Bakersfield at a Glance
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Bakersfield
5
Within 100 mi, FAA 2026
Aircraft Mechanic Jobs, Bakersfield Metro
710
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Metro Median Pay
$91,750
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location Quotient
2.37
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BFL Passenger Boardings
195,148
FAA, CY2024
Area covered: Bakersfield-Delano, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 12540).
Bakersfield's aircraft mechanics and service technicians work at a concentration of employment 2.37 times the national rate for the occupation, and pay follows: a local median of $91,750 a year against the $79,870 U.S. median. Golden State Aircraft Maintenance runs its largest facility at Meadows Field Airport, performing engine overhauls and inspections on Citation airframes and turboprop aircraft.
California Aeronautical University trains students right at Meadows Field, 5.6 miles from downtown Bakersfield, toward a diploma or associate degree in aviation maintenance technology. Antelope Valley College in Lancaster is 63.2 miles out, and Reedley College is 89.6 miles away, both leading to the FAA's airframe and powerplant certificate.
Within Commuting Range
FAA-Approved Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Bakersfield
5 FAA-approved schools are within 100 miles, nearest first. The closest is 6 miles away.
Distances are straight-line miles from the center of Bakersfield.
California Aeronautical University
Bakersfield · 6 mi
- In-State Tuition
- $15,030 IPEDS
- Graduation Rate
- 30% IPEDS
Private aviation school. FAA certificate 2LBT632K.
Antelope Valley College
Lancaster · 63 mi
- In-State Tuition
- $1,104 IPEDS
- Graduation Rate
- 34% IPEDS
Community college. FAA certificate VLTT024K.
North Valley Occupational Center
Van Nuys · 85 mi
Technical college. FAA certificate CZ9T078R.
Reedley College
Reedley · 90 mi
- In-State Tuition
- $1,332 IPEDS
- Graduation Rate
- 42% IPEDS
- Program Length
- 24 months School website
Community college. FAA certificate CU3T436L.
Cuesta College
San Luis Obispo · 91 mi
Community college. FAA certificate SLOT661K.
See all FAA-approved programs statewide on the aviation maintenance schools in California page.
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Bakersfield
Aircraft mechanics in the Bakersfield metro area earn a median of $91,750 a year ($44.11 an hour), $5,650 above the California median of $86,100.
Bakersfield Pay vs. California and U.S. Medians
The Bakersfield median is $11,880 above the U.S. median of $79,870.
Avionics Technician Pay in Bakersfield
BLS counts 90 avionics technicians in the Bakersfield metro area, with a median of $97,620 a year.
Compare metro areas across the state on the California aircraft mechanic salary page, or see the national aircraft mechanic salary breakdown.
Local Employers
Where Aircraft Mechanics Work in Bakersfield
BLS counts 710 aircraft mechanic jobs in the Bakersfield metro area as of May 2025, a location quotient of 2.37.
A location quotient above 1.00 means these jobs make up a larger share of local employment than they do nationally.
Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul
Golden State Aircraft Maintenance
Largest maintenance facility at Meadows Field Airport (KBFL), 1701 Skyway Drive, Bakersfield
Golden State Aircraft Maintenance runs a full-service maintenance, repair and overhaul operation at Meadows Field, performing engine overhauls and phase/annual inspections on Citation airframes and turboprop aircraft.
Source: Golden State Aircraft Maintenance on gsamaintenance.com (gsamaintenance.com)
Airports
Commercial and Cargo Airports in the Area
Meadows Field (BFL) recorded 195,148 passenger boardings in 2024, the most of the airports listed here.
| Airport | FAA ID | Hub Class | Passenger Boardings, 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meadows Field | BFL | Nonhub | 195,148 |
Local Context
A Concentration of Aircraft Mechanics Above the National Average
Bakersfield's aircraft mechanic and service technician workforce is concentrated at 2.37 times the national rate, a location quotient that points to more maintenance work here relative to the metro's size. Golden State Aircraft Maintenance anchors that work at Meadows Field Airport, running its largest maintenance, repair and overhaul facility there and performing engine overhauls and inspections on Citation airframes and turboprop aircraft.
Meadows Field's Place in the Local Job Market
Meadows Field Airport handled 195,148 enplanements in 2024 as a nonhub facility. That's modest next to a major hub, but it supports steady general aviation and maintenance traffic, including the overhaul and inspection work Golden State Aircraft Maintenance performs there.
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Bakersfield: Common Questions
What Schools Near Bakersfield Train Aircraft Mechanics?
What Do Aircraft Mechanics Earn in Bakersfield?
Who's the Largest Aviation Maintenance Employer Near Bakersfield?
How Far Is Training From Where Mechanics Work in Bakersfield?
Do Hours at a Local Employer Count Toward FAA Certification?
More Metro Guides
Aviation Maintenance Schools 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
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
- Reedley College published program cost
- Golden State Aircraft Maintenance: Golden State Aircraft Maintenance
All sources retrieved .
Read how we source and check school, wage, and airport data for every page on this site.