Key Figures for Aviation Maintenance Training
Aviation Maintenance Schools in Illinois
6
FAA AV-Info, Sep 2026
Cities With a School
6
FAA AV-Info, Sep 2026
Median Aircraft Mechanic Pay
$81,680
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Aircraft Mechanics Employed
3,370
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected Job Change, 2024-2034
+5.4%
Projections Central
Illinois's aircraft mechanic job growth is projected at 5.4% through 2034, above the national rate of 4%, in a state where median pay, $81,680, already edges past the $79,870 national figure.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale, in Murphysboro, and Lewis University in Romeoville both offer a Bachelor of Science alongside a standalone Airframe and Powerplant certificate, an unusual pairing among Illinois's 6 schools. Southwestern Illinois College in Granite City runs an intensive 50-week track or a standard two-year option, and Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield combines certificates into a full Airframe and Powerplant sequence in about 18 months.
Aircraft mechanics in Illinois earn a median of $81,680 a year, above the $79,870 national median, and the state ranks 19th among 50 states for that pay. Growth is projected at 5.4% through 2034, adding 200 positions, with about 310 openings expected each year.
School Directory
Aviation Maintenance Schools in Illinois by City
All 6 FAA-approved schools, sorted by city. Distances are measured from Chicago. IPEDS tuition and graduation rates cover the whole institution, not only the aviation program. Listings follow our sourcing methodology.
- Certificate
- Certificate, Associate
- $7,470 a year in-state tuition
- 36% graduation rate
- Certificate, Bachelor's
- five-semester Airframe and/or Powerplant Maintenance Certificate program
- Certificate, Associate
- two-year program, with 11 months of instruction in each year
- $6,795 a year in-state tuition
- 37% graduation rate
- Certificate, Bachelor's
- $38,800 a year in-state tuition
- 67% graduation rate
- Certificate, Associate
- $293 per credit hour, in-district, 2026-2027
- $6,720 a year in-state tuition
- 48% graduation rate
Or browse the national list of FAA-approved aircraft mechanic schools.
Compare Programs
Illinois Aviation Maintenance Programs Side by Side
Side-by-side program facts from each school's own pages, with IPEDS graduation rates where the school reports them.
| School | City | Type | FAA Ratings | Credential | Published Cost | IPEDS Graduation Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aviation Institute of Maintenance Chicago | Chicago | Private Aviation School | Both | Certificate | ||
| Southwestern Illinois College | Granite City | Community College | Both | Certificate, Associate | 36% | |
| Southern Illinois University Carbondale | Murphysboro | University | Both | Certificate, Bachelor's | ||
| Rock Valley College | Rockford | Community College | Both | Certificate, Associate | 37% | |
| Lewis University | Romeoville | University | Both | Certificate, Bachelor's | 67% | |
| Lincoln Land Community College | Springfield | Community College | Both | Certificate, Associate | $293, per credit hour, in-district, 2026-2027 | 48% |
Across the State Line
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near the Illinois Border
2 FAA-approved schools in neighboring states within 100 miles of Chicago, nearest first.
- Certificate
- four semesters (two school years) for both ratings
- $25,480 total program (non-credit certificate rate)
- Certificate
By Metro Area
Metro Area Guides: Schools, Airports, and Pay
Each metro guide lists every school within commuting range, the local airports, and BLS pay for aircraft mechanics in that metro.
| Metro Area Guide | Schools Within 100 mi | Median Pay, May 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Aviation maintenance schools near Chicago | 5 | $100,610 |
| Aviation maintenance schools near Rockford | 4 |
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Illinois
BLS reports a median annual wage of $81,680 ($39.27 an hour) for aircraft mechanics and service technicians in Illinois, where 3,370 people held the job in May 2025. That median ranks 19th of the 50 states with published data; the national median is $79,870.
Projections Central expects statewide employment in the occupation to move from 3,780 in 2024 to 3,980 in 2034 (+5.4%), with about 310 openings a year.
Avionics Technician Pay in Illinois
See the full Illinois aircraft mechanic salary breakdown by metro area
Local Context
Two Bachelor's-Degree Paths in a Six-School State
Southern Illinois University Carbondale, in Murphysboro, and Lewis University in Romeoville both build a Bachelor of Science into their aviation maintenance offerings, alongside a separate Airframe and Powerplant certificate track for students who just want the FAA rating. That's 2 of Illinois's 6 schools offering a four-year option.
The other four, Aviation Institute of Maintenance Chicago, Southwestern Illinois College in Granite City, Rock Valley College in Rockford, and Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield, all lead to a certificate or associate degree instead, spread from the Chicago area down to the southern tip of the state.
A Faster or Slower Track at Southwestern Illinois College
Southwestern Illinois College in Granite City lets students choose between an intensive 50-week schedule or a standard two-year pace for the same Airframe and Powerplant certification.
Evening Classes for Working Adults in Illinois
Lewis University in Romeoville builds its Airframe and Powerplant certificate courses around evening labs, aimed at working adults rather than full-time day students. Aviation Institute of Maintenance Chicago also offers day and evening classes for the same reason.
FAA Certification
Getting Your A&P License in Illinois
The FAA issues the mechanic certificate with Airframe and Powerplant ratings, known as the A&P, under federal rules in 14 CFR Part 65, so the path is the same in every state. You qualify by graduating from an FAA-approved school or by documenting at least 30 months of hands-on work for both ratings, then passing three FAA knowledge tests and an oral and practical exam.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many FAA Part 147 Aircraft Maintenance Schools Are in Illinois?
Which Illinois Schools Offer a Bachelor's Degree in Aviation Maintenance?
How Does Aircraft Mechanic Pay in Illinois Compare to the National Median?
What Is the Job Growth Outlook for Aircraft Mechanics in Illinois?
How Long Is Aviation Maintenance School in Illinois?
How Much Does Aviation Maintenance School Cost in Illinois?
Sources
- FAA AV-Info Part 147 school records
- IPEDS via Hapi, CIP 47.0607-47.0609 (all levels) + 49.0104 (bachelor's/master's)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates
- Projections Central, State Occupational Employment Projections 2024-2034
- eCFR 14 CFR Part 65, Subpart D (Mechanics)
- FAA - Become an Aviation Mechanic
- FAA - Experience Requirements to Become an Aircraft Mechanic
All sources retrieved .
How we source and check each listing is explained on our data methodology page.