Key Figures for Aviation Maintenance Schools in Washington
Aviation Maintenance Schools in Washington
6
FAA AV-Info, Sep 2026
Ranked in This State
6
Methodology 2.1
Top Score in the State
52.8
Clover Park Technical College
Median Aircraft Mechanic Pay
$98,980
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Aircraft Mechanics Employed
4,480
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Washington's aircraft mechanics rank 4th nationally for pay, at $98,980 a year, and Seattle-Tacoma's aircraft mechanics work at a location quotient of 2.13, more than double the national concentration for the occupation.
Every one of Washington's schools with published accreditation data, 5 of the state's 6, is a public community or technical college. Clover Park Technical College in Puyallup offers a standalone Airframe or Powerplant certificate in five quarters, shorter than its full degree track, while Moody Bible Institute in Spokane is the exception, offering a private Bachelor of Science.
Aircraft mechanics in Washington earn a median of $98,980 a year, well above the $79,870 national median, and the state ranks 4th among 50 states for that pay. Growth is projected at just 2.6% through 2034, adding 160 positions, with about 500 openings expected each year.
Top Picks
Top Picks in Washington
Among the aviation maintenance schools in Washington, a pick appears only when one school clearly leads on its figure; ties and one-school lists produce none.
Top Pick in Washington
Best Outcomes in Washington
Highest overall score of the 6 ranked schools, 52.8 out of 100.
Highest IPEDS graduation rate of the 5 ranked schools that report one: 43%.
Most Affordable in Washington
Lowest comparable program cost of the 2 ranked schools with one: $13,686, published by the school.
Washington Ranking
Top-Ranked Aircraft Mechanic Schools in Washington
The 6 ranked aviation maintenance schools in Washington, 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 Washington
- Best Outcomes in Washington
#1
Clover Park Technical College
Puyallup, Washington #53 nationally
52.8 of 100
This program fits Washington students who want a nationally recognized FAA pass-rate record, training at Thun Field toward careers on airliners, business jets, or helicopters.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- AAT; AAS-T; plus 2 more
- Length
- 8 quarters (degree); 5 quarters (Airframe or Powerplant certificate)
- GI Bill
- Approved
-
- Most Affordable in Washington
#2
Big Bend Community College
Moses Lake, Washington #82 nationally
48.2 of 100
This associate degree program fits someone in eastern Washington who wants two years of hands-on airframe and powerplant training, since the nearest alternative Part 147 school is 99.8 miles away.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate of Applied Science (AAS)
- Length
- Two academic years of instruction
- Cost
- $13,685.92, total program, 2 years, Washington resident
- GI Bill
- Approved
-
#3
Spokane Community College
Spokane, Washington #144 nationally
39.8 of 100
This program fits students who want a public two-year airframe-and-powerplant path in Spokane with a university transfer option already in place.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate in Applied Science (AAS); Certificate - General Aircraft Maintenance; plus 1 more
-
#4
Moody Bible Institute
Spokane, Washington #149 nationally
39.7 of 100
This program suits future missionary aviation workers who want a bachelor's degree that pairs Bible study with FAA Airframe and Powerplant certificate preparation at Felts Field in Spokane, Washington.
- Type
- University
- Credentials
- Bachelor of Science (BS)
-
#5
South Seattle College
Seattle, Washington #177 nationally
36.6 of 100
South Seattle College fits students who want small, hands-on classes leading to an associate degree or standalone airframe or powerplant certificates, inside a major Puget Sound aerospace employment market.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate in Applied Science (AAS); Associate in Applied Science-Transfer (AAS-T); plus 2 more
- GI Bill
- Approved
-
#6
Everett Community College
Everett, Washington #179 nationally
35.6 of 100
This program fits students near Seattle who want an aviation maintenance associate degree with airframe, avionics, or powerplant pathways, training at Paine Field north of the city.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate in Applied Science-Transfer (AAS-T); also offers Associate in Technical Arts (ATA) and certificate options
| Rank | School | Score | Outcomes (30) | Cost (25) | Program Depth (20) | Access (15) | Scale (10) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clover Park Technical College | 52.8 | 20.2 | 7.7 | 14 | 5 | 5.9 |
| 2 | Big Bend Community College | 48.2 | 18.2 | 8.9 | 14 | 5 | 2.1 |
| 3 | Spokane Community College | 39.8 | 9.1 | † | 14 | 0 | 4.2 |
| 4 | Moody Aviation | 39.7 | † | † | 8 | 0 | † |
| 5 | South Seattle College | 36.6 | 6.8 | † | 6 | 5 | 6.3 |
| 6 | Everett Community College | 35.6 | 13.3 | † | 6 | 0 | 3.8 |
By Metro Area
Aviation Maintenance School Rankings by Washington 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 Seattle-Tacoma | 3 | Clover Park Technical College | $103,900 |
| Aviation maintenance schools near Spokane | 3 | Big Bend Community College | $75,280 |
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Washington
BLS reports a median annual wage of $98,980 ($47.59 an hour) for aircraft mechanics and service technicians in Washington, where 4,480 people held the job in May 2025. That median ranks 4th of the 50 states with published data; the national median is $79,870.
Projections Central expects statewide employment in the occupation to move from 6,130 in 2024 to 6,300 in 2034 (+2.6%), with about 500 openings a year.
Avionics Technician Pay in Washington
See the full Washington aircraft mechanic salary breakdown by metro area
Local Context
High Pay Concentrated Around Seattle-Tacoma
Seattle-Tacoma's aircraft mechanics work at a location quotient of 2.13, in a metro of 4,145,494 people, by far the largest market in the state. Spokane, with 604,962 people, reports a lower median of $75,280.
Everett Community College and South Seattle College both train directly inside the Seattle-Tacoma market, while Spokane Community College and Moody Bible Institute serve the state's second metro instead.
A Shorter Certificate Path at Clover Park
Clover Park Technical College in Puyallup lets students finish a standalone Airframe or Powerplant certificate in five quarters, rather than committing to the full eight-quarter degree track from the start.
Methodology
How We Rank Aviation Maintenance Schools in Washington
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 Washington 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 Washington
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 Washington?
How Does Aircraft Mechanic Pay in Washington Compare to the National Median?
What Is the Job Growth Outlook for Aircraft Mechanics in Washington?
Is the Aircraft Mechanic Certificate a State or Federal License?
How Long Is Aviation Maintenance School in Washington?
How Much Does Aviation Maintenance School Cost in Washington?
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.