Key Figures for Aviation Maintenance Training
Aviation Maintenance Schools in Alabama
5
FAA AV-Info, Sep 2026
Cities With a School
5
FAA AV-Info, Sep 2026
Median Aircraft Mechanic Pay
$82,260
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Aircraft Mechanics Employed
4,310
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected Job Change, 2024-2034
+12.2%
Projections Central
Community and technical colleges carry the full weight of aircraft mechanic training in Alabama, and every Part 147 school in the state with published accreditation data is a public two-year college.
Snead State Community College in Albertville and Calhoun Community College in Decatur both run two-year Airframe and Powerplant AAS tracks in the northern half of the state. Coastal Alabama Community College in Mobile teaches a four-semester, 65-credit program on the Gulf Coast, while Enterprise State Community College in Ozark offers a dual Airframe and Powerplant option in as little as 18 months, with day and evening classes.
Aircraft mechanics in Alabama earn a median of $82,260 a year, above the $79,870 national median, and the state ranks 15th among all 50 states for that pay. The occupation is projected to grow 12.2% through 2034, well above the national rate of 4%, adding 570 positions in the decade.
School Directory
Aviation Maintenance Schools in Alabama by City
All 5 FAA-approved schools, sorted by city. Distances are measured from Birmingham. IPEDS tuition and graduation rates cover the whole institution, not only the aviation program. Listings follow our sourcing methodology.
- Certificate, Associate
- Two (2) Years and One (1) Semester
- $3,870 a year in-state tuition
- 49% graduation rate
- Associate
- two-year degree program
- Certificate, Associate
- Four Semesters, 65 credits
- $3,870 a year in-state tuition
- 31% graduation rate
- Certificate
- two-year program
- Certificate, Associate
- $3,870 a year in-state tuition
- 42% graduation rate
Or browse the national list of FAA-approved aircraft mechanic schools.
Compare Programs
Alabama Aviation Maintenance Programs Side by Side
Side-by-side program facts from each school's own pages, with IPEDS graduation rates where the school reports them.
| School | City | Type | Program Length | FAA Ratings | Credential | IPEDS Graduation Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snead State Community College | Albertville | Community College | Two (2) Years and One (1) Semester | Both | Certificate, Associate | 49% |
| Calhoun Community College | Decatur | Community College | two-year degree program | Both | Associate | |
| Coastal Alabama Community College | Mobile | Community College | Four Semesters, 65 credits | Both | Certificate, Associate | 31% |
| Southern Union State Community College | Opelika | Community College | two-year program | Both | Certificate | |
| Enterprise State Community College | Ozark | Community College | Both | Certificate, Associate | 42% |
By Metro Area
Metro Area Guides: Schools, Airports, and Pay
Each metro guide lists every school within commuting range, the local airports, and BLS pay for aircraft mechanics in that metro.
| Metro Area Guide | Schools Within 100 mi | Median Pay, May 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Aviation maintenance schools near Birmingham | 2 | $61,040 |
| Aviation maintenance schools near Mobile | 5 | $82,260 |
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Alabama
BLS reports a median annual wage of $82,260 ($39.55 an hour) for aircraft mechanics and service technicians in Alabama, where 4,310 people held the job in May 2025. That median ranks 15th of the 50 states with published data; the national median is $79,870.
Projections Central expects statewide employment in the occupation to move from 4,640 in 2024 to 5,210 in 2034 (+12.2%), with about 430 openings a year.
Avionics Technician Pay in Alabama
See the full Alabama aircraft mechanic salary breakdown by metro area
Local Context
Why Mobile Out-Earns Alabama's Biggest Metro
Mobile's aircraft mechanics earn a median of $82,260 a year, matching the statewide figure and topping Birmingham's $61,040, even though Birmingham's metro population, 1,192,583, dwarfs Mobile's 412,339. Size and pay don't move together here.
Coastal Alabama Community College trains right inside that higher-paying Gulf Coast market, in Mobile. The state's other four schools, Snead State, Calhoun, Southern Union, and Enterprise State, sit further north and east, closer to Birmingham and the rest of Alabama's job market.
No School Sits Inside Alabama's Largest Metro
None of Alabama's 5 Part 147 schools sit inside the Birmingham metro, the state's largest at a population of 1,192,583. Snead State Community College in Albertville and Calhoun Community College in Decatur train from the north, while Coastal Alabama Community College in Mobile and Southern Union State Community College in Opelika serve the south and east instead.
Certificate and Degree Options Across Alabama
Every Alabama program builds toward the same Airframe and Powerplant ratings, but the paperwork varies. Snead State and Coastal Alabama Community College both offer an Associate of Applied Science alongside a shorter certificate, while Southern Union State Community College issues a single Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic certificate over a two-year program.
Enterprise State Community College splits the difference, with a standalone Airframe certificate and a combined dual-rating track, both taught day or evening at its Ozark campus.
FAA Certification
Getting Your A&P License in Alabama
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 Alabama?
How Long Is Aviation Maintenance School in Alabama?
How Does Aircraft Mechanic Pay in Alabama Compare to the National Median?
What Is the Job Growth Outlook for Aircraft Mechanics in Alabama?
Is the Aircraft Mechanic License a State or Federal Credential?
What Programs Do Alabama's Aviation Maintenance Schools Offer?
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.