Riverside-San Bernardino at a Glance
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Riverside-San Bernardino
11
Within 100 mi, FAA 2026
Aircraft Mechanic Jobs, Riverside-San Bernardino Metro
1,120
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Metro Median Pay
$81,440
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location Quotient
0.74
BLS OEWS, May 2025
SNA Passenger Boardings
5,370,273
FAA, CY2024
Area covered: Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 40140).
Three MRO shops cluster at San Bernardino International Airport: AFS Aircraft Maintenance, Executive Jet Maintenance, and Aero Pro. A few miles away, the maintenance group at March Air Reserve Base maintains the wing's Globemaster III airlifters and KC-135 Stratotanker tankers. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians in the metro earn a median $81,440 a year, above the $79,870 U.S. median for the occupation.
Training starts close by. Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology's Inland Empire campus, at Flabob Airport in Riverside, is 3.7 miles away with an aviation maintenance diploma. San Bernardino Valley College is 11.4 miles out with an FAA Part 147 program leading to an associate degree. Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga, 17.9 miles away, and Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, 27 miles away, add two more two-year options.
Within Commuting Range
FAA-Approved Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Riverside-San Bernardino
11 FAA-approved schools are within 100 miles, nearest first. The closest is 4 miles away, in Riverside.
Distances are straight-line miles from the center of Riverside-San Bernardino.
Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology, Inland Empire Campus
Riverside · 4 mi
- Graduation Rate
- 64% IPEDS
- Program Length
- 15 months School website
Private aviation school. FAA certificate 7BIT627K.
San Bernardino Valley College
San Bernardino · 11 mi
- In-State Tuition
- $1,104 IPEDS
- Graduation Rate
- 28% IPEDS
Community college. FAA certificate HO8T197Q.
Chaffey College
Rancho Cucamonga · 18 mi
- In-State Tuition
- $1,104 IPEDS
- Graduation Rate
- 36% IPEDS
Community college. FAA certificate CK9T063R.
Mt. San Antonio College
Walnut · 27 mi
- In-State Tuition
- $1,288 IPEDS
- Graduation Rate
- 45% IPEDS
Community college. FAA certificate CQ9T069R.
Orange Coast College
Costa Mesa · 35 mi
- In-State Tuition
- $1,288 IPEDS
- Graduation Rate
- 48% IPEDS
Community college. FAA certificate DP9T094R.
Victor Valley College
Victorville · 38 mi
- In-State Tuition
- $1,402 IPEDS
- Graduation Rate
- 62% IPEDS
Community college. FAA certificate 2S1T589K.
Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology, Los Angeles Campus
Inglewood · 56 mi
- Graduation Rate
- 64% IPEDS
Private aviation school. FAA certificate NR0T084K.
West Los Angeles College
Culver City · 57 mi
- In-State Tuition
- $1,196 IPEDS
- Graduation Rate
- 28% IPEDS
- Program Length
- 23 months School website
Community college. FAA certificate GH3T527L.
North Valley Occupational Center
Van Nuys · 66 mi
Technical college. FAA certificate CZ9T078R.
Antelope Valley College
Lancaster · 72 mi
- In-State Tuition
- $1,104 IPEDS
- Graduation Rate
- 34% IPEDS
Community college. FAA certificate VLTT024K.
San Diego Miramar College
San Diego · 73 mi
- In-State Tuition
- $1,104 IPEDS
- Graduation Rate
- 48% IPEDS
Community college. FAA certificate CM9T065R.
See all FAA-approved programs statewide on the aviation maintenance schools in California page.
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Riverside-San Bernardino
Aircraft mechanics in the Riverside-San Bernardino metro area earn a median of $81,440 a year ($39.15 an hour), $4,660 below the California median of $86,100.
Riverside-San Bernardino Pay vs. California and U.S. Medians
The Riverside-San Bernardino median is $1,570 above the U.S. median of $79,870.
