Corpus Christi at a Glance
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Corpus Christi
1
Within 100 mi, FAA 2026
Top Score Nearby
55.7
TSTC Harlingen
Aircraft Mechanic Jobs, Corpus Christi Metro
650
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Metro Median Pay
$80,270
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location Quotient
3.80
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Area covered: Corpus Christi, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 18580).
Corpus Christi concentrates aircraft mechanic jobs far beyond what its size would suggest. The metro's location quotient of 3.8 means aircraft mechanic employment here runs 3.8 times the national concentration, driven in part by Corpus Christi Army Depot, a rotary-wing repair facility and tenant of Naval Air Station Corpus Christi. Local mechanics earn a median $80,270, above the $79,870 U.S. median.
Training options are limited to one program within the metro. Del Mar College offers Airframe Applied Technology and Power Plant Applied Technology at its Windward Campus, 16.3 miles from downtown, with both an associate degree and a shorter Level II certificate track available.
Top Picks
Top Picks Near Corpus Christi
Among the aviation maintenance schools near Corpus Christi, a pick appears only when one school clearly leads on its figure; ties produce none.
Top Pick Near Corpus Christi
Texas State Technical College Harlingen
Highest overall score of the 3 ranked schools, 55.7 out of 100.
Best Outcomes Near Corpus Christi
Highest IPEDS graduation rate of the 2 ranked schools that report one: 28%.
Corpus Christi Ranking
Top-Ranked Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Corpus Christi
The ranked aviation maintenance schools within 100 miles of Corpus Christi, ordered by score, plus the nearest ranked schools out to 140 miles so the list has at least 3. 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 Corpus Christi.
Score bars: Outcomes (30)Cost (25)Program Depth (20)Access (15)Scale (10)
-
- Top Pick Near Corpus Christi
#1
Texas State Technical College Harlingen
Harlingen, Texas 108 miles from Corpus Christi #41 nationally
55.7 of 100
Students get both airframe and powerplant ratings from one Texas State Technical College campus here, with flexible day, hybrid, and in-person scheduling.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate Degree; Certificate
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Schedule
- Day class, hybrid and in-person formats
-
- Best Outcomes Near Corpus Christi
#2
St. Philip's College
San Antonio, Texas 140 miles from Corpus Christi #134 nationally
41.5 of 100
This program fits San Antonio students who want stackable Level One and Level Two certificates leading toward an A.A.S. in Aircraft Technician work, with tuition-free options through a workforce partnership.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- A.A.S. (also offers Level 1 and Level 2 certificates)
- GI Bill
- Approved
-
#3
Del Mar College
Corpus Christi, Texas 16 miles from Corpus Christi #203 nationally
23.0 of 100
Del Mar College fits students who want both the Airframe and Powerplant ratings for maximum employment options, at a location where the next certificated school is 105.8 miles away.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate of Applied Science; Level II Certificate
| Rank | School | Score | Outcomes (30) | Cost (25) | Program Depth (20) | Access (15) | Scale (10) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TSTC Harlingen | 55.7 | † | † | 14 | 10 | † |
| 2 | St. Philip's College | 41.5 | 3.2 | † | 14 | 5 | 6.8 |
| 3 | Del Mar College | 23.0 | 0 | † | 6 | 0 | 4.5 |
See the full best aviation maintenance schools in Texas ranking.
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Corpus Christi
Aircraft mechanics in the Corpus Christi metro area earn a median of $80,270 a year ($38.59 an hour), $4,170 below the Texas median of $84,440.
Corpus Christi Pay vs. Texas and U.S. Medians
The Corpus Christi median is $400 above the U.S. median of $79,870.
Compare metro areas across the state on the Texas aircraft mechanic salary page, or see the national aircraft mechanic salary breakdown.
Local Employers
Where Aircraft Mechanics Work in Corpus Christi
BLS counts 650 aircraft mechanic jobs in the Corpus Christi metro area as of May 2025, a location quotient of 3.80.
A location quotient above 1.00 means these jobs make up a larger share of local employment than they do nationally.
Military Depot
Corpus Christi Army Depot (CCAD)
Army rotary-wing depot maintenance facility, tenant of Naval Air Station Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi Army Depot has been a tenant of Naval Air Station Corpus Christi since 1961, repairing and overhauling Army helicopters including the UH-1, CH-47 Chinook, AH-64 Apache, and Black Hawk with a largely civilian workforce.
In its first year of operation the workforce was made up of 1,249 civilians and 14 military, and by the 1980s it became the largest single employer in South Texas.
Source: Corpus Christi Army Depot - Wikipedia (Wikipedia)
Airports
Commercial and Cargo Airports in the Area
Corpus Christi International (CRP) recorded 369,393 passenger boardings in 2024, the most of the airports listed here.
| Airport | FAA ID | Hub Class | Passenger Boardings, 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corpus Christi International | CRP | Nonhub | 369,393 |
Local Context
A Military Depot Drives the Local Job Market
Corpus Christi Army Depot has long been a tenant of Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, repairing and overhauling Army helicopters including Chinooks, Apaches, and Black Hawks with a largely civilian workforce. The depot grew into the largest single employer in South Texas within a few decades of opening.
Aircraft Mechanic Jobs Concentrated Well Above Average
Corpus Christi employs aircraft mechanics and service technicians at a location quotient of 3.8, meaning the concentration of that work here runs 3.8 times the national average. The metro's jobs-per-thousand figure for the occupation, 3.372, reflects a labor market shaped by CCAD's presence at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi.
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Corpus Christi: Common Questions
What Schools Near Corpus Christi Train Aircraft Mechanics?
What Do Aircraft Mechanics Earn in Corpus Christi?
Who Is the Largest Aviation Maintenance Employer in Corpus Christi?
How Far Is Aviation Maintenance Training From Corpus Christi?
Do Hours Worked 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
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
- Corpus Christi Army Depot (CCAD): Corpus Christi Army Depot - Wikipedia
All sources retrieved .
Read how we source and check school, wage, and airport data for every page on this site.