Key Figures for Aviation Maintenance Schools in South Carolina
Aviation Maintenance Schools in South Carolina
3
FAA AV-Info, Sep 2026
Ranked in This State
3
Methodology 2.1
Top Score in the State
50.7
Greenville Technical College
Median Aircraft Mechanic Pay
$75,160
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Aircraft Mechanics Employed
1,660
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Greenville's aircraft mechanics work at a location quotient of 1.32, above the national concentration for the occupation, even though South Carolina runs no IPEDS-tracked aviation maintenance degree program.
Greenville Technical College accepts GI Bill benefits for its Associate in Applied Science and standalone Airframe and Powerplant certificates. Trident Technical College in North Charleston offers the same mix of degree and certificate options, and Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics' Myrtle Beach Campus rounds out South Carolina's 3 schools with a diploma track.
Aircraft mechanics in South Carolina earn a median of $75,160 a year, below the $79,870 national median, and the state ranks 33rd among 50 states for that pay. Growth is projected at 7.1% through 2034, adding 120 positions, with about 140 openings expected each year.
Top Picks
Top Picks in South Carolina
Among the aviation maintenance schools in South Carolina, a pick appears only when one school clearly leads on its figure; ties and one-school lists produce none.
Top Pick in South Carolina
Highest overall score of the 3 ranked schools, 50.7 out of 100.
South Carolina Ranking
Top-Ranked Aircraft Mechanic Schools in South Carolina
The 3 ranked aviation maintenance schools in South Carolina, 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 South Carolina
#1
Greenville Technical College
Greenville, South Carolina #62 nationally
50.7 of 100
This program fits a veteran or adult student in upstate South Carolina who wants GI Bill funding, hands-on jet and reciprocating engine training, and a pathway toward a bachelor's degree at Embry-Riddle.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate in Applied Science (also offers Aviation Airframe Structure/Systems, Aviation Fundamentals, and Aviation Powerplant Theory/Systems Certificates)
- GI Bill
- Approved
-
#2
Trident Technical College
North Charleston, South Carolina #103 nationally
45.7 of 100
This program fits students who want both airframe and powerplant ratings plus hands-on composite training, with the flexibility to choose an associate degree or a standalone certificate.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate in Applied Science (also offers Aircraft Maintenance Airframe, Aircraft Maintenance General, and Aircraft Maintenance Powerplant Certificates)
-
#3
Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics, Myrtle Beach Campus
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina #139 nationally
40.8 of 100
This program suits students who want a single 16-month diploma covering both airframe and powerplant ratings at a private, FAA-certificated campus in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
- 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), Summer 2027 (May 4)
| Rank | School | Score | Outcomes (30) | Cost (25) | Program Depth (20) | Access (15) | Scale (10) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greenville Technical College | 50.7 | † | † | 14 | 5 | † |
| 2 | Trident Technical College | 45.7 | † | † | 14 | 0 | † |
| 3 | PIA Myrtle Beach | 40.8 | † | 3.6 | 8 | 10 | † |
Across the State Line
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near the South Carolina Border
2 FAA-approved schools in neighboring states within 100 miles of Greenville, nearest first.
By Metro Area
Aviation Maintenance School Rankings by South Carolina Metro Area
Each metro ranking scores every school within commuting range and adds the local airports, employers, and BLS pay for aircraft mechanics.
| Metro Ranking | Schools Within 100 mi | Top-Ranked School | Median Pay, May 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aviation maintenance schools near Greenville | 3 | Greenville Technical College | $81,450 |
| Aviation maintenance schools near Columbia | 4 | Greenville Technical College | $73,110 |
| Aviation maintenance schools near Charleston | 3 | Savannah Technical College | $81,690 |
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in South Carolina
BLS reports a median annual wage of $75,160 ($36.13 an hour) for aircraft mechanics and service technicians in South Carolina, where 1,660 people held the job in May 2025. That median ranks 33rd of the 50 states with published data; the national median is $79,870.
Projections Central expects statewide employment in the occupation to move from 1,650 in 2024 to 1,770 in 2034 (+7.1%), with about 140 openings a year.
Avionics Technician Pay in South Carolina
See the full South Carolina aircraft mechanic salary breakdown by metro area
Local Context
Greenville's Concentration Doesn't Match Charleston's Pay
Greenville's aircraft mechanics work at a location quotient of 1.32, the strongest concentration of the occupation in South Carolina, yet Charleston's median pay, $81,690, edges out Greenville's $81,450 in raw dollars.
Greenville Technical College trains inside that concentrated market, while Trident Technical College in North Charleston serves the higher-paying Charleston metro instead.
A Wide Menu of Certificates in Greenville
Greenville Technical College doesn't just offer a single combined credential. Students can pursue Aviation Airframe Structure/Systems, Aviation Fundamentals, or Aviation Powerplant Theory/Systems certificates separately, on top of the full Associate in Applied Science.
Methodology
How We Rank Aviation Maintenance Schools in South Carolina
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 South Carolina 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 South Carolina
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 South Carolina?
Which South Carolina School Accepts GI Bill Benefits?
How Does Aircraft Mechanic Pay in South Carolina Compare to the National Median?
What Is the Job Growth Outlook for Aircraft Mechanics in South Carolina?
How Long Is Aviation Maintenance School in South Carolina?
How Much Does Aviation Maintenance School Cost in South Carolina?
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.