San Francisco-Oakland at a Glance
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near San Francisco-Oakland
4
Within 100 mi, FAA 2026
Aircraft Mechanic Jobs, San Francisco-Oakland Metro
940
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Metro Median Pay
$93,400
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location Quotient
0.45
BLS OEWS, May 2025
SFO Passenger Boardings
25,078,968
FAA, CY2024
Area covered: San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 41860).
United Airlines runs a full aircraft maintenance base at San Francisco International, staffing the Superbay Hangar around the clock with mechanics who inspect and rebuild aircraft. SFO moved 25,078,968 passengers in 2024, and Oakland's airport landed 3,207,986,310 pounds of cargo. Local mechanics earn a median $93,400 a year, above the $79,870 U.S. median.
Four training options sit within reach. College of Alameda, 43.1 miles away in Alameda, offers Airframe and Powerplant degrees and certificates on an evening schedule. Aviation Institute of Maintenance Fremont, 63.4 miles out, runs day and evening certificate classes in its hangar facility. Solano Community College, 72.5 miles away in Vacaville, and Gavilan College, 89.8 miles away in San Martin, offer FAA Part 147 certificate and degree paths.
Within Commuting Range
FAA-Approved Aviation Maintenance Schools Near San Francisco-Oakland
4 FAA-approved schools are within 100 miles, nearest first. The closest is 43 miles away, in Alameda.
Distances are straight-line miles from the center of San Francisco-Oakland.
College of Alameda
Alameda · 43 mi
- In-State Tuition
- $1,104 IPEDS
- Graduation Rate
- 33% IPEDS
Community college. FAA certificate CO9T067R.
Aviation Institute of Maintenance Fremont
Fremont · 63 mi
Private aviation school. FAA certificate 2AQT602K.
Solano Community College
Vacaville · 73 mi
- In-State Tuition
- $1,104 IPEDS
- Graduation Rate
- 36% IPEDS
Community college. FAA certificate DB9T080R.
Gavilan College
San Martin · 90 mi
- In-State Tuition
- $1,444 IPEDS
- Graduation Rate
- 42% IPEDS
Community college. FAA certificate DJ9T088R.
See all FAA-approved programs statewide on the aviation maintenance schools in California page.
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in San Francisco-Oakland
Aircraft mechanics in the San Francisco-Oakland metro area earn a median of $93,400 a year ($44.90 an hour), $7,300 above the California median of $86,100.
San Francisco-Oakland Pay vs. California and U.S. Medians
The San Francisco-Oakland median is $13,530 above the U.S. median of $79,870.
Avionics Technician Pay in San Francisco-Oakland
BLS counts 80 avionics technicians in the San Francisco-Oakland metro area, with a median of $129,320 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 Francisco-Oakland
BLS counts 940 aircraft mechanic jobs in the San Francisco-Oakland metro area as of May 2025, a location quotient of 0.45.
A location quotient above 1.00 means these jobs make up a larger share of local employment than they do nationally.
Airline Maintenance
United Airlines (United Technical Operations)
Aircraft maintenance base at San Francisco International Airport
United Airlines runs its principal technical operations maintenance base at SFO in a sprawling array of hangars, employing more than 2,000 people who inspect and upgrade aircraft around the clock.
More than 2,000 employees at the SFO maintenance facility
Source: A Rare Tour of United's San Francisco Aircraft Maintenance Base With 'Chix Fix' All-Female Mechanics Team (nbcbayarea.com)
Airline Maintenance
SFO Superbay Hangar (American Airlines and United Airlines)
Superbay maintenance hangar at San Francisco International Airport
The Superbay Hangar at SFO is one of four hangars in the US that can fully house four Boeing 747-sized airplanes and is shared by American Airlines and United Airlines for maintenance and safety inspections.
Source: Building A Legacy: SFO Superbay Hangar - Weitz (weitz.com)
Airports
Commercial and Cargo Airports in the Area
San Francisco International (SFO) recorded 25,078,968 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 Francisco International | SFO | Large hub | 25,078,968 | 1,153,152,650 |
| Oakland San Francisco Bay | OAK | Medium hub | 5,292,736 | 3,207,986,310 |
Local Context
The United Maintenance Base at SFO
United Airlines' technical operations base sits inside the Superbay Hangar at San Francisco International, one of the few hangars in the country built to fully house four jumbo jets at once, shared with American Airlines for maintenance and safety inspections. SFO connects that base to a large-hub airport that moved 25,078,968 passengers in 2024 and stays a steady source of hangar work on the West Coast.
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near San Francisco-Oakland: Common Questions
What Schools Near San Francisco-Oakland Train Aircraft Mechanics?
What Do Aircraft Mechanics Earn in San Francisco-Oakland?
Who Are the Largest Aviation Maintenance Employers in San Francisco-Oakland?
How Far Is Training From Where Mechanics Work?
Do Hours Working 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
- Passenger Boarding (Enplanement) and All-Cargo Data for U.S. Airports
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
- United Airlines (United Technical Operations): A Rare Tour of United's San Francisco Aircraft Maintenance Base With 'Chix Fix' All-Female Mechanics Team
- SFO Superbay Hangar (American Airlines and United Airlines): Building A Legacy: SFO Superbay Hangar - Weitz
All sources retrieved .
Read how we source and check school, wage, and airport data for every page on this site.