Charleston at a Glance
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Charleston
3
Within 100 mi, FAA 2026
Top Score Nearby
46.8
Savannah Technical College
Aircraft Mechanic Jobs, Charleston Metro
380
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Metro Median Pay
$81,690
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location Quotient
1.09
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Area covered: Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 16700).
Boeing assembles Dreamliner jets at its North Charleston campus, which shares a joint-use airfield with Charleston International Airport. Local aircraft mechanics and service technicians earn a median $81,690 a year, above the $79,870 U.S. median, with employment concentration here running 1.09 times the national rate.
Training is within reach. Trident Technical College is 7.5 miles away in North Charleston, training at the S.C. Aeronautical Training Center. Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics in Myrtle Beach is 83.4 miles out, and Savannah Technical College across the state line in Georgia is 86.6 miles away.
Top Picks
Top Picks Near Charleston
Among the aviation maintenance schools near Charleston, a pick appears only when one school clearly leads on its figure; ties produce none.
Top Pick Near Charleston
Highest overall score of the 3 ranked schools, 46.8 out of 100.
Charleston Ranking
Top-Ranked Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Charleston
The ranked aviation maintenance schools within 100 miles of Charleston, 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 Charleston.
Score bars: Outcomes (30)Cost (25)Program Depth (20)Access (15)Scale (10)
-
- Top Pick Near Charleston
#1
Savannah Technical College
Savannah, Georgia 87 miles from Charleston #89 nationally
46.8 of 100
Savannah Technical College fits students who want a public, competitively admitted associate-level path covering both airframe and powerplant ratings on its Savannah, Georgia campus.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate of Applied Science Degree; Diploma; plus 1 more
-
#2
Trident Technical College
North Charleston, South Carolina 8 miles from Charleston #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 83 miles from Charleston #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 | Savannah Technical College | 46.8 | 18.2 | † | 14 | 0 | 2.1 |
| 2 | Trident Technical College | 45.7 | † | † | 14 | 0 | † |
| 3 | PIA Myrtle Beach | 40.8 | † | 3.6 | 8 | 10 | † |
See the full best aviation maintenance schools in South Carolina ranking.
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Charleston
Aircraft mechanics in the Charleston metro area earn a median of $81,690 a year ($39.28 an hour), $6,530 above the South Carolina median of $75,160.
Charleston Pay vs. South Carolina and U.S. Medians
The Charleston median is $1,820 above the U.S. median of $79,870.
Avionics Technician Pay in Charleston
BLS counts 60 avionics technicians in the Charleston metro area, with a median of $84,930 a year.
Compare metro areas across the state on the South Carolina aircraft mechanic salary page, or see the national aircraft mechanic salary breakdown.
Local Employers
Where Aircraft Mechanics Work in Charleston
BLS counts 380 aircraft mechanic jobs in the Charleston metro area as of May 2025, a location quotient of 1.09.
A location quotient above 1.00 means these jobs make up a larger share of local employment than they do nationally.
Manufacturer
Boeing South Carolina
787 Dreamliner final assembly and delivery campus on the grounds of Charleston Air Force Base and Charleston International Airport, North Charleston
Boeing builds and delivers the full 787-8, 787-9 and 787-10 Dreamliner line at its North Charleston campus, which sits on the joint-use airfield with Charleston International Airport.
More than 7,800 teammates work at the site
Source: Boeing South Carolina - Our Story (weareboeingsc.com)
Military Depot
437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
C-17 Globemaster III maintenance squadron at Joint Base Charleston (Charleston AFB)
The 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Joint Base Charleston is staffed by active duty, civilian and Air Reserve technicians who maintain the Air Force's largest C-17 fleet.
Nearly 700 Total Force Integrated maintainers
Source: 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Fact Sheet - Joint Base Charleston (jbcharleston.jb.mil)
Airports
Commercial and Cargo Airports in the Area
Charleston AFB/International (CHS) recorded 3,115,194 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston AFB/International | CHS | Medium hub | 3,115,194 | 169,609,880 |
Local Context
A Dreamliner Campus and an Air Force Flight Line
Boeing assembles Dreamliner jets at its North Charleston campus, which sits on a joint-use airfield it shares with Charleston International Airport.
The Air Force base on that same airfield is home to a maintenance squadron staffed by active duty, civilian and Air Reserve technicians who keep the base's airlift fleet flying.
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Charleston: Common Questions
What Schools Near Charleston Train Aircraft Mechanics?
What Do Aircraft Mechanics Earn in Charleston?
What Are the Major Aviation Maintenance Employers in Charleston?
How Far Is Training From Where Mechanics Work in Charleston?
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)
- Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2025: Avionics Technicians (49-2091)
- Commercial Service Airports, CY2024 Enplanements
- Passenger Boarding (Enplanement) and All-Cargo Data for U.S. Airports
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
- Boeing South Carolina: Boeing South Carolina - Our Story
- 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron: 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Fact Sheet - Joint Base Charleston
All sources retrieved .
Read how we source and check school, wage, and airport data for every page on this site.