San Diego at a Glance
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near San Diego
6
Within 100 mi, FAA 2026
Aircraft Mechanic Jobs, San Diego Metro
1,720
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Metro Median Pay
$87,560
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location Quotient
1.26
BLS OEWS, May 2025
SAN Passenger Boardings
12,780,013
FAA, CY2024
Area covered: San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 41740).
Fleet Readiness Center Southwest, based at Naval Air Station North Island, overhauls, repairs, and modifies Navy and Marine Corps tactical, logistical, and rotary-wing aircraft. San Diego International Airport, a large hub, handled 12,780,013 enplanements in 2024. Local aircraft mechanics and service technicians earn a median $87,560 a year, above the $79,870 U.S. median for the occupation.
San Diego Miramar College is 5.4 miles from downtown San Diego, with a multi-year path through Airframe, Powerplant, or combined certificates and an associate degree that meets the FAA's practical experience requirement. The next closest options sit much farther out: Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, 73.6 miles away, and Spartan College's Inland Empire campus in Riverside, 81.9 miles away.
Within Commuting Range
FAA-Approved Aviation Maintenance Schools Near San Diego
6 FAA-approved schools are within 100 miles, nearest first. The closest is 5 miles away.
Distances are straight-line miles from the center of San Diego.
San Diego Miramar College
San Diego · 5 mi
- In-State Tuition
- $1,104 IPEDS
- Graduation Rate
- 48% IPEDS
Community college. FAA certificate CM9T065R.
Orange Coast College
Costa Mesa · 74 mi
- In-State Tuition
- $1,288 IPEDS
- Graduation Rate
- 48% IPEDS
Community college. FAA certificate DP9T094R.
Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology, Inland Empire Campus
Riverside · 82 mi
- Graduation Rate
- 64% IPEDS
- Program Length
- 15 months School website
Private aviation school. FAA certificate 7BIT627K.
San Bernardino Valley College
San Bernardino · 88 mi
- In-State Tuition
- $1,104 IPEDS
- Graduation Rate
- 28% IPEDS
Community college. FAA certificate HO8T197Q.
Mt. San Antonio College
Walnut · 94 mi
- In-State Tuition
- $1,288 IPEDS
- Graduation Rate
- 45% IPEDS
Community college. FAA certificate CQ9T069R.
Chaffey College
Rancho Cucamonga · 95 mi
- In-State Tuition
- $1,104 IPEDS
- Graduation Rate
- 36% IPEDS
Community college. FAA certificate CK9T063R.
See all FAA-approved programs statewide on the aviation maintenance schools in California page.
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in San Diego
Aircraft mechanics in the San Diego metro area earn a median of $87,560 a year ($42.10 an hour), $1,460 above the California median of $86,100.
San Diego Pay vs. California and U.S. Medians
The San Diego median is $7,690 above the U.S. median of $79,870.
Avionics Technician Pay in San Diego
BLS counts 180 avionics technicians in the San Diego metro area, with a median of $92,480 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 San Diego
BLS counts 1,720 aircraft mechanic jobs in the San Diego metro area as of May 2025, a location quotient of 1.26.
A location quotient above 1.00 means these jobs make up a larger share of local employment than they do nationally.
Military Depot
Fleet Readiness Center Southwest (FRCSW)
Naval aviation depot at Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego (Coronado)
Fleet Readiness Center Southwest, based at NAS North Island, overhauls, repairs and modifies Navy and Marine Corps tactical, logistical and rotary-wing aircraft and employed more than 4,100 people in 2023, most of them civilians.
4,172 employees in 2023 (697 military)
Source: Fleet Readiness Center Southwest - Wikipedia (Wikipedia)
Airports
Commercial and Cargo Airports in the Area
San Diego International (SAN) recorded 12,780,013 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego International | SAN | Large hub | 12,780,013 | 534,319,560 |
| McClellan-Palomar | CRQ | Nonhub | 17,434 |
Local Context
Naval Aircraft Overhaul at North Island
Fleet Readiness Center Southwest, based at Naval Air Station North Island in Coronado, overhauls, repairs, and modifies Navy and Marine Corps tactical, logistical, and rotary-wing aircraft.
San Diego International Airport, a large-hub facility, handled 12,780,013 enplanements and landed 534,319,560 pounds of cargo in 2024, air traffic that runs alongside the naval aviation work based at North Island across the bay.
A Second Airport in North County
McClellan-Palomar Airport, a nonhub facility in the metro's north county, handled 17,434 enplanements in 2024, a smaller counterpart to San Diego International's larger passenger and cargo volume.
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near San Diego: Common Questions
What Schools Train Aircraft Mechanics Near San Diego?
What Do Aircraft Mechanics Earn in San Diego?
Who Are the Largest Aviation Maintenance Employers in San Diego?
How Far Is Aviation Maintenance Training From San Diego?
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)
- Fleet Readiness Center Southwest (FRCSW): Fleet Readiness Center Southwest - Wikipedia
All sources retrieved .
Read how we source and check school, wage, and airport data for every page on this site.