Harrisburg at a Glance
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Harrisburg
5
Within 100 mi, FAA 2026
Aircraft Mechanic Jobs, Harrisburg Metro
60
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Metro Median Pay
$69,430
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location Quotient
0.19
BLS OEWS, May 2025
MDT Passenger Boardings
727,163
FAA, CY2024
Area covered: Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 25420).
The Pennsylvania Air National Guard's Special Operations Wing keeps its aircraft flying through a dedicated maintenance group at Harrisburg Air National Guard Base in Middletown. That steady government work sits next to a smaller civilian market: aircraft mechanics here earn a median $69,430 a year, below the $79,870 U.S. median, in a metro where mechanic jobs are far less concentrated than the country as a whole.
Training is within a couple hours' drive. Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics' Hagerstown campus is 59 miles away with an Airframe and Powerplant diploma program. Pennsylvania College of Technology in Montoursville, 67.1 miles out, awards a bachelor's degree in Aviation Maintenance Technology. Johnson College in Avoca, 95 miles away, runs a two-year Aviation Technology associate program aimed at FAA licensure.
Within Commuting Range
FAA-Approved Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Harrisburg
5 FAA-approved schools are within 100 miles, nearest first. The closest is 59 miles away, in Hagerstown.
Distances are straight-line miles from the center of Harrisburg.
Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics, Hagerstown Campus
Hagerstown, MD · 59 mi
- Program Length
- 16 months School website
Private aviation school. FAA certificate I4PT091K.
Pennsylvania College of Technology
Montoursville · 67 mi
- In-State Tuition
- $15,450 IPEDS
- Graduation Rate
- 53% IPEDS
University. FAA certificate PNZT013K.
University of the District of Columbia Community College
Washington, DC · 95 mi
Community college. FAA certificate AQ9T017R.
Johnson College
Avoca · 95 mi
Technical college. FAA certificate JOCT651K.
Aviation Institute of Maintenance Philadelphia
Philadelphia · 100 mi
Private aviation school. FAA certificate AR9T018R.
See all FAA-approved programs statewide on the aviation maintenance schools in Pennsylvania page.
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Harrisburg
Aircraft mechanics in the Harrisburg metro area earn a median of $69,430 a year ($33.38 an hour), $8,570 below the Pennsylvania median of $78,000.
Harrisburg Pay vs. Pennsylvania and U.S. Medians
The Harrisburg median is $10,440 below the U.S. median of $79,870.
Compare metro areas across the state on the Pennsylvania aircraft mechanic salary page, or see the national aircraft mechanic salary breakdown.
Local Employers
Where Aircraft Mechanics Work in Harrisburg
BLS counts 60 aircraft mechanic jobs in the Harrisburg metro area as of May 2025, a location quotient of 0.19.
A location quotient above 1.00 means these jobs make up a larger share of local employment than they do nationally.
Military Depot
193rd Special Operations Wing (Pennsylvania Air National Guard)
Harrisburg Air National Guard Base, Middletown, PA
The Pennsylvania Air National Guard's 193rd Special Operations Wing maintains its aircraft through a dedicated Special Operations Maintenance Group at Harrisburg Air National Guard Base.
Source: Harrisburg Air National Guard Base (Wikipedia)
Business Aviation
AvFlight Harrisburg
FBO and light aircraft maintenance shop at Harrisburg International Airport (MDT)
AvFlight Harrisburg provides light aircraft maintenance and line technician services from its FBO at Harrisburg International Airport.
Source: AvFlight Harrisburg, PA (KMDT) Network Location (avflight.com)
Airports
Commercial and Cargo Airports in the Area
Harrisburg International (MDT) recorded 727,163 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harrisburg International | MDT | Small hub | 727,163 | 347,813,380 |
| Lancaster | LNS | 8,417 |
Local Context
A Guard Wing Keeps Its Own Maintenance Crew
The Pennsylvania Air National Guard's Special Operations Wing maintains its aircraft through a dedicated Special Operations Maintenance Group based at Harrisburg Air National Guard Base in Middletown. The base sits near Harrisburg International Airport, a small-hub airport that handled 727,163 enplanements in 2024 and landed 347,813,380 pounds of cargo that year.
A Light Aircraft Shop at Harrisburg International
AvFlight Harrisburg operates a fixed-base operation and light aircraft maintenance shop at Harrisburg International Airport, working line service and light maintenance for general aviation traffic through the same airport that handles the region's commercial flights.
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Harrisburg: Common Questions
What Schools Near Harrisburg Train Aircraft Mechanics?
What Do Aircraft Mechanics Earn in Harrisburg?
Who Are the Largest Aviation Maintenance Employers in Harrisburg?
How Far Is Aviation Maintenance Training From Harrisburg?
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)
- Commercial Service Airports, CY2024 Enplanements
- Passenger Boarding (Enplanement) and All-Cargo Data for U.S. Airports
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
- 193rd Special Operations Wing (Pennsylvania Air National Guard): Harrisburg Air National Guard Base
- AvFlight Harrisburg: AvFlight Harrisburg, PA (KMDT) Network Location
All sources retrieved .
Read how we source and check school, wage, and airport data for every page on this site.