Key Figures for Aviation Maintenance Schools in Pennsylvania
Aviation Maintenance Schools in Pennsylvania
5
FAA AV-Info, Sep 2026
Ranked in This State
5
Methodology 2.1
Top Score in the State
65.9
PIA Pittsburgh
Median Aircraft Mechanic Pay
$78,000
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Aircraft Mechanics Employed
2,080
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Pennsylvania's aircraft mechanic job growth is projected at just 2.6% through 2034, below the national rate of 4%.
Pennsylvania College of Technology in Montoursville, a public school, offers a Bachelor of Science, one of the few four-year options among Pennsylvania's 5 schools. Johnson College in Avoca and Saint Francis University in Johnstown both build toward an associate degree or certificate over roughly two years, and Aviation Institute of Maintenance Philadelphia and Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics' Pittsburgh Campus round out training in the state's two largest metros.
Aircraft mechanics in Pennsylvania earn a median of $78,000 a year, just below the $79,870 national median, and the state ranks 25th among 50 states for that pay. Growth is projected at just 2.6% through 2034, adding 60 positions, with about 180 openings expected each year.
Top Picks
Top Picks in Pennsylvania
Among the aviation maintenance schools in Pennsylvania, a pick appears only when one school clearly leads on its figure; ties and one-school lists produce none.
Top Pick in Pennsylvania
Most Affordable in Pennsylvania
Best Outcomes in Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics, Pittsburgh Campus
Highest overall score of the 5 ranked schools, 65.9 out of 100.
Lowest comparable program cost of the 3 ranked schools with one: $44,250, published by the school.
Highest IPEDS graduation rate of the 2 ranked schools that report one: 76%.
Pennsylvania Ranking
Top-Ranked Aircraft Mechanic Schools in Pennsylvania
The 5 ranked aviation maintenance schools in Pennsylvania, best score first. Each card shows the school's verified facts and the points it earned on each factor. Scores are national, out of 100, so a school scores the same here as on the national ranking.
Score bars: Outcomes (30)Cost (25)Program Depth (20)Access (15)Scale (10)
-
- Top Pick in Pennsylvania
- Most Affordable in Pennsylvania
- Best Outcomes in Pennsylvania
#1
Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics, Pittsburgh Campus
West Mifflin, Pennsylvania #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
-
#2
Johnson College
Avoca, Pennsylvania #63 nationally
50.7 of 100
This program fits students near Allentown-Bethlehem who want a private, four-term Aviation Technology associate degree that targets FAA licensure exams within 60 days of graduation.
- Type
- Technical College
- Credentials
- Associate of Applied Science
- Length
- 72 credits across four terms (approximately 2 years full-time)
- GI Bill
- Approved
-
#3
Aviation Institute of Maintenance Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania #131 nationally
41.7 of 100
This certificate program suits someone near Philadelphia who wants day or evening hands-on training across two large hangars with employer connections built in.
- Type
- Private Aviation School
- Credentials
- Certificate
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Schedule
- day and evening
-
#4
Pennsylvania College of Technology
Montoursville, Pennsylvania #170 nationally
37.5 of 100
This program fits someone who wants a full four-year bachelor's degree in aviation maintenance, complete with hands-on time at an FAA Approved Repair Station, rather than a shorter certificate or associate track.
- Type
- University
- Credentials
- Bachelor of Science
- Length
- 8 semesters, 50 courses, 131.5 credits
-
#5
Saint Francis University
Johnstown, Pennsylvania #185 nationally
32.5 of 100
This program suits students who want hands-on training on a SkyWest-donated regional jet and pathway access to SkyWest's pilot and mechanic programs, in a five-semester certificate at Johnstown Airport in Pennsylvania.
