Key Figures for Aviation Maintenance Schools in Wisconsin
Aviation Maintenance Schools in Wisconsin
2
FAA AV-Info, Sep 2026
Ranked in This State
2
Methodology 2.1
Top Score in the State
63.1
Fox Valley Technical College
Median Aircraft Mechanic Pay
$73,930
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Aircraft Mechanics Employed
1,270
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Wisconsin's aircraft mechanic job growth is projected at 9.8% through 2034, well above the national rate of 4%, in a state with just 2 FAA Part 147 schools.
Milwaukee Area Technical College teaches its certificate entirely in person, while Fox Valley Technical College in Oshkosh, a public school, offers a Technical Diploma on a part-time or full-time schedule.
Aircraft mechanics in Wisconsin earn a median of $73,930 a year, below the $79,870 national median, and the state ranks 37th among 50 states for that pay. Growth is projected at 9.8% through 2034, adding 120 positions, with about 110 openings expected each year.
Wisconsin Ranking
Top-Ranked Aircraft Mechanic Schools in Wisconsin
The 2 ranked aviation maintenance schools in Wisconsin, 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)
-
#1
Fox Valley Technical College
Oshkosh, Wisconsin #20 nationally
63.1 of 100
This program fits Wisconsin residents who want an airframe and powerplant technical diploma with an optional path into avionics, though it is not currently open to out-of-state applicants.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Technical Diploma
- Length
- 64 Credits
- Cost
- $11,700, total program, tuition/fees (subject to change)
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Schedule
- Day or evening
- Avionics
- Aircraft Electronics program, one additional year
-
#2
Milwaukee Area Technical College
Milwaukee, Wisconsin #132 nationally
41.7 of 100
This program fits students in the Milwaukee area willing to wait for a limited-capacity seat, since the General Certificate is a required first step before the Airframe Diploma, and the nearest other certificated program sits 77.3 miles away.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Certificate
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Starts
- Program starts only in the Fall semester (August)
| Rank | School | Score | Outcomes (30) | Cost (25) | Program Depth (20) | Access (15) | Scale (10) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fox Valley Technical College | 63.1 | 27.7 | 9.8 | 14 | 10 | 1.6 |
| 2 | Milwaukee Area Technical College | 41.7 | † | † | 0 | 10 | † |
Across the State Line
Top-Ranked Schools Near Wisconsin
2 FAA-approved schools in neighboring states within 100 miles of Milwaukee, ranked by score.
Score bars: Outcomes (30)Cost (25)Program Depth (20)Access (15)Scale (10)
-
#1
Aviation Institute of Maintenance Chicago
Chicago, Illinois 87 miles from Milwaukee #71 nationally
49.7 of 100
Students who want a large-scale campus near two major airports, with airline employer partnerships and a combined airframe and powerplant certificate, are the best fit for this program.
- Type
- Private Aviation School
- Credentials
- FAA-certified Aircraft Maintenance Technician Certificate
- Schedule
- day and evening classes
- Starts
- September class start referenced (apply-by-9/27 fee waiver)
-
#2
Rock Valley College
Rockford, Illinois 82 miles from Milwaukee #79 nationally
48.6 of 100
This program suits students who want hands-on training on a full-size regional jet and a tuition-reimbursement pathway through AAR EAGLE, in a two-year Aviation Maintenance Technology program in Rockford, Illinois.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate in Applied Science; Aviation Maintenance Certificate (7201); plus 2 more
- Length
- two-year program, with 11 months of instruction in each year
- GI Bill
- Approved
| Rank | School | Score | Outcomes (30) | Cost (25) | Program Depth (20) | Access (15) | Scale (10) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AIM Chicago | 49.7 | † | † | 8 | 10 | † |
| 2 | Rock Valley College | 48.6 | 13.3 | 9.2 | 14 | 5 | 7.1 |
By Metro Area
Aviation Maintenance School Rankings by Wisconsin 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 Milwaukee | 4 | Fox Valley Technical College | $74,480 |
| Aviation maintenance schools near Madison | 3 | Fox Valley Technical College | $74,030 |
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Wisconsin
BLS reports a median annual wage of $73,930 ($35.54 an hour) for aircraft mechanics and service technicians in Wisconsin, where 1,270 people held the job in May 2025. That median ranks 37th of the 50 states with published data; the national median is $79,870.
Projections Central expects statewide employment in the occupation to move from 1,180 in 2024 to 1,300 in 2034 (+9.8%), with about 110 openings a year.
Avionics Technician Pay in Wisconsin
See the full Wisconsin aircraft mechanic salary breakdown by metro area
Local Context
Milwaukee and Madison Post Nearly Identical Pay
Milwaukee's aircraft mechanics earn a median of $74,480 a year, barely ahead of Madison's $74,030, even though Milwaukee's population, 1,574,452, is more than double Madison's 707,606.
Milwaukee Area Technical College trains directly inside the larger of the two metros. Fox Valley Technical College, in Oshkosh, sits outside both, closer to Wisconsin's border with Illinois.
Illinois Options Just Across Wisconsin's Border
Rock Valley College in Rockford, Illinois, sits 81.8 miles from Wisconsin, and Aviation Institute of Maintenance Chicago is another option at 86.9 miles. Students near Wisconsin's southern border have more than the state's own 2 schools to consider.
Methodology
How We Rank Aviation Maintenance Schools in Wisconsin
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 Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin
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 Wisconsin?
How Does Aircraft Mechanic Pay in Wisconsin Compare to the National Median?
What Is the Job Growth Outlook for Aircraft Mechanics in Wisconsin?
Is the Aircraft Mechanic Certificate a State or Federal License?
How Long Is Aviation Maintenance School in Wisconsin?
How Much Does Aviation Maintenance School Cost in Wisconsin?
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.