Dayton at a Glance
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Dayton
8
Within 100 mi, FAA 2026
Top Score Nearby
48.6
Sinclair Community College
Aircraft Mechanic Jobs, Dayton Metro
200
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Metro Median Pay
$77,580
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location Quotient
0.62
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Area covered: Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 19430).
Dayton's aviation maintenance work centers on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, where an Air Force Reserve unit flies the Globemaster III transport aircraft and staffs a maintenance group with both civilian and reservist mechanics. Local aircraft mechanics and service technicians earn a median $77,580, just below the $79,870 U.S. median.
Sinclair Community College sits closest to home, 1.8 miles from downtown Dayton, with an Aviation Maintenance Technology associate degree and hands-on lab training. Miami Valley Career Technology Center in Englewood is 8 miles out, and Greene County Career Center in Xenia is 12.5 miles away.
Top Picks
Top Picks Near Dayton
Among the aviation maintenance schools near Dayton, a pick appears only when one school clearly leads on its figure; ties produce none.
Top Pick Near Dayton
Highest overall score of the 4 ranked schools, 48.6 out of 100.
Dayton Ranking
Top-Ranked Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Dayton
The ranked aviation maintenance schools within 100 miles of Dayton, ordered by score. 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 Dayton.
Score bars: Outcomes (30)Cost (25)Program Depth (20)Access (15)Scale (10)
-
- Top Pick Near Dayton
#1
Sinclair Community College
Dayton, Ohio 2 miles from Dayton #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 48 miles from Dayton #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
Maysville Community and Technical College
Maysville, Kentucky 90 miles from Dayton #97 nationally
45.7 of 100
This program fits students near Maysville who want a state-scholarship-eligible path to a five-semester Aviation Maintenance Technology associate degree, taught at Fleming-Mason Airport.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate in Applied Science (AAS) Degree; Airframe and Power Plant Maintenance Technician Diploma; plus 3 more
- Length
- five semesters (two and a half years) full-time for the AAS degree
-
#4
Columbus State Community College
Columbus, Ohio 57 miles from Dayton #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 | Maysville Community and Technical College | 45.7 | † | † | 14 | 0 | † |
| 4 | Columbus State Community College | 39.7 | † | † | 8 | 0 | † |
High School Pathways
High School Aviation Maintenance Programs Near Dayton
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 Dayton
Aircraft mechanics in the Dayton metro area earn a median of $77,580 a year ($37.30 an hour), $2,990 below the Ohio median of $80,570.
Dayton Pay vs. Ohio and U.S. Medians
The Dayton median is $2,290 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 Dayton
BLS counts 200 aircraft mechanic jobs in the Dayton metro area as of May 2025, a location quotient of 0.62.
A location quotient above 1.00 means these jobs make up a larger share of local employment than they do nationally.
Military Depot
445th Airlift Wing / 445th Maintenance Group
Air Force Reserve C-17 Globemaster III maintenance wing at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
The 445th Airlift Wing, an Air Force Reserve unit at Wright-Patterson AFB, flies the C-17 Globemaster III and includes a 445th Maintenance Group staffed in part by full-time civilian Air Reserve Technicians.
Nearly 2000 airmen, including approximately 350 Air Reserve Technicians
Source: 445th Airlift Wing - Wikipedia (Wikipedia)
Manufacturer
UTC Aerospace Systems (Dayton)
Aerospace systems manufacturing site in the Dayton, Ohio area
UTC Aerospace Systems operates a Dayton-area facility counted among the region's aerospace employers by local workforce data.
814 employees
Source: Aerospace & Aviation - Dayton Workforce (daytonworkforce.com)
Airports
Commercial and Cargo Airports in the Area
James M Cox Dayton International (DAY) recorded 624,995 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James M Cox Dayton International | DAY | Small hub | 624,995 | 61,174,474 |
Local Context
A Reserve Airlift Wing Trains at Wright-Patterson
An Air Force Reserve unit at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base flies the Globemaster III, a military transport aircraft, and staffs its maintenance group with both civilian Air Reserve Technicians and traditional reservists. That mix gives Dayton mechanics a path into military aviation maintenance without leaving the metro.
Aerospace Manufacturing Adds a Second Employer
UTC Aerospace Systems runs a manufacturing site in the Dayton area, one of the region's aerospace employers alongside the base at Wright-Patterson. Between a military unit and a manufacturer, Dayton's aviation maintenance job market draws from two separate employer types.
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Dayton: Common Questions
What Schools Near Dayton Train Aircraft Mechanics?
What Do Aircraft Mechanics Earn in Dayton?
Who Are the Largest Aviation Maintenance Employers in Dayton?
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)
- 445th Airlift Wing / 445th Maintenance Group: 445th Airlift Wing - Wikipedia
- UTC Aerospace Systems (Dayton): Aerospace & Aviation - Dayton Workforce
All sources retrieved .
Read how we source and check school, wage, and airport data for every page on this site.