Madison at a Glance
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Madison
3
Within 100 mi, FAA 2026
Top Score Nearby
63.1
Fox Valley Technical College
Aircraft Mechanic Jobs, Madison Metro
170
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Metro Median Pay
$74,030
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location Quotient
0.48
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Area covered: Madison, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 31540).
The Wisconsin Air National Guard's fighter wing flies and maintains Lightning II fighters from Truax Field Air National Guard Base, right at Dane County Regional Airport. Local aircraft mechanics and service technicians earn a median $74,030 a year, below the $79,870 U.S. median, and the metro's location quotient of 0.48 shows that work is concentrated well below the national average here.
The nearest schools are a drive away. Rock Valley College, in Rockford, Illinois, is 64.8 miles out and trains on a fully operational regional jet at Chicago Rockford International Airport. Fox Valley Technical College, in Oshkosh, is 75.5 miles away with a technical diploma in airframe and powerplant mechanics. Milwaukee Area Technical College is 78.1 miles out.
Top Picks
Top Picks Near Madison
Among the aviation maintenance schools near Madison, a pick appears only when one school clearly leads on its figure; ties produce none.
Top Pick Near Madison
Most Affordable Near Madison
Best Outcomes Near Madison
Highest overall score of the 3 ranked schools, 63.1 out of 100.
Lowest comparable program cost of the 2 ranked schools with one: $11,700, published by the school.
Highest IPEDS graduation rate of the 2 ranked schools that report one: 65%.
Madison Ranking
Top-Ranked Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Madison
The ranked aviation maintenance schools within 100 miles of Madison, 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 Madison.
Score bars: Outcomes (30)Cost (25)Program Depth (20)Access (15)Scale (10)
-
- Top Pick Near Madison
- Most Affordable Near Madison
- Best Outcomes Near Madison
#1
Fox Valley Technical College
Oshkosh, Wisconsin 76 miles from Madison #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
Rock Valley College
Rockford, Illinois 65 miles from Madison #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
-
#3
Milwaukee Area Technical College
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 78 miles from Madison #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 | Rock Valley College | 48.6 | 13.3 | 9.2 | 14 | 5 | 7.1 |
| 3 | Milwaukee Area Technical College | 41.7 | † | † | 0 | 10 | † |
See the full best aviation maintenance schools in Wisconsin ranking.
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Madison
Aircraft mechanics in the Madison metro area earn a median of $74,030 a year ($35.59 an hour), $100 above the Wisconsin median of $73,930.
Madison Pay vs. Wisconsin and U.S. Medians
The Madison median is $5,840 below the U.S. median of $79,870.
Compare metro areas across the state on the Wisconsin aircraft mechanic salary page, or see the national aircraft mechanic salary breakdown.
Local Employers
Where Aircraft Mechanics Work in Madison
BLS counts 170 aircraft mechanic jobs in the Madison metro area as of May 2025, a location quotient of 0.48.
A location quotient above 1.00 means these jobs make up a larger share of local employment than they do nationally.
Military Depot
115th Fighter Wing, Wisconsin Air National Guard
Truax Field Air National Guard Base at Dane County Regional Airport, Madison, WI
The 115th Fighter Wing is stationed at Truax Field Air National Guard Base in Madison and includes a 115th Maintenance Group that services the wing's F-35A Lightning II fighters.
Source: 115th Fighter Wing - Wikipedia (Wikipedia)
Airports
Commercial and Cargo Airports in the Area
Dane County Regional/Truax Field (MSN) recorded 1,156,399 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dane County Regional/Truax Field | MSN | Small hub | 1,156,399 | 114,464,032 |
Local Context
F-35s Share the Runway With Commercial Flights
Truax Field Air National Guard Base sits right at Dane County Regional Airport, and the Wisconsin Air National Guard's maintenance group services the wing's Lightning II fighters there. That means fighter maintenance work runs alongside the commercial and cargo traffic using the same runway, a setup that doesn't exist at every metro's airport.
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Madison: Common Questions
What Schools Near Madison Train Aircraft Mechanics?
What Do Aircraft Mechanics Earn in Madison?
Who Is the Largest Aviation Maintenance Employer in Madison?
How Far Is Training From Madison?
Do Hours 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
- Passenger Boarding (Enplanement) and All-Cargo Data for U.S. Airports
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
- 115th Fighter Wing, Wisconsin Air National Guard: 115th Fighter Wing - Wikipedia
All sources retrieved .
Read how we source and check school, wage, and airport data for every page on this site.