Columbus at a Glance
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Columbus
6
Within 100 mi, FAA 2026
Top Score Nearby
48.6
Sinclair Community College
Aircraft Mechanic Jobs, Columbus Metro
870
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Metro Median Pay
$74,210
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location Quotient
0.89
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Area covered: Columbus, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 18140).
Columbus splits its aviation maintenance work between two airports with very different jobs. John Glenn International is a medium hub that moved 4,387,395 passengers in 2024, while Rickenbacker International landed 429,676,445 pounds of cargo the same year. About 870 aircraft mechanics and service technicians work across the metro, earning a median $74,210, below the $79,870 U.S. median for the occupation.
Training is close for some and a longer drive for others. Columbus State Community College is 9.6 miles away with access to Bolton Field for hands-on airframe and powerplant work. Sinclair Community College in Dayton sits 66.7 miles out, and Miami Valley Career Technology Center in Englewood is 72 miles from downtown Columbus.
Top Picks
Top Picks Near Columbus
Among the aviation maintenance schools near Columbus, a pick appears only when one school clearly leads on its figure; ties produce none.
Top Pick Near Columbus
Highest overall score of the 3 ranked schools, 48.6 out of 100.
Columbus Ranking
Top-Ranked Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Columbus
The ranked aviation maintenance schools within 100 miles of Columbus, ordered by score, plus the nearest ranked schools out to 108 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 Columbus.
Score bars: Outcomes (30)Cost (25)Program Depth (20)Access (15)Scale (10)
-
- Top Pick Near Columbus
#1
Sinclair Community College
Dayton, Ohio 67 miles from Columbus #78 nationally
48.6 of 100
Sinclair Community College fits students who want a public associate degree with embedded airframe and powerplant certificates and a path toward a bachelor's degree, in Dayton, Ohio.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate of Applied Science (AAS)
- Length
- 89 credit hours
-
#2
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
Harrison, Ohio 108 miles from Columbus #95 nationally
45.7 of 100
This program fits Cincinnati-area students who want an associate degree with co-op ties to regional and national carriers, plus transfer pathways into four-year aviation and engineering programs.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate of Applied Science (AAS)
- Length
- 6 semesters (104 total credits)
-
#3
Columbus State Community College
Columbus, Ohio 10 miles from Columbus #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 | Sinclair Community College | 48.6 | 17 | † | 14 | 0 | 5.1 |
| 2 | Cincinnati State | 45.7 | † | † | 14 | 0 | † |
| 3 | Columbus State Community College | 39.7 | † | † | 8 | 0 | † |
High School Pathways
High School Aviation Maintenance Programs Near Columbus
These 4 FAA-approved programs are run by a high school or career center, so they are 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 Columbus
Aircraft mechanics in the Columbus metro area earn a median of $74,210 a year ($35.68 an hour), $6,360 below the Ohio median of $80,570.
Columbus Pay vs. Ohio and U.S. Medians
The Columbus median is $5,660 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 Columbus
BLS counts 870 aircraft mechanic jobs in the Columbus metro area as of May 2025, a location quotient of 0.89.
A location quotient above 1.00 means these jobs make up a larger share of local employment than they do nationally.
Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul
Lane Aviation
FAA Part 145 repair station and FBO at John Glenn Columbus International Airport, 4389 International Gateway, Columbus, OH
Lane Aviation runs an FAA Part 145 repair station at Columbus's John Glenn International Airport performing airframe and powerplant repair, inspections, and battery service.
Six heated hangars totaling 140,000 square feet
Source: Lane Aviation aircraft maintenance services page (laneaviation.com)
Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul
Ohio State University Airport Maintenance & Avionics
FAA Certified Repair Station (CRS# IKBR028F), Hangar 2, 2160 West Case Rd, Columbus, OH
This FAA certified repair station at Ohio State University Airport in Columbus performs engine repairs and overhauls, airframe structural repairs, and avionics installations.
Source: OSU Airport FBO Aircraft Maintenance and Avionics (osuairportfbo.org)
Airports
Commercial and Cargo Airports in the Area
John Glenn Columbus International (CMH) recorded 4,387,395 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Glenn Columbus International | CMH | Medium hub | 4,387,395 | |
| Rickenbacker International | LCK | Nonhub | 143,035 | 429,676,445 |
Local Context
An Independent Repair Station at John Glenn International
Lane Aviation operates an FAA-certified repair station and FBO at John Glenn Columbus International Airport, handling airframe and powerplant repair, inspections, and battery service. Six heated hangars give mechanics indoor bay space through the Ohio winter.
A second certified repair station operates nearby at Ohio State University Airport, where OSU Airport Maintenance & Avionics handles engine repairs and overhauls, airframe structural repairs, and avionics installations under its own FAA certification.
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Columbus: Common Questions
What Schools Near Columbus Train Aircraft Mechanics?
What Do Aircraft Mechanics Earn in Columbus?
Who Are the Largest Aviation Maintenance Employers in Columbus?
Do Hours Worked 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)
- Lane Aviation: Lane Aviation aircraft maintenance services page
- Ohio State University Airport Maintenance & Avionics: OSU Airport FBO Aircraft Maintenance and Avionics
All sources retrieved .
Read how we source and check school, wage, and airport data for every page on this site.