Key Figures for Aviation Maintenance Training
Aviation Maintenance Schools in North Carolina
7
FAA AV-Info, Sep 2026
Cities With a School
7
FAA AV-Info, Sep 2026
Median Aircraft Mechanic Pay
$76,980
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Aircraft Mechanics Employed
4,700
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected Job Change, 2024-2034
+4.2%
Projections Central
Public community and technical colleges handle most of North Carolina's aircraft maintenance training, and the field is projected to grow 4.2% through 2034, just above the national rate of 4%.
Guilford Technical Community College in Greensboro offers day or evening classes and lets students finish a single Airframe or Powerplant rating in as few as three and a half semesters instead of the full two-year sequence. Forsyth Technical Community College in Winston-Salem runs a four-week Part 65 Accelerated Prep Program alongside its standard associate degree, and Craven, Lenoir, and Wayne Community Colleges round out North Carolina's 7 schools.
Aircraft mechanics in North Carolina earn a median of $76,980 a year, below the $79,870 national median, and the state ranks 27th among 50 states for that pay. Growth is projected at 4.2% through 2034, adding 230 positions, with about 450 openings expected each year.
School Directory
Aviation Maintenance Schools in North Carolina by City
All 7 FAA-approved schools, sorted by city. Distances are measured from Charlotte. IPEDS tuition and graduation rates cover the whole institution, not only the aviation program. Listings follow our sourcing methodology.
- Diploma, Associate
- $2,095 a year in-state tuition
- 35% graduation rate
- Certificate
- 21 months
- Certificate, Diploma, Associate
- $9,850 total program (tuition, books, fees, tools)
- $2,128 a year in-state tuition
- 31% graduation rate
- Diploma, Associate
- four semesters plus two summer school sessions
- $1,824 a year in-state tuition
- 48% graduation rate
- Diploma, Associate
- Two Years
- Diploma, Associate
- $2,432 a year in-state tuition
- 49% graduation rate
- Certificate, Associate
- $1,824 a year in-state tuition
- 34% graduation rate
Or browse the national list of FAA-approved aircraft mechanic schools.
Compare Programs
North Carolina 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 | Program Length | FAA Ratings | Credential | Published Cost | IPEDS Graduation Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| College of the Albemarle | Barco | Community College | Both | Diploma, Associate | 35% | ||
| Aviation Institute of Maintenance Charlotte | Charlotte | Private Aviation School | 21 months | Both | Certificate | ||
| Guilford Technical Community College | Greensboro | Community College | Both | Certificate, Diploma, Associate | $9,850, total program (tuition, books, fees, tools) | 31% | |
| Craven Community College | Havelock | Community College | Both | Diploma, Associate | 48% | ||
| Lenoir Community College | Kinston | Community College | Two Years | Both | Diploma, Associate | ||
| Wayne Community College | Pikeville | Community College | Both | Diploma, Associate | 49% | ||
| Forsyth Technical Community College | Winston-Salem | Community College | Both | Certificate, Associate | 34% |
Across the State Line
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near the North Carolina Border
1 FAA-approved school in neighboring states within 100 miles of Charlotte, nearest first.
92 mi
Greenville Technical College
Community college in Greenville, South Carolina
- Airframe
- Powerplant
- Certificate, Associate
- GI Bill accepted
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.
| Aviation maintenance schools near Charlotte | 4 | $78,580 |
|---|---|---|
| Aviation maintenance schools near Raleigh | 4 | $91,600 |
| Aviation maintenance schools near Greensboro-High Point | 4 | $64,520 |
| Aviation maintenance schools near Winston-Salem | 3 | $73,480 |
| Aviation maintenance schools near Durham-Chapel Hill | 5 |
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in North Carolina
BLS reports a median annual wage of $76,980 ($37.01 an hour) for aircraft mechanics and service technicians in North Carolina, where 4,700 people held the job in May 2025. That median ranks 27th of the 50 states with published data; the national median is $79,870.
Projections Central expects statewide employment in the occupation to move from 5,540 in 2024 to 5,770 in 2034 (+4.2%), with about 450 openings a year.
Avionics Technician Pay in North Carolina
See the full North Carolina aircraft mechanic salary breakdown by metro area
Local Context
Raleigh Outpays North Carolina's Larger Charlotte Metro
Raleigh's aircraft mechanics earn a median of $91,600 a year, well above Charlotte's $78,580, even though Charlotte's metro population, 2,883,370, nearly doubles Raleigh's 1,562,009.
None of North Carolina's 7 schools sit directly in Raleigh. Guilford Technical Community College in Greensboro and Forsyth Technical Community College in Winston-Salem serve the central part of the state instead.
A Four-Week Fast Track at Forsyth Tech
Forsyth Technical Community College's Part 65 Accelerated Prep Program compresses exam preparation into four weeks of evening classes, a much shorter commitment than the two-year associate degree the same school also offers.
FAA Certification
Getting Your A&P License in North Carolina
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 North Carolina?
Which North Carolina School Offers a Faster Accelerated Program?
How Does Aircraft Mechanic Pay in North Carolina Compare to the National Median?
Is the Aircraft Mechanic Certificate a State or Federal License?
How Long Is Aviation Maintenance School in North Carolina?
How Much Does Aviation Maintenance School Cost in North Carolina?
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.