Seattle-Tacoma at a Glance
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Seattle-Tacoma
3
Within 100 mi, FAA 2026
Top Score Nearby
52.8
Clover Park Technical College
Aircraft Mechanic Jobs, Seattle-Tacoma Metro
3,950
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Metro Median Pay
$103,900
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location Quotient
2.13
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Area covered: Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 42660).
Boeing's Everett factory at Paine Field assembles and tests widebody and narrowbody jet programs on the same site where Aviation Technical Services runs heavy airframe maintenance. The metro's aircraft mechanic workforce runs far above the national average, at a location quotient of 2.13, and Seattle-Tacoma International moved 25,414,592 passengers in 2024 while landing 2,780,802,900 pounds of cargo the same year.
Three training options sit within reach. South Seattle College, 5.1 miles away in Seattle, offers Aviation Maintenance Technology degrees and certificates in Airframe and Powerplant. Everett Community College, 20.1 miles out, trains at Paine Field itself with a degree and certificate path plus a separate avionics track. Clover Park Technical College, 35.1 miles away in Puyallup, runs an eight-quarter degree or five-quarter certificate program at its South Hill Campus.
Top Picks
Top Picks Near Seattle-Tacoma
Among the aviation maintenance schools near Seattle-Tacoma, a pick appears only when one school clearly leads on its figure; ties produce none.
Top Pick Near Seattle-Tacoma
Best Outcomes Near Seattle-Tacoma
Highest overall score of the 3 ranked schools, 52.8 out of 100.
Highest IPEDS graduation rate of the 3 ranked schools that report one: 43%.
Seattle-Tacoma Ranking
Top-Ranked Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Seattle-Tacoma
The ranked aviation maintenance schools within 100 miles of Seattle-Tacoma, 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 Seattle-Tacoma.
Score bars: Outcomes (30)Cost (25)Program Depth (20)Access (15)Scale (10)
-
- Top Pick Near Seattle-Tacoma
- Best Outcomes Near Seattle-Tacoma
#1
Clover Park Technical College
Puyallup, Washington 35 miles from Seattle-Tacoma #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
-
#2
South Seattle College
Seattle, Washington 5 miles from Seattle-Tacoma #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
-
#3
Everett Community College
Everett, Washington 20 miles from Seattle-Tacoma #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 | South Seattle College | 36.6 | 6.8 | † | 6 | 5 | 6.3 |
| 3 | Everett Community College | 35.6 | 13.3 | † | 6 | 0 | 3.8 |
See the full best aviation maintenance schools in Washington ranking.
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Seattle-Tacoma
Aircraft mechanics in the Seattle-Tacoma metro area earn a median of $103,900 a year ($49.95 an hour), $4,920 above the Washington median of $98,980.
Seattle-Tacoma Pay vs. Washington and U.S. Medians
The Seattle-Tacoma median is $24,030 above the U.S. median of $79,870.
Avionics Technician Pay in Seattle-Tacoma
BLS counts 2,880 avionics technicians in the Seattle-Tacoma metro area, with a median of $100,200 a year.
Compare metro areas across the state on the Washington aircraft mechanic salary page, or see the national aircraft mechanic salary breakdown.
Local Employers
Where Aircraft Mechanics Work in Seattle-Tacoma
BLS counts 3,950 aircraft mechanic jobs in the Seattle-Tacoma metro area as of May 2025, a location quotient of 2.13.
A location quotient above 1.00 means these jobs make up a larger share of local employment than they do nationally.
Manufacturer
Boeing
Boeing Everett Factory at Paine Field, Everett, Washington
Boeing's Everett factory on the north side of Paine Field assembles the 767 and 777/777X and 737 MAX programs and employs about 30,000 workers at the site.
30,000 workers at its Everett site (as of 2022)
Source: Boeing Everett Factory - Wikipedia (Wikipedia)
Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul
Aviation Technical Services (ATS)
Airframe maintenance hangars at Paine Field (PAE), Everett, Washington
Aviation Technical Services operates a 250,000 square foot hangar at Paine Field providing heavy airframe maintenance and modification work on Boeing, Airbus, Embraer and Bombardier aircraft.
250,000 sq. ft. hangar capacity for 17 narrowbody aircraft
Source: What We Do - Aviation Technical Services (atsmro.com)
Airports
Commercial and Cargo Airports in the Area
Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) recorded 25,414,592 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma International | SEA | Large hub | 25,414,592 | 2,780,802,900 |
| Seattle Paine Field International | PAE | Nonhub | 275,996 | 31,918,976 |
| Boeing Field/King County International | BFI | Nonhub | 28,769 | 543,267,038 |
Local Context
Boeing's Everett Factory at Paine Field
Boeing operates its Everett factory on the north side of Paine Field, assembling and testing widebody and narrowbody jet programs on airport property. Mechanics who train nearby can also look toward Aviation Technical Services, which runs airframe maintenance hangars at the same field working on Boeing, Airbus, Embraer, and Bombardier aircraft for airline customers.
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Seattle-Tacoma: Common Questions
What Schools Near Seattle-Tacoma Train Aircraft Mechanics?
What Do Aircraft Mechanics Earn in Seattle-Tacoma?
Who Are the Largest Aviation Maintenance Employers in Seattle-Tacoma?
How Far Is Training From Where Mechanics Work?
Do Hours Working 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: Boeing Everett Factory - Wikipedia
- Aviation Technical Services (ATS): What We Do - Aviation Technical Services
All sources retrieved .
Read how we source and check school, wage, and airport data for every page on this site.