Columbia at a Glance
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Columbia
4
Within 100 mi, FAA 2026
Aircraft Mechanic Jobs, Columbia Metro
260
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Metro Median Pay
$73,110
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location Quotient
0.73
BLS OEWS, May 2025
CAE Passenger Boardings
654,460
FAA, CY2024
Area covered: Columbia, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 17900).
McEntire Joint National Guard Base, a short drive southeast of Columbia, is home to the South Carolina Air National Guard's fighter wing, which maintains its fleet of fighter jets through its maintenance group. UPS Airlines also runs a regional air cargo hub at Columbia Metropolitan Airport. Local mechanics earn a median $73,110 a year, below the $79,870 U.S. median.
Aviation Institute of Maintenance Charlotte is 78 miles away, training day and evening students in Charlotte, North Carolina. Trident Technical College in North Charleston is 91.8 miles out, and Greenville Technical College is 97.9 miles away.
Within Commuting Range
FAA-Approved Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Columbia
4 FAA-approved schools are within 100 miles, nearest first. The closest is 78 miles away, in Charlotte.
Distances are straight-line miles from the center of Columbia.
Aviation Institute of Maintenance Charlotte
Charlotte, NC · 78 mi
- Program Length
- 21 months School website
Private aviation school. FAA certificate 9IMT629K.
Trident Technical College
North Charleston · 92 mi
Community college. FAA certificate EC9T107R.
Greenville Technical College
Greenville · 98 mi
Community college. FAA certificate EI9T113R.
Augusta Technical College
Thomson, GA · 100 mi
- In-State Tuition
- $3,210 IPEDS
- Graduation Rate
- 31% IPEDS
Community college. FAA certificate AU8T098K.
See all FAA-approved programs statewide on the aviation maintenance schools in South Carolina page.
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Columbia
Aircraft mechanics in the Columbia metro area earn a median of $73,110 a year ($35.15 an hour), $2,050 below the South Carolina median of $75,160.
Columbia Pay vs. South Carolina and U.S. Medians
The Columbia median is $6,760 below the U.S. median of $79,870.
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 Columbia
BLS counts 260 aircraft mechanic jobs in the Columbia metro area as of May 2025, a location quotient of 0.73.
A location quotient above 1.00 means these jobs make up a larger share of local employment than they do nationally.
Air Cargo
UPS Airlines
UPS regional air cargo hub at Columbia Metropolitan Airport
UPS Airlines opened an $80 million southeastern regional cargo hub at Columbia Metropolitan Airport in 1996, one of six such hubs in the country, sized to hold 22 aircraft on its ramp.
$80 million hub; 352,000 square feet; 44-acre ramp holding 22 DC-8 aircraft
Source: Columbia Metropolitan Airport (Wikipedia)
Military Depot
169th Fighter Wing, 169th Maintenance Group
McEntire Joint National Guard Base, Eastover, SC, about 15 miles southeast of Columbia
The South Carolina Air National Guard's 169th Fighter Wing, based at McEntire Joint National Guard Base near Columbia, maintains its F-16 fighter fleet through the 169th Maintenance Group and its subordinate maintenance and aircraft maintenance squadrons.
Source: McEntire Joint National Guard Base (Wikipedia)
Airports
Commercial and Cargo Airports in the Area
Columbia Metro (CAE) recorded 654,460 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia Metro | CAE | Small hub | 654,460 | 331,852,135 |
Local Context
A Fighter Wing and a Cargo Hub Near Columbia
The base, a short drive southeast of Columbia, is home to the South Carolina Air National Guard's fighter wing, which maintains its fleet of fighter jets through its maintenance group.
UPS Airlines runs a separate regional cargo hub at the metropolitan airport, adding a second kind of aviation maintenance employer to the metro.
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Columbia: Common Questions
What Are the Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Columbia?
What Do Aircraft Mechanics Earn in Columbia?
Who Are the Major Aviation Maintenance Employers in Columbia?
How Far Is Training From Where Mechanics Work in Columbia?
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)
- UPS Airlines: Columbia Metropolitan Airport
- 169th Fighter Wing, 169th Maintenance Group: McEntire Joint National Guard Base
All sources retrieved .
Read how we source and check school, wage, and airport data for every page on this site.