Florida Metro Area Guide

Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Tampa-St. Petersburg, FL

Compare the 6 aviation maintenance schools near Tampa-St. Petersburg, all within 100 miles, BLS May 2025 pay for local aircraft mechanics, and the airports and aviation employers in the area.

Taylor Rupe, Founder & Editor

Edited by , Founder & Editor

Last updated

Florida 100 mi 16 mi29 mi67 mi69 mi85 mi Tampa-St. Petersburg
  • Tampa-St. Petersburg center
  • School, miles from center
  • 100-mile radius

Schools near Tampa-St. Petersburg, by straight-line distance

  • National Aviation Academy, Tampa Bay Campus (Clearwater): 16 miles
  • Central Florida Aerospace Academy (Lakeland): 27 miles
  • A&P Mechanic Institute (Lakeland): 29 miles
  • US Aviation Academy Kissimmee (Kissimmee): 67 miles
  • Charlotte Technical College (Port Charlotte): 69 miles
  • Aviation Institute of Maintenance Orlando (Casselberry): 85 miles

Tampa-St. Petersburg at a Glance

Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Tampa-St. Petersburg

6

Within 100 mi, FAA 2026

Aircraft Mechanic Jobs, Tampa-St. Petersburg Metro

1,050

BLS OEWS, May 2025

Metro Median Pay

$71,510

BLS OEWS, May 2025

Location Quotient

0.82

BLS OEWS, May 2025

TPA Passenger Boardings

12,075,591

FAA, CY2024

Area covered: Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 45300).

Tampa International Airport is a large-hub facility that moved 12,075,591 passengers in 2024 and landed 559,706,960 pounds of cargo the same year. That freight volume is backed by an independent MRO on airport property: Airborne Maintenance & Engineering Services runs a two-hangar complex there for component repair, engineering, and aircraft modification work.

National Aviation Academy's Tampa Bay campus is 15.9 miles away in Clearwater, with an on-campus hangar for Aviation Maintenance Technology coursework. Central Florida Aerospace Academy, 27.1 miles out in Lakeland, trains high schoolers on Part 147 airframe and powerplant coursework at Sun 'N Fun's Aerospace Center for Excellence. A&P Mechanic Institute, also in Lakeland at 28.6 miles, trains in a fully equipped hangar with real aircraft.

Within Commuting Range

FAA-Approved Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Tampa-St. Petersburg

6 FAA-approved schools are within 100 miles, nearest first. The closest is 16 miles away, in Clearwater.

Distances are straight-line miles from the center of Tampa-St. Petersburg.

See all FAA-approved programs statewide on the aviation maintenance schools in Florida page.

BLS Wage Data

Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Tampa-St. Petersburg

Aircraft mechanics in the Tampa-St. Petersburg metro area earn a median of $71,510 a year ($34.38 an hour), $5,430 below the Florida median of $76,940.

Aircraft Mechanic Salary, Tampa-St. Petersburg Metro $71,510median/yr ($34.38/hr)
$27,110 $127,520
Box shows the 25th to 75th percentile. Line spans the 10th to 90th percentile. BLS OEWS, May 2025.

Tampa-St. Petersburg Pay vs. Florida and U.S. Medians

The Tampa-St. Petersburg median is $8,360 below the U.S. median of $79,870.

Median Annual Aircraft Mechanic Wage
Tampa-St. Petersburg metro $71,510
Florida statewide $76,940
United States $79,870

BLS OEWS, May 2025

Avionics Technician Pay in Tampa-St. Petersburg

BLS counts avionics technicians in the Tampa-St. Petersburg metro area, with a median of $74,850 a year.

Avionics Technicians, Tampa-St. Petersburg Metro $74,850median/yr ($35.99/hr)
$52,490 $101,900
Box shows the 25th to 75th percentile. Line spans the 10th to 90th percentile. BLS OEWS, May 2025.

Compare metro areas across the state on the Florida aircraft mechanic salary page, or see the national aircraft mechanic salary breakdown.

