Aviation Maintenance Schools in Iowa

Aviation Maintenance Schools in Iowa: 5 FAA-Approved Programs

The FAA approves 5 aviation maintenance schools in Iowa under Part 147, its rule for mechanic training schools. They are spread across 5 cities, where mechanics earn a median $69,890 a year (BLS, May 2025).

Taylor Rupe, Founder & Editor

Edited by , Founder & Editor

Last updated

IllinoisMissouri Des Moines
  • School in Iowa
  • Metro area

Schools shown on the Iowa map

  • Western Iowa Tech Community College (Sioux City)
  • Kirkwood Community College (Cedar Rapids)
  • Iowa Western Community College (Council Bluffs)
  • Des Moines Public Schools Central Campus (Des Moines)
  • Indian Hills Community College (Ottumwa)

Key Figures for Aviation Maintenance Training

Aviation Maintenance Schools in Iowa

5

FAA AV-Info, Sep 2026

Cities With a School

5

FAA AV-Info, Sep 2026

Median Aircraft Mechanic Pay

$69,890

BLS OEWS, May 2025

Aircraft Mechanics Employed

330

BLS OEWS, May 2025

Projected Job Change, 2024-2034

+8%

Projections Central

Iowa's aircraft mechanic job growth is projected at 8% through 2034, double the national rate of 4%.

Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa accepts GI Bill benefits for its combined Airframe and Powerplant track, split across a four-day class week. Western Iowa Tech Community College in Sioux City and Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids both run two-year AAS programs, while Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs offers full-time, part-time, online, and evening options for the same credential.

Aircraft mechanics in Iowa earn a median of $69,890 a year, below the $79,870 national median, and the state ranks 41st among 50 states for that pay. Growth is still projected at 8% through 2034, adding about 30 positions in the decade.

School Directory

Aviation Maintenance Schools in Iowa by City

All 5 FAA-approved schools, sorted by city. Distances are measured from Des Moines. IPEDS tuition and graduation rates cover the whole institution, not only the aviation program. Listings follow our sourcing methodology.

Or browse the national list of FAA-approved aircraft mechanic schools.

Compare Programs

Iowa 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.

Compare aviation maintenance schools in Iowa
SchoolCityTypeProgram LengthFAA RatingsCredentialPublished CostIPEDS Graduation Rate
Kirkwood Community CollegeCedar RapidsCommunity Collegetwo-yearCertificate, Associate
Iowa Western Community CollegeCouncil BluffsCommunity College85.5 total semester hoursBothCertificate, Associate40%
Des Moines Public Schools Central CampusDes MoinesCareer-Tech Center
Indian Hills Community CollegeOttumwaCommunity College21 monthsBothCertificate, Diploma, Associate$18,477, total program40%
Western Iowa Tech Community CollegeSioux CityCommunity Collegetwo-yearDiploma, Associate
FAA AV-Info (September 22, 2026), school program pages, IPEDS

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 areas: nearby schools and median aircraft mechanic pay
Metro Area Guide Schools Within 100 mi Median Pay, May 2025
Aviation maintenance schools near Des Moines2$59,100
FAA AV-Info Part 147 list; BLS OEWS, May 2025, metropolitan area estimates

BLS Wage Data

Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Iowa

BLS reports a median annual wage of $69,890 ($33.60 an hour) for aircraft mechanics and service technicians in Iowa, where 330 people held the job in May 2025. That median ranks 41st of the 50 states with published data; the national median is $79,870.

Projections Central expects statewide employment in the occupation to move from 390 in 2024 to 420 in 2034 (+8%), with about 30 openings a year.

Statewide Aircraft Mechanic Pay Range $69,890median/yr ($33.60/hr)
$33,740 $93,130
Box shows the 25th to 75th percentile. Line spans the 10th to 90th percentile. BLS OEWS, May 2025 (SOC 49-3011)

See the full Iowa aircraft mechanic salary breakdown by metro area

Local Context

Online and Evening Options Set Iowa Apart

Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs teaches its Airframe and Powerplant program through full-time, part-time, online, and evening formats.

Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa takes a different approach, packing its combined Airframe and Powerplant track into a four-day class week and accepting GI Bill benefits along the way. Students in Iowa can choose the format that fits their schedule rather than one standard path.

A High School Route Into Aviation Maintenance in Des Moines

Des Moines Public Schools Central Campus offers an aviation maintenance program at the high school level, giving Des Moines students exposure to the field before they'd enroll at a community college.

FAA Certification

Getting Your A&P License in Iowa

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 Iowa?
Iowa has 5 FAA Part 147 schools, from Sioux City in the northwest to Ottumwa in the southeast.

How Does Aircraft Mechanic Pay in Iowa Compare to the National Median?
Aircraft mechanics in Iowa earn a median of $69,890 a year, below the $79,870 national median, and the state ranks 41st among 50 states for that pay.

What Is the Job Growth Outlook for Aircraft Mechanics in Iowa?
Iowa projects 8% growth in aircraft mechanic jobs through 2034, double the national rate of 4%, adding about 30 positions.

Is the Aircraft Mechanic Certificate a State or Federal License?
It's federal. The FAA issues the mechanic certificate with Airframe and Powerplant ratings, known as the A&P, under federal rules, so a certificate from any of Iowa's 5 schools works in every other state.

How Long Is Aviation Maintenance School in Iowa?
Indian Hills Community College is the only Iowa school with a published length in months, at 21 months across 7 terms. Western Iowa Tech Community College and Kirkwood Community College both run two-year tracks, and Iowa Western Community College measures its program at 85.5 total semester hours.

How Much Does Aviation Maintenance School Cost in Iowa?
Indian Hills Community College publishes a total program cost of $18,477 for its 21-month Airframe and Powerplant track, the only whole-program price published among Iowa's five aviation maintenance schools.

Sources

All sources retrieved .

How we source and check each listing is explained on our data methodology page.