Avionics Technician Pay in Riverside-San Bernardino
BLS counts 80 avionics technicians in the Riverside-San Bernardino metro area, with a median of $82,540 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 Riverside-San Bernardino
BLS counts 1,120 aircraft mechanic jobs in the Riverside-San Bernardino metro area as of May 2025, a location quotient of 0.74.
A location quotient above 1.00 means these jobs make up a larger share of local employment than they do nationally.
Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul
AFS Aircraft Maintenance
MRO operation at San Bernardino International Airport
AFS Aircraft Maintenance provides nationwide line maintenance, heavy maintenance, fuel tank leak repairs and corrosion inspection services from San Bernardino International Airport.
Source: Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MROs) - San Bernardino International Airport (SBD) (flysbd.com)
Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul
Executive Jet Maintenance (EJMx)
Airframe and avionics MRO at San Bernardino International Airport
Executive Jet Maintenance performs airframe maintenance events for nearly every aircraft type, plus avionics repair, from its San Bernardino International Airport base.
Source: Executive Jet Maintenance (EJMx) on flysbd.com (flysbd.com)
Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul
Aero Pro
Aircraft painting and interiors shop at San Bernardino International Airport
Aero Pro provides aircraft painting services, including VIP, corporate and commercial paint finishes and custom interiors, at San Bernardino International Airport.
Source: Aero Pro on flysbd.com (flysbd.com)
Military Depot
452nd Maintenance Group, March Air Reserve Base
Aircraft maintenance group at March Air Reserve Base, Riverside County
The 452nd Maintenance Group at March Air Reserve Base maintains the wing's C-17 Globemaster III and KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft.
Source: 452nd Air Mobility Wing - Wikipedia (Wikipedia)
Airports
Commercial and Cargo Airports in the Area
John Wayne/Orange County (SNA) recorded 5,370,273 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Wayne/Orange County | SNA | Medium hub | 5,370,273 | 120,342,900 |
| Ontario International | ONT | Medium hub | 3,494,554 | 4,825,318,232 |
| Palm Springs International | PSP | Small hub | 1,617,586 | |
| San Bernardino International | SBD | Nonhub | 20,147 | 1,364,169,548 |
| March ARB | RIV | 215,644,000 |
Local Context
Aircraft Maintenance at March Air Reserve Base
The maintenance group at March Air Reserve Base maintains the wing's Globemaster III airlifters and KC-135 Stratotanker tankers, work that sits alongside the metro's civilian MRO shops rather than apart from them.
San Bernardino International Airport hosts three of those shops: AFS Aircraft Maintenance, which provides nationwide line and heavy maintenance, fuel tank leak repairs, and corrosion inspection; Executive Jet Maintenance, which performs airframe maintenance events for nearly every aircraft type plus avionics repair; and Aero Pro, which paints and refits aircraft interiors.
Five Airports Serve One Job Market
The Inland Empire runs on five airports, not one. Ontario International landed 4,825,318,232 pounds of cargo in 2024. John Wayne/Orange County handled 5,370,273 enplanements the same year, and Palm Springs International handled 1,617,586. San Bernardino International, home to the metro's MRO cluster, saw 20,147 enplanements and landed 1,364,169,548 pounds of cargo, and March Air Reserve Base landed 215,644,000 pounds of cargo.
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Riverside-San Bernardino: Common Questions
What Schools Train Aircraft Mechanics Near Riverside-San Bernardino?
What Do Aircraft Mechanics Earn in Riverside-San Bernardino?
Who Are the Largest Aviation Maintenance Employers in the Metro?
How Far Is Training From Where Mechanics Work in This Metro?
Do Hours at a Local Employer Count Toward FAA Mechanic 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
- Passenger Boarding (Enplanement) and All-Cargo Data for U.S. Airports
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
- AFS Aircraft Maintenance: Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MROs) - San Bernardino International Airport (SBD)
- 452nd Maintenance Group, March Air Reserve Base: 452nd Air Mobility Wing - Wikipedia
All sources retrieved .
Read how we source and check school, wage, and airport data for every page on this site.