Pittsburgh at a Glance
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Pittsburgh
5
Within 100 mi, FAA 2026
Top Score Nearby
65.9
PIA Pittsburgh
Aircraft Mechanic Jobs, Pittsburgh Metro
510
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Metro Median Pay
$72,090
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location Quotient
0.51
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Area covered: Pittsburgh, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 38300).
American Airlines runs an Airbus narrow-body heavy-check maintenance base at Pittsburgh International Airport, a legacy from the US Airways era that still anchors aviation maintenance work in the region. The airline added new maintenance technician positions at the base in 2024. Pittsburgh International also landed 570,758,325 pounds of cargo that year.
Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics' Pittsburgh campus, at Allegheny County Airport in West Mifflin, is 6.7 miles from downtown and runs an Aviation Maintenance Technology program leading to an associate degree. Beyond that, Mahoning County Career and Technical Center in Canfield, Ohio sits at 59.2 miles, and Saint Francis University in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, is 60.1 miles out.
Top Picks
Top Picks Near Pittsburgh
Among the aviation maintenance schools near Pittsburgh, a pick appears only when one school clearly leads on its figure; ties produce none.
Top Pick Near Pittsburgh
Best Outcomes Near Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics, Pittsburgh Campus
Highest overall score of the 4 ranked schools, 65.9 out of 100.
Highest IPEDS graduation rate of the 2 ranked schools that report one: 76%.
Most Affordable Near Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics, Youngstown Campus
Lowest comparable program cost of the 3 ranked schools with one: $31,200, published by the school.
Pittsburgh Ranking
Top-Ranked Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Pittsburgh
The ranked aviation maintenance schools within 100 miles of Pittsburgh, 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 Pittsburgh.
Score bars: Outcomes (30)Cost (25)Program Depth (20)Access (15)Scale (10)
-
- Top Pick Near Pittsburgh
- Best Outcomes Near Pittsburgh
#1
Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics, Pittsburgh Campus
West Mifflin, Pennsylvania 7 miles from Pittsburgh #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
Pierpont Community & Technical College
Bridgeport, West Virginia 81 miles from Pittsburgh #48 nationally
54.0 of 100
This program fits someone in north-central West Virginia who wants an associate degree with the option to add a standalone avionics certificate alongside airframe training.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate degree; Airframe Technology certificate; plus 1 more
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Avionics
- Avionics certificate
-
- Most Affordable Near Pittsburgh
#3
Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics, Youngstown Campus
Vienna, Ohio 67 miles from Pittsburgh #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)
-
#4
Saint Francis University
Johnstown, Pennsylvania 60 miles from Pittsburgh #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 | Pierpont | 54.0 | 18.2 | † | 12 | 5 | 6.3 |
| 3 | PIA Youngstown | 40.8 | † | 3.6 | 8 | 10 | † |
| 4 | Saint Francis University | 32.5 | † | 0.3 | 8 | 5 | † |
High School Pathways
High School Aviation Maintenance Programs Near Pittsburgh
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 Pennsylvania ranking.
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Pittsburgh
Aircraft mechanics in the Pittsburgh metro area earn a median of $72,090 a year ($34.66 an hour), $5,910 below the Pennsylvania median of $78,000.
Pittsburgh Pay vs. Pennsylvania and U.S. Medians
The Pittsburgh median is $7,780 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 Pittsburgh
BLS counts 510 aircraft mechanic jobs in the Pittsburgh metro area as of May 2025, a location quotient of 0.51.
A location quotient above 1.00 means these jobs make up a larger share of local employment than they do nationally.
Airline Maintenance
American Airlines - Pittsburgh Maintenance Base
Airbus narrow-body heavy-check maintenance base at Pittsburgh International Airport
American Airlines operates a heavy-check maintenance base at Pittsburgh International Airport, dating back to the US Airways era, where aviation maintenance technicians service the airline's Airbus A320-family fleet.
44 total maintenance openings, including 40 AMTs, announced for the Pittsburgh base in 2024
Source: American invests in the future of aviation maintenance with new jobs, additional work (news.aa.com)
Helicopter Operations
Air Methods - Allegheny County Airport
Helicopter maintenance facility at Allegheny County Airport, near Pittsburgh
Air Methods, an air-medical helicopter operator, maintains a maintenance facility at Allegheny County Airport in the Pittsburgh metro area where technicians service its Airbus H135 air-ambulance helicopters.
Source: Life-Saving Air Service Finds Home at Allegheny County Airport (blueskypit.com)
Airports
Commercial and Cargo Airports in the Area
Pittsburgh International (PIT) recorded 4,862,376 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh International | PIT | Medium hub | 4,862,376 | 570,758,325 |
| Arnold Palmer Regional | LBE | Nonhub | 76,437 |
Local Context
Heavy-Check Work for American's A320 Fleet
American Airlines operates an Airbus narrow-body heavy-check maintenance base at Pittsburgh International Airport, work that traces back to the airport's US Airways era. The airline added new maintenance technician positions at the base in 2024, part of ongoing heavy-check work on its Airbus narrow-body fleet.
Air-Medical Helicopter Maintenance Nearby
Air Methods, an air-medical helicopter operator, maintains a facility at Allegheny County Airport in the Pittsburgh metro, where technicians service its fleet of Airbus H135 air-ambulance helicopters. The facility sits at the same airport as Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics' Pittsburgh campus.
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Pittsburgh: Common Questions
What Schools Train Aircraft Mechanics Near Pittsburgh?
What Do Aircraft Mechanics Earn in Pittsburgh?
Who Are the Largest Aviation Maintenance Employers in Pittsburgh?
How Far Is Training From Where Mechanics Work in Pittsburgh?
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)
- American Airlines - Pittsburgh Maintenance Base: American invests in the future of aviation maintenance with new jobs, additional work
- Air Methods - Allegheny County Airport: Life-Saving Air Service Finds Home at Allegheny County Airport
All sources retrieved .
Read how we source and check school, wage, and airport data for every page on this site.