Minnesota Metro Area Guide

Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN

Compare the 2 aviation maintenance schools near Minneapolis-St. Paul, 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

MinnesotaWisconsin 100 mi 7 mi62 mi Minneapolis-St. Paul
  • Minneapolis-St. Paul center
  • School, miles from center
  • 100-mile radius

Schools near Minneapolis-St. Paul, by straight-line distance

  • Minneapolis College (Minneapolis): 7 miles
  • St. Cloud Technical & Community College (St. Cloud): 62 miles

Minneapolis-St. Paul at a Glance

Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Minneapolis-St. Paul

2

Within 100 mi, FAA 2026

Aircraft Mechanic Jobs, Minneapolis-St. Paul Metro

2,110

BLS OEWS, May 2025

Metro Median Pay

$90,050

BLS OEWS, May 2025

Location Quotient

1.22

BLS OEWS, May 2025

MSP Passenger Boardings

18,054,481

FAA, CY2024

Area covered: Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 33460).

Delta TechOps runs a wide-body Center of Excellence at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, handling heavy maintenance work for the airline's long-haul fleet. The airport is a large hub that handled 18,054,481 enplanements in 2024. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians in the metro earn a median $90,050 a year, above the $79,870 U.S. median.

Training options sit at both ends of the metro. Minneapolis College is 7 miles from downtown, with an Aircraft Maintenance Technician program. St. Cloud Technical and Community College is 61.5 miles out, offering the same credential for those in the northern suburbs and beyond.

Within Commuting Range

FAA-Approved Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Minneapolis-St. Paul

2 FAA-approved schools are within 100 miles, nearest first. The closest is 7 miles away, in Minneapolis.

Distances are straight-line miles from the center of Minneapolis-St. Paul.

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

BLS Wage Data

Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Minneapolis-St. Paul

Aircraft mechanics in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area earn a median of $90,050 a year ($43.29 an hour), $8,070 above the Minnesota median of $81,980.

Aircraft Mechanic Salary, Minneapolis-St. Paul Metro $90,050median/yr ($43.29/hr)
$59,100 $133,020
Box shows the 25th to 75th percentile. Line spans the 10th to 90th percentile. BLS OEWS, May 2025.

Minneapolis-St. Paul Pay vs. Minnesota and U.S. Medians

The Minneapolis-St. Paul median is $10,180 above the U.S. median of $79,870.

Median Annual Aircraft Mechanic Wage
Minneapolis-St. Paul metro $90,050
Minnesota statewide $81,980
United States $79,870

BLS OEWS, May 2025

Avionics Technician Pay in Minneapolis-St. Paul

BLS counts avionics technicians in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, with a median of $57,100 a year.

Avionics Technicians, Minneapolis-St. Paul Metro $57,100median/yr ($27.45/hr)
$34,740 $72,420
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 Minnesota aircraft mechanic salary page, or see the national aircraft mechanic salary breakdown.

Local Employers

Where Aircraft Mechanics Work in Minneapolis-St. Paul

BLS counts 2,110 aircraft mechanic jobs in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area as of May 2025, a location quotient of 1.22.

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

  • Airline Maintenance

    Delta TechOps

    A330 Center of Excellence at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP)

    Delta TechOps houses its A330 Center of Excellence at MSP, specializing in heavy maintenance for Delta's A330 fleet.

    Source: Everything You Need To Know About Delta TechOps - Simple Flying (simpleflying.com)

  • Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul

    West Star Aviation

    West Star Minneapolis satellite MRO station at MSP

    West Star Aviation operates an FAA certified repair station at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport offering avionics repair and installation, airframe repair and maintenance, and interior and paint touch-up work.

    Source: Minneapolis, Minnesota Aircraft Maintenance | MSP | West Star Aviation (weststaraviation.com)

Airports

Commercial and Cargo Airports in the Area

Minneapolis-St Paul International/Wold-Chamberlain (MSP) recorded 18,054,481 passenger boardings in 2024, the most of the airports listed here.

FAA Commercial Service and All-Cargo Airports, Minneapolis-St. Paul Area
AirportFAA IDHub ClassPassenger Boardings, 2024All-Cargo Landed Weight, 2024 (lb)
Minneapolis-St Paul International/Wold-ChamberlainMSPLarge hub18,054,481809,325,990
FAA CY2024 enplanement and all-cargo landed weight data.

Local Context

Delta's Wide-Body Maintenance Hub

Delta TechOps operates a wide-body Center of Excellence at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, specializing in heavy maintenance for the airline's long-haul fleet. West Star Aviation runs a satellite MRO station at the same airport, an FAA certified repair station handling avionics repair, airframe work, and interior touch-up for other operators.

A Large Hub With Room for Two Maintenance Shops

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport handled 18,054,481 enplanements in 2024 and moved 809,325,990 pounds of cargo the same year. That scale supports both Delta TechOps' Center of Excellence and West Star Aviation's repair station without either operation competing for space.

Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Minneapolis-St. Paul: Common Questions

What Schools Near Minneapolis-St. Paul Train Aircraft Mechanics?
Minneapolis College is 7 miles from downtown Minneapolis, with an Aircraft Maintenance Technician program. St. Cloud Technical and Community College is 61.5 miles out, offering the same credential for those farther from the metro core.

What Do Aircraft Mechanics Earn in Minneapolis-St. Paul?
Aircraft mechanics and service technicians in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro earn a median $90,050 a year, with the middle half earning between $64,380 and $133,020. That sits above the $79,870 U.S. median for the occupation.

Who Are the Largest Aviation Maintenance Employers in Minneapolis-St. Paul?
Delta TechOps runs a wide-body Center of Excellence at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. West Star Aviation operates a satellite MRO station at the same airport, handling avionics and airframe repair for other operators.

How Far Is Training From Where Mechanics Work?
Minneapolis College sits 7 miles from downtown, the closest option in the metro. St. Cloud Technical and Community College is 61.5 miles out, a longer but common commute for students north of the Cities.

Do Hours Working at a Local Employer Count Toward FAA Certification?
Yes. Under 14 CFR Part 65, the FAA credits documented practical experience toward mechanic certification, no matter whether it comes from an airline TechOps base, an MRO shop, or another employer around Minneapolis-St. Paul.
Aviation Maintenance Schools in MinnesotaEvery FAA-approved aviation maintenance school in Minnesota, with locations and program facts.Aircraft Mechanic Salary in MinnesotaBLS May 2025 pay and employment for Minnesota, by metro area.What Aircraft Mechanics EarnBLS pay by percentile, state, metro area, and industry.How to Become an Aircraft MechanicThe FAA routes to the mechanic certificate, from an FAA-approved school to testing.Aviation Maintenance School CostPublished tuition, fees, and tool costs at FAA-approved schools.Mechanic Job MarketOpenings, projected growth, and the states and metros with the most jobs.

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.

Minnesota

Compare Every Aviation Maintenance School in Minnesota

See all 4 FAA-approved schools in Minnesota side by side.

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