Chicago at a Glance
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Chicago
5
Within 100 mi, FAA 2026
Aircraft Mechanic Jobs, Chicago Metro
2,090
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Metro Median Pay
$100,610
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location Quotient
0.52
BLS OEWS, May 2025
ORD Passenger Boardings
38,575,693
FAA, CY2024
Area covered: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 16980).
American Airlines and United Airlines each run a maintenance hangar along the ramps at O'Hare International Airport, and AAR Corp, an independent maintenance and parts-supply company, is headquartered in the nearby suburb of Wood Dale. O'Hare handled 38,575,693 enplanements and landed 8,158,909,140 lb of cargo in 2024.
Training options cluster close to the airfields. Aviation Institute of Maintenance Chicago is 1.3 miles from both O'Hare and Midway, with employer partnerships at each carrier. Lewis University in Romeoville is 25.7 miles away, and Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan is 68.5 miles out.
Within Commuting Range
FAA-Approved Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Chicago
5 FAA-approved schools are within 100 miles, nearest first. The closest is 1 miles away.
Distances are straight-line miles from the center of Chicago.
Aviation Institute of Maintenance Chicago
Chicago · 1 mi
Private aviation school. FAA certificate AMRT647K.
Lewis University
Romeoville · 26 mi
- In-State Tuition
- $38,800 IPEDS
- Graduation Rate
- 67% IPEDS
University. FAA certificate AN9T014R.
Andrews University
Berrien Springs, MI · 69 mi
University. FAA certificate LW5T030N.
Rock Valley College
Rockford · 75 mi
- In-State Tuition
- $6,795 IPEDS
- Graduation Rate
- 37% IPEDS
Community college. FAA certificate BS9T045R.
Milwaukee Area Technical College
Milwaukee, WI · 76 mi
Community college. FAA certificate CF9T058R.
See all FAA-approved programs statewide on the aviation maintenance schools in Illinois page.
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Chicago
Aircraft mechanics in the Chicago metro area earn a median of $100,610 a year ($48.37 an hour), $18,930 above the Illinois median of $81,680.
Chicago Pay vs. Illinois and U.S. Medians
The Chicago median is $20,740 above the U.S. median of $79,870.
Avionics Technician Pay in Chicago
BLS counts 110 avionics technicians in the Chicago metro area, with a median of $81,620 a year.
Compare metro areas across the state on the Illinois aircraft mechanic salary page, or see the national aircraft mechanic salary breakdown.
Local Employers
Where Aircraft Mechanics Work in Chicago
BLS counts 2,090 aircraft mechanic jobs in the Chicago metro area as of May 2025, a location quotient of 0.52.
A location quotient above 1.00 means these jobs make up a larger share of local employment than they do nationally.
Airline Maintenance
American Airlines
Hangar 2 maintenance hangar at O'Hare International Airport
American Airlines built a new wide-body-capable maintenance hangar at O'Hare to handle line and base maintenance for its fleet.
191,000-square-foot structure
Source: American Airlines Joins Mayor Rahm Emanuel for Unveiling of New Maintenance Hangar at O'Hare International Airport (news.aa.com)
Airline Maintenance
United Airlines
Hangar 710 maintenance complex at O'Hare International Airport
United operates Hangar 710 at O'Hare, a large maintenance complex built to service its widebody fleet.
Source: United Airlines Aircraft Maintenance Hangar, O'Hare International Airport - Bowman (bowman.com)
Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul
AAR Corp
Corporate headquarters and OEM parts supply operation, Wood Dale, IL
AAR, a major independent aviation maintenance and parts-supply company, is headquartered in the Chicago suburb of Wood Dale and runs an OEM supply operation there.
Source: AAR CORP. worldwide locations (aarcorp.com)
Airports
Commercial and Cargo Airports in the Area
Chicago O'Hare International (ORD) recorded 38,575,693 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago O'Hare International | ORD | Large hub | 38,575,693 | 8,158,909,140 |
| Chicago Midway International | MDW | Large hub | 10,360,093 | |
| Gary/Chicago International | GYY | 64,856,432 |
Local Context
Two Airline Hangars Anchor O'Hare's Ramps
American Airlines and United Airlines each keep a maintenance hangar on O'Hare's ramps, servicing line and base work for their fleets.
AAR Corp, an independent maintenance and parts-supply company, is headquartered nearby in Wood Dale, adding a third kind of aviation maintenance employer to the metro.
O'Hare's Scale in Passengers and Cargo
O'Hare International Airport handled 38,575,693 enplanements and landed 8,158,909,140 lb of cargo in 2024. Chicago Midway International added another 10,360,093 enplanements the same year, and Gary/Chicago International landed 64,856,432 lb of cargo.
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Chicago: Common Questions
What Schools Near Chicago Train Aircraft Mechanics?
What Do Aircraft Mechanics Earn in Chicago?
Who Are the Major Aviation Maintenance Employers in Chicago?
How Far Is Training From Where Mechanics Work in Chicago?
Do Hours 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)
- American Airlines: American Airlines Joins Mayor Rahm Emanuel for Unveiling of New Maintenance Hangar at O'Hare International Airport
- United Airlines: United Airlines Aircraft Maintenance Hangar, O'Hare International Airport - Bowman
- AAR Corp: AAR CORP. worldwide locations
All sources retrieved .
Read how we source and check school, wage, and airport data for every page on this site.