- Type
- University
- Credentials
- Certificate (General, Airframe, and Powerplant)
- Length
- less than 21 months (5 semesters), full-time
- Cost
- $55,415, total program, 5 semesters (2026-27 rates)
- GI Bill
- Approved
| 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 | Johnson College | 50.7 | † | † | 14 | 5 | † |
| 3 | AIM Philadelphia | 41.7 | † | † | 0 | 10 | † |
| 4 | Penn College | 37.5 | 24.8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 4.7 |
| 5 | Saint Francis University | 32.5 | † | 0.3 | 8 | 5 | † |
Across the State Line
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near the Pennsylvania Border
4 FAA-approved schools in neighboring states within 100 miles of Philadelphia, nearest first.
By Metro Area
Aviation Maintenance School Rankings by Pennsylvania Metro Area
Each metro ranking scores every school within commuting range and adds the local airports, employers, and BLS pay for aircraft mechanics.
| Top-Ranked School | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Aviation maintenance schools near Philadelphia | 6 | Johnson College | $84,100 |
| Aviation maintenance schools near Pittsburgh | 5 | PIA Pittsburgh | $72,090 |
| Aviation maintenance schools near Allentown-Bethlehem | 6 | Johnson College | $74,770 |
| Aviation maintenance schools near Harrisburg | 5 | Johnson College | $69,430 |
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Pennsylvania
BLS reports a median annual wage of $78,000 ($37.50 an hour) for aircraft mechanics and service technicians in Pennsylvania, where 2,080 people held the job in May 2025. That median ranks 25th of the 50 states with published data; the national median is $79,870.
Projections Central expects statewide employment in the occupation to move from 2,240 in 2024 to 2,300 in 2034 (+2.6%), with about 180 openings a year.
Avionics Technician Pay in Pennsylvania
See the full Pennsylvania aircraft mechanic salary breakdown by metro area
Local Context
Philadelphia and Pittsburgh Anchor Pennsylvania's Training
Philadelphia's aircraft mechanics earn a median of $84,100 a year, above Pittsburgh's $72,090, even though the two metros aren't far apart in population: 6,330,422 versus 2,429,917.
Aviation Institute of Maintenance Philadelphia trains inside the higher-paying market, while Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics' Pittsburgh Campus, in West Mifflin, serves the other. Johnson College, Saint Francis University, and Pennsylvania College of Technology sit outside both metros, in the state's north-central region.
A Bachelor's Degree Option in Central Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania College of Technology in Montoursville builds its aviation maintenance training into a full Bachelor of Science, spread across many courses rather than the certificate or two-year associate degree most of Pennsylvania's other schools offer.
Methodology
How We Rank Aviation Maintenance Schools in Pennsylvania
Every open FAA-approved college-level school gets one national score out of 100: Outcomes 30 (IPEDS graduation rate), Cost 25 (comparable whole-program price), Program Depth 20, Access 15, and Scale 10 (IPEDS awards a year). This page orders the schools in Pennsylvania by that score, so the ranks here match the national list of 204 ranked schools.
The full rules, including how a missing figure is scored at the peer median, are on our ranking methodology page.
FAA Certification
Getting Your A&P License in Pennsylvania
The FAA issues the mechanic certificate with Airframe and Powerplant ratings, known as the A&P, under federal rules in 14 CFR Part 65, so the path is the same in every state. You qualify by graduating from an FAA-approved school or by documenting at least 30 months of hands-on work for both ratings, then passing three FAA knowledge tests and an oral and practical exam.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many FAA Part 147 Aircraft Maintenance Schools Are in Pennsylvania?
Which Pennsylvania School Offers a Bachelor's Degree in Aviation Maintenance?
How Does Aircraft Mechanic Pay in Pennsylvania Compare to the National Median?
What Is the Job Growth Outlook for Aircraft Mechanics in Pennsylvania?
How Long Is Aviation Maintenance School in Pennsylvania?
How Much Does Aviation Maintenance School Cost in Pennsylvania?
Sources
- FAA AV-Info Part 147 school records
- IPEDS via Hapi, CIP 47.0607-47.0609 (all levels) + 49.0104 (bachelor's/master's)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates
- Projections Central, State Occupational Employment Projections 2024-2034
- eCFR 14 CFR Part 65, Subpart D (Mechanics)
- FAA - Become an Aviation Mechanic
- FAA - Experience Requirements to Become an Aircraft Mechanic
All sources retrieved .
How we source and check each listing is explained on our data methodology page.