El Paso at a Glance
Nearest FAA-Approved School
150 mi
FAA, 2026
Top Score Nearby
53.7
ENMU-Roswell
Aircraft Mechanic Jobs, El Paso Metro
140
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Metro Median Pay
$65,320
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location Quotient
0.47
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Area covered: El Paso, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 21340).
Apache, Chinook and Black Hawk helicopters get their maintenance work at Biggs Army Airfield on Fort Bliss, where the Combat Aviation Brigade's battalions run dedicated maintenance companies. El Paso's aircraft mechanic workforce is thinner than most metros relative to its size, at 0.47 times the national concentration, and local pay reflects that smaller civilian market: a median $65,320 a year against a $79,870 U.S. median.
None of that changes the training picture much, because no FAA Part 147 school sits close by. Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell is the closest option at 150.1 miles, followed by Central New Mexico Community College in Albuquerque at 230.7 miles and Midland College in Texas at 253.5 miles.
Top Picks
Top Picks Near El Paso
Among the aviation maintenance schools near El Paso, a pick appears only when one school clearly leads on its figure; ties produce none.
Top Pick Near El Paso
Most Affordable Near El Paso
Best Outcomes Near El Paso
Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell
Highest overall score of the 3 ranked schools, 53.7 out of 100.
Lowest comparable program cost of the 2 ranked schools with one: $4,080, from IPEDS in-state tuition and the published length.
Highest IPEDS graduation rate of the 3 ranked schools that report one: 32%.
El Paso Ranking
Top-Ranked Aviation Maintenance Schools Near El Paso
The ranked aviation maintenance schools closest to El Paso, 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 El Paso.
Score bars: Outcomes (30)Cost (25)Program Depth (20)Access (15)Scale (10)
-
- Top Pick Near El Paso
- Most Affordable Near El Paso
- Best Outcomes Near El Paso
#1
Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell
Roswell, New Mexico 150 miles from El Paso #49 nationally
53.7 of 100
This program fits students in southeastern New Mexico who want the region's only Part 147 airframe and powerplant school, with on-campus housing and in-state tuition for veterans.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Certificate of Achievement; Associate of Applied Science
- Length
- 21-24 months
- GI Bill
- Approved
-
#2
Central New Mexico Community College
Albuquerque, New Mexico 231 miles from El Paso #182 nationally
34.4 of 100
This program fits Albuquerque-area students who have no other Part 147 school within easy driving distance and want an associate-level path with alumni ties to aerospace employers like Virgin Galactic.
- Type
- Community College
- Starts
- Fall 2026 Registration is Open
-
#3
Midland College
Midland, Texas 254 miles from El Paso #196 nationally
31.6 of 100
This program fits students in the Midland area who want an 18-month certificate covering both airframe and powerplant ratings, with the nearest other certificated program 108.3 miles away.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Certificate
- Length
- 18 months
| Rank | School | Score | Outcomes (30) | Cost (25) | Program Depth (20) | Access (15) | Scale (10) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ENMU-Roswell | 53.7 | 8 | 21.1 | 14 | 5 | 5.6 |
| 2 | CNM | 34.4 | 6.8 | † | 8 | 5 | 2.1 |
| 3 | Midland College | 31.6 | 1.5 | 19.3 | 8 | 0 | 2.8 |
See the full best aviation maintenance schools in Texas ranking.
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in El Paso
Aircraft mechanics in the El Paso metro area earn a median of $65,320 a year ($31.40 an hour), $19,120 below the Texas median of $84,440.
El Paso Pay vs. Texas and U.S. Medians
The El Paso median is $14,550 below 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 El Paso
BLS counts 140 aircraft mechanic jobs in the El Paso metro area as of May 2025, a location quotient of 0.47.
A location quotient above 1.00 means these jobs make up a larger share of local employment than they do nationally.
Military Depot
501st Aviation Regiment, 1st Armored Division Combat Aviation Brigade
Biggs Army Airfield, Fort Bliss, El Paso
The 501st Aviation Regiment at Biggs Army Airfield maintains AH-64D Apache, CH-47F Chinook, and UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters through dedicated maintenance companies in each of its battalions.
Source: 501st Aviation Regiment (United States) (Wikipedia)
Airports
Commercial and Cargo Airports in the Area
El Paso International (ELP) recorded 2,071,894 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Paso International | ELP | Small hub | 2,071,894 | 690,642,884 |
Local Context
No FAA School Close By
El Paso doesn't have a Part 147 airframe and powerplant school of its own. Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell, 150.1 miles away, is the closest option, followed by Central New Mexico Community College in Albuquerque at 230.7 miles and Midland College at 253.5 miles.
That gap doesn't close off every path into the trade. Roughly one in seven new mechanics nationally is certified through military experience rather than a school, and El Paso's Fort Bliss aviation units are exactly the kind of setting that route runs through.
A Military Depot on Fort Bliss
An Army aviation regiment, part of the Combat Aviation Brigade, keeps Apache, Chinook and Black Hawk helicopters flying out of Biggs Army Airfield. Each battalion runs its own maintenance company, putting a working depot for military rotorcraft inside city limits.
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near El Paso: Common Questions
Are There Aviation Maintenance Schools Near El Paso?
What Do Aircraft Mechanics Earn in El Paso?
Who Employs Aircraft Mechanics in El Paso?
How Far Is the Drive to Aircraft Mechanic Training From El Paso?
Does Military Maintenance Work Count Toward FAA Mechanic 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)
- 501st Aviation Regiment, 1st Armored Division Combat Aviation Brigade: 501st Aviation Regiment (United States)
All sources retrieved .
Read how we source and check school, wage, and airport data for every page on this site.