
$75,800
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location Quotient
0.36
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Area covered: Akron, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 10420).
Akron's aviation employer base includes an aircraft maintenance shop and an aircraft manufacturer, an unusual pairing for a metro this size. Steiner Aviation performs airframe and avionics maintenance at Akron-Canton Airport, with decades of operating history there and a recent staff expansion. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians in the Akron metro earn a median $75,800 a year, below the $79,870 U.S. median for the occupation.
Training is within driving range. Mahoning County Career and Technical Center, 38.2 miles away in Canfield, runs a two-year program covering airframe repair, sheet metal work, and composite structures, with credit agreements toward a bachelor's degree in aviation. Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics' Youngstown campus, 46.3 miles out, offers a diploma program at Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport. PIA's Pittsburgh campus, 97.6 miles away, adds an associate degree option with avionics electives.
Top Picks
Top Picks Near Akron
Among the aviation maintenance schools near Akron, a pick appears only when one school clearly leads on its figure; ties produce none.
Top Pick Near Akron
Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics, Pittsburgh Campus
Highest overall score of the 3 ranked schools, 65.9 out of 100.
Most Affordable Near Akron
Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics, Youngstown Campus
Lowest comparable program cost of the 2 ranked schools with one: $31,200, published by the school.
Akron Ranking
Top-Ranked Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Akron
The ranked aviation maintenance schools within 100 miles of Akron, ordered by score, plus the nearest ranked schools out to 117 miles so the list has at least 3. High school programs within 100 miles follow the ranking. 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 Akron.
Score bars: Outcomes (30)Cost (25)Program Depth (20)Access (15)Scale (10)
-
- Top Pick Near Akron
#1
Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics, Pittsburgh Campus
West Mifflin, Pennsylvania 98 miles from Akron #12 nationally
65.9 of 100
This program suits students who want an accredited two-year degree with avionics electives and a 76% graduation rate at a private campus at Allegheny County Airport near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
- Type
- Private Aviation School
- Credentials
- Associate in Specialized Technology Degree
- Length
- 20 Months
- Cost
- $44,250, total program for students starting after July 1, 2026 (5 semesters, 77 credits)
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Avionics
- Avionics electives
-
- Most Affordable Near Akron
#2
Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics, Youngstown Campus
Vienna, Ohio 46 miles from Akron #140 nationally
40.8 of 100
This program suits students who want a 16-month diploma covering both airframe and powerplant ratings with hands-on shop training at Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport in Vienna, Ohio.
- Type
- Private Aviation School
- Credentials
- Diploma
- Length
- 16 months, diploma/certificate (4 semesters, 65 credits for students starting after July 1, 2026)
- Cost
- $31,200, total program for students starting after July 1, 2026 (4 semesters, 65 credits)
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Starts
- Fall 2026 (Sept. 1); Spring 2027 (Jan. 5); Summer 2027 (May 4)
-
#3
Columbus State Community College
Columbus, Ohio 117 miles from Akron #146 nationally
39.7 of 100
Columbus State Community College fits students who want hands-on training with access to Bolton Field and the option to earn standalone Airframe or Powerplant certificates instead of the full credential.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Airframe and Powerplant Maintenance Technician Certificate (FAA, 14 CFR Part 65)
| Rank | School | Score | Outcomes (30) | Cost (25) | Program Depth (20) | Access (15) | Scale (10) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PIA Pittsburgh | 65.9 | 30 | 0.6 | 20 | 10 | 5.3 |
| 2 | PIA Youngstown | 40.8 | † | 3.6 | 8 | 10 | † |
| 3 | Columbus State Community College | 39.7 | † | † | 8 | 0 | † |
High School Pathways
High School Aviation Maintenance Programs Near Akron
This FAA-approved program is run by a high school or career center, so it is listed apart from the college ranking, nearest first.
See the full best aviation maintenance schools in Ohio ranking.
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Akron
Aircraft mechanics in the Akron metro area earn a median of $75,800 a year ($36.44 an hour), $4,770 below the Ohio median of $80,570.
Akron Pay vs. Ohio and U.S. Medians
The Akron median is $4,070 below the U.S. median of $79,870.
Compare metro areas across the state on the Ohio aircraft mechanic salary page, or see the national aircraft mechanic salary breakdown.
Local Employers
Where Aircraft Mechanics Work in Akron
BLS counts 100 aircraft mechanic jobs in the Akron metro area as of May 2025, a location quotient of 0.36.
A location quotient above 1.00 means these jobs make up a larger share of local employment than they do nationally.
Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul
Steiner Aviation
Airframe and avionics maintenance facility at Akron-Canton Airport (CAK), North Canton, OH
Steiner Aviation performs airframe maintenance, inspections, and avionics repair and installation at Akron-Canton Airport, with more than 25 years of operating history there and a recent staff expansion.
Source: Steiner Aviation expands airframe maintenance capabilities at Akron-Canton (mrobusinesstoday.com)
Manufacturer
Goodyear (Wingfoot Lake Hangar)
Wingfoot Lake Airship Hangar, Suffield, OH (Akron metro, Portage County)
Goodyear's Wingfoot Lake Hangar near Akron is used to assemble and test the company's airships, including the current fleet of Goodyear blimps.
Source: Goodyear's Wingfoot Lake Blimp Hangar Makes History (news.goodyear.com)
Airports
Commercial and Cargo Airports in the Area
Akron-Canton Regional (CAK) recorded 380,232 passenger boardings in 2024, the most of the airports listed here.
| Airport | FAA ID | Hub Class | Passenger Boardings, 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akron-Canton Regional | CAK | Nonhub | 380,232 |
Local Context
Goodyear's Airship Hangar Near Akron
Just outside Akron, Goodyear's Wingfoot Lake Hangar in Suffield is where the company assembles and tests its airships, including the current fleet of Goodyear blimps. It's a rare example of aircraft manufacturing work anchored in a metro area this size, alongside the maintenance and avionics work done at Akron-Canton Airport.
A Two-Year Start Toward a Bachelor's Degree
Mahoning County Career and Technical Center's two-year program comes with articulation agreements at Parks College and Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell, worth up to two years of college credit toward a bachelor's degree in aviation. For students who want a four-year credential eventually, that head start can matter as much as the certificate itself.
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Akron: Common Questions
What Schools Near Akron Train Aircraft Mechanics?
What Do Aircraft Mechanics Earn in Akron?
Who Are the Largest Aviation Maintenance Employers Near Akron?
How Far Is Training From Where Mechanics Work in Akron?
Do Hours Working 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
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
- Steiner Aviation: Steiner Aviation expands airframe maintenance capabilities at Akron-Canton
- Goodyear (Wingfoot Lake Hangar): Goodyear's Wingfoot Lake Blimp Hangar Makes History
All sources retrieved .
Read how we source and check school, wage, and airport data for every page on this site.