Charleston at a Glance
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Charleston
3
Within 100 mi, FAA 2026
Aircraft Mechanic Jobs, Charleston Metro
380
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Metro Median Pay
$81,690
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location Quotient
1.09
BLS OEWS, May 2025
CHS Passenger Boardings
3,115,194
FAA, CY2024
Area covered: Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 16700).
Boeing assembles Dreamliner jets at its North Charleston campus, which shares a joint-use airfield with Charleston International Airport. Local aircraft mechanics and service technicians earn a median $81,690 a year, above the $79,870 U.S. median, with employment concentration here running 1.09 times the national rate.
Training is within reach. Trident Technical College is 7.5 miles away in North Charleston, training at the S.C. Aeronautical Training Center. Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics in Myrtle Beach is 83.4 miles out, and Savannah Technical College across the state line in Georgia is 86.6 miles away.
Within Commuting Range
FAA-Approved Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Charleston
3 FAA-approved schools are within 100 miles, nearest first. The closest is 8 miles away, in North Charleston.
Distances are straight-line miles from the center of Charleston.
Trident Technical College
North Charleston · 8 mi
Community college. FAA certificate EC9T107R.
Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics, Myrtle Beach Campus
Myrtle Beach · 83 mi
- Program Length
- 16 months School website
Private aviation school. FAA certificate 3PIT597K.
Savannah Technical College
Savannah, GA · 87 mi
- In-State Tuition
- $2,568 IPEDS
- Graduation Rate
- 42% IPEDS
Community college. FAA certificate 40ST600K.
See all FAA-approved programs statewide on the aviation maintenance schools in South Carolina page.
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Charleston
Aircraft mechanics in the Charleston metro area earn a median of $81,690 a year ($39.28 an hour), $6,530 above the South Carolina median of $75,160.
Charleston Pay vs. South Carolina and U.S. Medians
The Charleston median is $1,820 above the U.S. median of $79,870.
Avionics Technician Pay in Charleston
BLS counts 60 avionics technicians in the Charleston metro area, with a median of $84,930 a year.
Compare metro areas across the state on the South Carolina aircraft mechanic salary page, or see the national aircraft mechanic salary breakdown.
Local Employers
Where Aircraft Mechanics Work in Charleston
BLS counts 380 aircraft mechanic jobs in the Charleston metro area as of May 2025, a location quotient of 1.09.
A location quotient above 1.00 means these jobs make up a larger share of local employment than they do nationally.
Manufacturer
Boeing South Carolina
787 Dreamliner final assembly and delivery campus on the grounds of Charleston Air Force Base and Charleston International Airport, North Charleston
Boeing builds and delivers the full 787-8, 787-9 and 787-10 Dreamliner line at its North Charleston campus, which sits on the joint-use airfield with Charleston International Airport.
More than 7,800 teammates work at the site
Source: Boeing South Carolina - Our Story (weareboeingsc.com)
Military Depot
437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
C-17 Globemaster III maintenance squadron at Joint Base Charleston (Charleston AFB)
The 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Joint Base Charleston is staffed by active duty, civilian and Air Reserve technicians who maintain the Air Force's largest C-17 fleet.
Nearly 700 Total Force Integrated maintainers
Source: 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Fact Sheet - Joint Base Charleston (jbcharleston.jb.mil)
Airports
Commercial and Cargo Airports in the Area
Charleston AFB/International (CHS) recorded 3,115,194 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston AFB/International | CHS | Medium hub | 3,115,194 | 169,609,880 |
Local Context
A Dreamliner Campus and an Air Force Flight Line
Boeing assembles Dreamliner jets at its North Charleston campus, which sits on a joint-use airfield it shares with Charleston International Airport.
The Air Force base on that same airfield is home to a maintenance squadron staffed by active duty, civilian and Air Reserve technicians who keep the base's airlift fleet flying.
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Charleston: Common Questions
What Schools Near Charleston Train Aircraft Mechanics?
What Do Aircraft Mechanics Earn in Charleston?
What Are the Major Aviation Maintenance Employers in Charleston?
How Far Is Training From Where Mechanics Work in Charleston?
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)
- 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)
- Boeing South Carolina: Boeing South Carolina - Our Story
- 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron: 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Fact Sheet - Joint Base Charleston
All sources retrieved .
Read how we source and check school, wage, and airport data for every page on this site.