Harrisburg at a Glance
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Harrisburg
5
Within 100 mi, FAA 2026
Top Score Nearby
50.7
Johnson College
Aircraft Mechanic Jobs, Harrisburg Metro
60
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Metro Median Pay
$69,430
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location Quotient
0.19
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Area covered: Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 25420).
The Pennsylvania Air National Guard's Special Operations Wing keeps its aircraft flying through a dedicated maintenance group at Harrisburg Air National Guard Base in Middletown. That steady government work sits next to a smaller civilian market: aircraft mechanics here earn a median $69,430 a year, below the $79,870 U.S. median, in a metro where mechanic jobs are far less concentrated than the country as a whole.
Training is within a couple hours' drive. Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics' Hagerstown campus is 59 miles away with an Airframe and Powerplant diploma program. Pennsylvania College of Technology in Montoursville, 67.1 miles out, awards a bachelor's degree in Aviation Maintenance Technology. Johnson College in Avoca, 95 miles away, runs a two-year Aviation Technology associate program aimed at FAA licensure.
Top Picks
Top Picks Near Harrisburg
Among the aviation maintenance schools near Harrisburg, a pick appears only when one school clearly leads on its figure; ties produce none.
Most Affordable Near Harrisburg
Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics, Hagerstown Campus
Lowest comparable program cost of the 2 ranked schools with one: $31,200, published by the school.
Harrisburg Ranking
Top-Ranked Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Harrisburg
The ranked aviation maintenance schools within 100 miles of Harrisburg, ordered by score. 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 Harrisburg.
Score bars: Outcomes (30)Cost (25)Program Depth (20)Access (15)Scale (10)
-
#1
Johnson College
Avoca, Pennsylvania 95 miles from Harrisburg #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
-
#2
University of the District of Columbia Community College
Washington, District of Columbia 95 miles from Harrisburg #67 nationally
50.7 of 100
This fits students who want a public two-year AAS combining airframe and powerplant training with quick certification results near two DC-area airports.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- AAS; Certificate of Completion for Aircraft Mechanic's Certification
- Length
- four semesters (approximately two years) for the certificate program
- Starts
- Admission deadlines: Fall May 15, Spring October 15, Summer April 15
-
#3
Aviation Institute of Maintenance Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 100 miles from Harrisburg #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
-
- Most Affordable Near Harrisburg
#4
Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics, Hagerstown Campus
Hagerstown, Maryland 59 miles from Harrisburg #138 nationally
40.8 of 100
This program fits someone who wants a diploma-track aviation maintenance program at a chain school with a specialized shop setup, located along Hagerstown Regional Airport in western Maryland.
- Type
- Private Aviation School
- Credentials
- Diploma/Certificate
- 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)
-
#5
Pennsylvania College of Technology
Montoursville, Pennsylvania 67 miles from Harrisburg #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
| Rank | School | Score | Outcomes (30) | Cost (25) | Program Depth (20) | Access (15) | Scale (10) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Johnson College | 50.7 | † | † | 14 | 5 | † |
| 2 | UDC-CC | 50.7 | † | † | 14 | 5 | † |
| 3 | AIM Philadelphia | 41.7 | † | † | 0 | 10 | † |
| 4 | PIA Hagerstown | 40.8 | † | 3.6 | 8 | 10 | † |
| 5 | Penn College | 37.5 | 24.8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 4.7 |
See the full best aviation maintenance schools in Pennsylvania ranking.
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Harrisburg
Aircraft mechanics in the Harrisburg metro area earn a median of $69,430 a year ($33.38 an hour), $8,570 below the Pennsylvania median of $78,000.
Harrisburg Pay vs. Pennsylvania and U.S. Medians
The Harrisburg median is $10,440 below the U.S. median of $79,870.
Compare metro areas across the state on the Pennsylvania aircraft mechanic salary page, or see the national aircraft mechanic salary breakdown.
Local Employers
Where Aircraft Mechanics Work in Harrisburg
BLS counts 60 aircraft mechanic jobs in the Harrisburg metro area as of May 2025, a location quotient of 0.19.
A location quotient above 1.00 means these jobs make up a larger share of local employment than they do nationally.
Military Depot
193rd Special Operations Wing (Pennsylvania Air National Guard)
Harrisburg Air National Guard Base, Middletown, PA
The Pennsylvania Air National Guard's 193rd Special Operations Wing maintains its aircraft through a dedicated Special Operations Maintenance Group at Harrisburg Air National Guard Base.
Source: Harrisburg Air National Guard Base (Wikipedia)
Business Aviation
AvFlight Harrisburg
FBO and light aircraft maintenance shop at Harrisburg International Airport (MDT)
AvFlight Harrisburg provides light aircraft maintenance and line technician services from its FBO at Harrisburg International Airport.
Source: AvFlight Harrisburg, PA (KMDT) Network Location (avflight.com)
Airports
Commercial and Cargo Airports in the Area
Harrisburg International (MDT) recorded 727,163 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harrisburg International | MDT | Small hub | 727,163 | 347,813,380 |
| Lancaster | LNS | 8,417 |
Local Context
A Guard Wing Keeps Its Own Maintenance Crew
The Pennsylvania Air National Guard's Special Operations Wing maintains its aircraft through a dedicated Special Operations Maintenance Group based at the Guard base in Middletown. The base sits near Harrisburg International Airport, a small-hub airport that handled 727,163 enplanements in 2024 and landed 347,813,380 pounds of cargo that year.
A Light Aircraft Shop at Harrisburg International
AvFlight Harrisburg operates a fixed-base operation and light aircraft maintenance shop at Harrisburg International Airport, working line service and light maintenance for general aviation traffic through the same airport that handles the region's commercial flights.
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Harrisburg: Common Questions
What Schools Near Harrisburg Train Aircraft Mechanics?
What Do Aircraft Mechanics Earn in Harrisburg?
Who Are the Largest Aviation Maintenance Employers in Harrisburg?
How Far Is Aviation Maintenance Training From Harrisburg?
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)
- 193rd Special Operations Wing (Pennsylvania Air National Guard): Harrisburg Air National Guard Base
- AvFlight Harrisburg: AvFlight Harrisburg, PA (KMDT) Network Location
All sources retrieved .
Read how we source and check school, wage, and airport data for every page on this site.