Wichita at a Glance
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Wichita
2
Within 100 mi, FAA 2026
Aircraft Mechanic Jobs, Wichita Metro
580
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Metro Median Pay
$65,640
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location Quotient
2.12
BLS OEWS, May 2025
ICT Passenger Boardings
885,585
FAA, CY2024
Area covered: Wichita, KS Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 48620).
Textron Aviation's Wichita Service Center is the largest of the company's service centers worldwide, performing maintenance, modifications, and upgrades on general aviation aircraft. Spirit AeroSystems, headquartered in the same city, builds fuselage sections and other aerostructures for Boeing jetliners. Wichita's aircraft mechanic employment concentration runs at 2.12 times the national rate, and local mechanics earn a median $65,640 a year.
WSU Tech trains 8.4 miles away at the National Center for Aviation Training, with instructors who together bring centuries of industry experience from Cessna, Boeing, Learjet, Beechcraft, and Spirit AeroSystems. Kansas State University Salina, 78.3 miles out, offers associate and bachelor's degrees with FAA certification eligibility and a hangar with direct ramp access to its airfield.
Within Commuting Range
FAA-Approved Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Wichita
2 FAA-approved schools are within 100 miles, nearest first. The closest is 8 miles away.
Distances are straight-line miles from the center of Wichita.
WSU Tech
Wichita · 8 mi
- In-State Tuition
- $7,237 IPEDS
- Graduation Rate
- 43% IPEDS
- Program Length
- 18 months School website
Community college. FAA certificate Q6ZT586K.
Kansas State University Salina
Salina · 78 mi
- In-State Tuition
- $10,243 IPEDS
- Graduation Rate
- 71% IPEDS
University. FAA certificate BZ9T052R.
See all FAA-approved programs statewide on the aviation maintenance schools in Kansas page.
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Wichita
Aircraft mechanics in the Wichita metro area earn a median of $65,640 a year ($31.56 an hour), $14,630 below the Kansas median of $80,270.
Wichita Pay vs. Kansas and U.S. Medians
The Wichita median is $14,230 below the U.S. median of $79,870.
Avionics Technician Pay in Wichita
BLS counts 120 avionics technicians in the Wichita metro area, with a median of $59,790 a year.
Compare metro areas across the state on the Kansas aircraft mechanic salary page, or see the national aircraft mechanic salary breakdown.
Local Employers
Where Aircraft Mechanics Work in Wichita
BLS counts 580 aircraft mechanic jobs in the Wichita metro area as of May 2025, a location quotient of 2.12.
A location quotient above 1.00 means these jobs make up a larger share of local employment than they do nationally.
Manufacturer
Textron Aviation
Wichita Service Center at Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport, Wichita, KS
Textron Aviation's Wichita Service Center is the largest of the company's 20 service centers worldwide, performing maintenance, modifications and upgrades on general aviation aircraft.
Nearly 600 employees
Source: Textron Aviation marks 55 years of the Wichita Service Center (media.txtav.com)
Manufacturer
Spirit AeroSystems
Manufacturing plant at the former Boeing-Wichita factory complex, Wichita, KS
Spirit AeroSystems is headquartered in Wichita, where its plant builds fuselage sections and other aerostructures for Boeing jetliners including the 737.
Source: Spirit AeroSystems - Wikipedia (Wikipedia)
Airports
Commercial and Cargo Airports in the Area
Wichita Dwight D Eisenhower Ntl (ICT) recorded 885,585 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wichita Dwight D Eisenhower Ntl | ICT | Small hub | 885,585 | 188,784,300 |
Local Context
A Manufacturer's Service Center and an Aerostructures Plant
Textron Aviation runs its largest service center worldwide right in Wichita, handling maintenance, modifications, and upgrades on general aviation aircraft. Spirit AeroSystems, also headquartered here, builds fuselage sections and other aerostructures for Boeing jetliners. Between a manufacturer's service base and an aerostructures plant, Wichita's mechanic employment concentration runs at 2.12 times the national rate.
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Wichita: Common Questions
What Schools Near Wichita Train Aircraft Mechanics?
What Do Aircraft Mechanics Earn in Wichita?
Who Are the Largest Aviation Maintenance Employers in Wichita?
How Far Is Training From Where Mechanics Work in Wichita?
Does Experience at Textron or Spirit 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)
- Textron Aviation: Textron Aviation marks 55 years of the Wichita Service Center
- Spirit AeroSystems: Spirit AeroSystems - Wikipedia
All sources retrieved .
Read how we source and check school, wage, and airport data for every page on this site.