Local Employers

Where Aircraft Mechanics Work in Tampa-St. Petersburg

BLS counts 1,050 aircraft mechanic jobs in the Tampa-St. Petersburg metro area as of May 2025, a location quotient of 0.82.

A location quotient above 1.00 means these jobs make up a larger share of local employment than they do nationally.

  • Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul

    Airborne Maintenance & Engineering Services

    Two-hangar MRO complex at Tampa International Airport

    Airborne Maintenance & Engineering Services operates a two-hangar, 320,000 square foot MRO facility at Tampa International Airport offering component repair, engineering and aircraft modification services, and its Tampa headquarters also houses PEMCO Conversions.

    320,000 sq. ft. two-hangar facility

    Source: About | Airborne MX (airbornemx.com)

Airports

Commercial and Cargo Airports in the Area

Tampa International (TPA) recorded 12,075,591 passenger boardings in 2024, the most of the airports listed here.

FAA Commercial Service and All-Cargo Airports, Tampa-St. Petersburg Area
AirportFAA IDHub ClassPassenger Boardings, 2024All-Cargo Landed Weight, 2024 (lb)
Tampa InternationalTPALarge hub12,075,591559,706,960
St Pete-Clearwater InternationalPIESmall hub1,228,048
FAA CY2024 enplanement and all-cargo landed weight data.

Local Context

An Independent MRO Anchors Tampa International

Airborne Maintenance & Engineering Services operates a two-hangar MRO facility right at Tampa International Airport. The complex covers component repair, engineering work, and aircraft modification, and its Tampa headquarters also houses PEMCO Conversions. For mechanics based in the metro, that's heavy maintenance work without leaving the airport.

Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Tampa-St. Petersburg: Common Questions

What Schools Near Tampa-St. Petersburg Train Aircraft Mechanics?
National Aviation Academy Tampa Bay is 15.9 miles away in Clearwater. Central Florida Aerospace Academy in Lakeland is 27.1 miles out, and A&P Mechanic Institute, also in Lakeland, is 28.6 miles away. Each leads toward FAA airframe and powerplant credentials.

What Do Aircraft Mechanics Earn in Tampa-St. Petersburg?
Aircraft mechanics and service technicians in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metro earn a median $71,510 a year, with the middle half earning between $48,780 and $95,800. The U.S. median for the occupation is $79,870.

Who Are the Largest Aviation Maintenance Employers in Tampa?
Airborne Maintenance & Engineering Services runs a two-hangar MRO complex at Tampa International Airport, handling component repair, engineering, and aircraft modification work for outside customers.

How Far Is Training From Where Mechanics Work in Tampa?
National Aviation Academy Tampa Bay is 15.9 miles from Tampa. Central Florida Aerospace Academy and A&P Mechanic Institute, both in Lakeland, are 27.1 and 28.6 miles out, each a commutable drive for metro residents.

Does Experience at a Tampa Employer Count Toward FAA Certification?
Yes. Documented practical experience under FAA rule 14 CFR Part 65 counts toward mechanic certification requirements, whether that experience comes from an MRO like Airborne, a repair station, or another local employer.

More Metro Guides

Aviation Maintenance Schools in Other Metro Areas

Aviation Maintenance Schools in FloridaEvery FAA-approved aviation maintenance school in Florida, with locations and program facts.Aircraft Mechanic Salary in FloridaBLS May 2025 pay and employment for Florida, by metro area.Aircraft Mechanic Salary in the U.S.National median, percentile spread, and top-paying states and industries.How to Become an Aircraft MechanicThe FAA routes to the mechanic certificate, from an FAA-approved school to testing.What Aviation Maintenance School CostsCompare published program prices, in-state and out-of-state rates, and FAA test fees.Aircraft Mechanic JobsWhere the jobs are concentrated, from BLS employment data.

Sources for School and Pay Data

All sources retrieved .

Read how we source and check school, wage, and airport data for every page on this site.

Florida

Compare Every Aviation Maintenance School in Florida

See all 19 FAA-approved schools in Florida side by side.

Florida Schools