Cleveland at a Glance
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Cleveland
2
Within 100 mi, FAA 2026
Top Score Nearby
51.6
UTI Canton
Aircraft Mechanic Jobs, Cleveland Metro
410
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Metro Median Pay
$80,570
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location Quotient
0.45
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Area covered: Cleveland, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 17410).
United Technical Operations runs a round-the-clock line maintenance station at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, servicing Airbus and Boeing airframes and multiple engine types. NASA Glenn Research Center, which began as an aircraft engine research laboratory, still operates ground test facilities for aerospace engines in Cleveland. Local mechanics earn a median $80,570 a year, just above the $79,870 U.S. median.
Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics' Youngstown campus, in Vienna, Ohio, is 54.8 miles from Cleveland and trains students in shop areas covering propulsion, hydraulics and composites. Mahoning County Career and Technical Center in Canfield is 55.5 miles away.
Top Picks
Top Picks Near Cleveland
Among the aviation maintenance schools near Cleveland, a pick appears only when one school clearly leads on its figure; ties produce none.
Top Pick Near Cleveland
Universal Technical Institute Canton
Highest overall score of the 3 ranked schools, 51.6 out of 100.
Cleveland Ranking
Top-Ranked Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Cleveland
The ranked aviation maintenance schools within 100 miles of Cleveland, ordered by score, plus the nearest ranked schools out to 110 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 Cleveland.
Score bars: Outcomes (30)Cost (25)Program Depth (20)Access (15)Scale (10)
-
- Top Pick Near Cleveland
#1
Universal Technical Institute Canton
Canton, Michigan 108 miles from Cleveland #57 nationally
51.6 of 100
This program fits students who want a no-experience-required path into combined airframe and powerplant training at one of three Universal Technical Institute campuses, near two Detroit-area airports.
- Type
- Private Aviation School
- Credentials
- Certificate; Associate of Applied Science (AAS) available
- Length
- 24 months or less
-
#2
Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics, Youngstown Campus
Vienna, Ohio 55 miles from Cleveland #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
Federal Aerospace Institute
Swanton, Ohio 110 miles from Cleveland #172 nationally
36.7 of 100
This program fits students in northwest Ohio who want a 12-month path to an FAA Airframe and Powerplant certificate, with GI Bill funding and small class sizes at Toledo Express Airport.
- Type
- Private Aviation School
- Credentials
- FAA Certificated Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) Aircraft Maintenance Technician
- Length
- 12 months
- GI Bill
- Approved
| Rank | School | Score | Outcomes (30) | Cost (25) | Program Depth (20) | Access (15) | Scale (10) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UTI Canton | 51.6 | 27.1 | † | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 2 | PIA Youngstown | 40.8 | † | 3.6 | 8 | 10 | † |
| 3 | Federal Aerospace Institute | 36.7 | † | † | 0 | 5 | † |
High School Pathways
High School Aviation Maintenance Programs Near Cleveland
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 Cleveland
Aircraft mechanics in the Cleveland metro area earn a median of $80,570 a year ($38.74 an hour), the same as the Ohio median.
Cleveland Pay vs. Ohio and U.S. Medians
The Cleveland median is $700 above 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 Cleveland
BLS counts 410 aircraft mechanic jobs in the Cleveland metro area as of May 2025, a location quotient of 0.45.
A location quotient above 1.00 means these jobs make up a larger share of local employment than they do nationally.
Airline Maintenance
United Technical Operations (United Airlines)
Line maintenance station at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE)
United Technical Operations runs a 24-hour line maintenance station at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport that services Airbus and Boeing airframes and multiple engine types.
Source: United Technical Operations line maintenance station capabilities (unitedtechops.com)
NASA Glenn Research Center
Aircraft engine research and testing labs at Lewis Field, Cleveland, OH
NASA Glenn Research Center, founded as the Aircraft Engine Research Laboratory, operates ground test facilities for aerospace engine research and testing in Cleveland.
Source: NASA Glenn Research Center history and facilities (spacevoyageventures.com)
Airports
Commercial and Cargo Airports in the Area
Cleveland-Hopkins International (CLE) recorded 4,950,345 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland-Hopkins International | CLE | Medium hub | 4,950,345 | 401,657,830 |
Local Context
A Line Maintenance Station at Cleveland Hopkins
United Technical Operations runs the round-the-clock operation, servicing Airbus and Boeing airframes and multiple engine types for carriers that fly through CLE.
NASA's Aerospace Engine Labs in Cleveland
NASA Glenn Research Center began as an aircraft engine research laboratory and still operates ground test facilities for aerospace engine research in Cleveland, adding a research and testing dimension to the metro's aviation work beyond airline and airport maintenance.
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Cleveland: Common Questions
What Are the Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Cleveland?
What Do Aircraft Mechanics Earn in Cleveland?
Who Are the Major Aviation Maintenance Employers in Cleveland?
How Far Is Training From Where Mechanics Work in Cleveland?
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)
- United Technical Operations (United Airlines): United Technical Operations line maintenance station capabilities
- NASA Glenn Research Center: NASA Glenn Research Center history and facilities
All sources retrieved .
Read how we source and check school, wage, and airport data for every page on this site.