Columbia at a Glance
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Columbia
4
Within 100 mi, FAA 2026
Top Score Nearby
50.7
Greenville Technical College
Aircraft Mechanic Jobs, Columbia Metro
260
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Metro Median Pay
$73,110
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location Quotient
0.73
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Area covered: Columbia, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 17900).
McEntire Joint National Guard Base, a short drive southeast of Columbia, is home to the South Carolina Air National Guard's fighter wing, which maintains its fleet of fighter jets through its maintenance group. UPS Airlines also runs a regional air cargo hub at Columbia Metropolitan Airport. Local mechanics earn a median $73,110 a year, below the $79,870 U.S. median.
Aviation Institute of Maintenance Charlotte is 78 miles away, training day and evening students in Charlotte, North Carolina. Trident Technical College in North Charleston is 91.8 miles out, and Greenville Technical College is 97.9 miles away.
Top Picks
Top Picks Near Columbia
Among the aviation maintenance schools near Columbia, a pick appears only when one school clearly leads on its figure; ties produce none.
Top Pick Near Columbia
Highest overall score of the 4 ranked schools, 50.7 out of 100.
Columbia Ranking
Top-Ranked Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Columbia
The ranked aviation maintenance schools within 100 miles of Columbia, 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 Columbia.
Score bars: Outcomes (30)Cost (25)Program Depth (20)Access (15)Scale (10)
-
- Top Pick Near Columbia
#1
Greenville Technical College
Greenville, South Carolina 98 miles from Columbia #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
Aviation Institute of Maintenance Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina 78 miles from Columbia #70 nationally
49.7 of 100
This program fits Charlotte-area students who want a single combined airframe and powerplant certificate on a 21-month schedule, with dual-credit ties to two local school districts.
- Type
- Private Aviation School
- Credentials
- Certificate
- Length
- 21 months
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Starts
- Next start date listed as September 28 (rolling starts)
-
#3
Trident Technical College
North Charleston, South Carolina 92 miles from Columbia #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)
-
#4
Augusta Technical College
Thomson, Georgia 100 miles from Columbia #142 nationally
40.1 of 100
This program fits students near Augusta who want a public technical college path to combined airframe and powerplant ratings across six semesters, taught on a campus built around complete aircraft.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Aviation Maintenance Technician (Technical Certificate of Credit); Aviation Maintenance Technician - Airframe (Technical Certificate of Credit); plus 3 more
- Length
- six semesters
- GI Bill
- Approved
| Rank | School | Score | Outcomes (30) | Cost (25) | Program Depth (20) | Access (15) | Scale (10) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greenville Technical College | 50.7 | † | † | 14 | 5 | † |
| 2 | AIM Charlotte | 49.7 | † | † | 8 | 10 | † |
| 3 | Trident Technical College | 45.7 | † | † | 14 | 0 | † |
| 4 | Augusta Technical College | 40.1 | 6.8 | 14.3 | 14 | 5 | 0 |
See the full best aviation maintenance schools in South Carolina ranking.
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Columbia
Aircraft mechanics in the Columbia metro area earn a median of $73,110 a year ($35.15 an hour), $2,050 below the South Carolina median of $75,160.
Columbia Pay vs. South Carolina and U.S. Medians
The Columbia median is $6,760 below the U.S. median of $79,870.
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 Columbia
BLS counts 260 aircraft mechanic jobs in the Columbia metro area as of May 2025, a location quotient of 0.73.
A location quotient above 1.00 means these jobs make up a larger share of local employment than they do nationally.
Air Cargo
UPS Airlines
UPS regional air cargo hub at Columbia Metropolitan Airport
UPS Airlines opened an $80 million southeastern regional cargo hub at Columbia Metropolitan Airport in 1996, one of six such hubs in the country, sized to hold 22 aircraft on its ramp.
$80 million hub; 352,000 square feet; 44-acre ramp holding 22 DC-8 aircraft
Source: Columbia Metropolitan Airport (Wikipedia)
Military Depot
169th Fighter Wing, 169th Maintenance Group
McEntire Joint National Guard Base, Eastover, SC, about 15 miles southeast of Columbia
The South Carolina Air National Guard's 169th Fighter Wing, based at McEntire Joint National Guard Base near Columbia, maintains its F-16 fighter fleet through the 169th Maintenance Group and its subordinate maintenance and aircraft maintenance squadrons.
Source: McEntire Joint National Guard Base (Wikipedia)
Airports
Commercial and Cargo Airports in the Area
Columbia Metro (CAE) recorded 654,460 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia Metro | CAE | Small hub | 654,460 | 331,852,135 |
Local Context
A Fighter Wing and a Cargo Hub Near Columbia
The base, a short drive southeast of Columbia, is home to the South Carolina Air National Guard's fighter wing, which maintains its fleet of fighter jets through its maintenance group.
UPS Airlines runs a separate regional cargo hub at the metropolitan airport, adding a second kind of aviation maintenance employer to the metro.
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Columbia: Common Questions
What Are the Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Columbia?
What Do Aircraft Mechanics Earn in Columbia?
Who Are the Major Aviation Maintenance Employers in Columbia?
How Far Is Training From Where Mechanics Work in Columbia?
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)
- UPS Airlines: Columbia Metropolitan Airport
- 169th Fighter Wing, 169th Maintenance Group: McEntire Joint National Guard Base
All sources retrieved .
Read how we source and check school, wage, and airport data for every page on this site.