Tennessee Metro Area Guide

Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Knoxville, TN

Compare the 4 aviation maintenance schools near Knoxville, 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

TennesseeKentuckyNorth CarolinaGeorgiaSouth CarolinaVirginia 100 mi 15 mi35 mi84 mi93 mi Knoxville
  • Knoxville center
  • School, miles from center
  • 100-mile radius

Schools near Knoxville, by straight-line distance

  • Pellissippi State Community College (Maryville): 15 miles
  • Tennessee College of Applied Technology Morristown (Morristown): 35 miles
  • Somerset Community College (Somerset): 84 miles
  • Northeast State Community College (Blountville): 93 miles

Knoxville at a Glance

Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Knoxville

4

Within 100 mi, FAA 2026

Aircraft Mechanic Jobs, Knoxville Metro

300

BLS OEWS, May 2025

Metro Median Pay

$67,300

BLS OEWS, May 2025

Location Quotient

0.80

BLS OEWS, May 2025

TYS Passenger Boardings

1,639,080

FAA, CY2024

Area covered: Knoxville, TN Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 28940).

Knoxville's aviation maintenance work centers on McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, where the Tennessee Air National Guard's air refueling wing keeps 10 KC-135R aircraft flying and a new hangar is coming for incoming refueling tankers. Local aircraft mechanics and service technicians earn a median $67,300 a year, below the $79,870 U.S. median, while avionics equipment mechanics carry a location quotient of 1.8, well above the national average.

Four schools sit within reach. Pellissippi State Community College's Blount County campus, 15.3 miles away, pairs an AAS in aviation technology with FAA exam prep. Tennessee College of Applied Technology Morristown is 35.4 miles out with an airframe and powerplant diploma. Somerset Community College, in Somerset, Kentucky, is 84.1 miles away, and Northeast State Community College is 93.3 miles out in Blountville.

Within Commuting Range

FAA-Approved Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Knoxville

4 FAA-approved schools are within 100 miles, nearest first. The closest is 15 miles away, in Maryville.

Distances are straight-line miles from the center of Knoxville.

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

BLS Wage Data

Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Knoxville

Aircraft mechanics in the Knoxville metro area earn a median of $67,300 a year ($32.36 an hour), $13,740 below the Tennessee median of $81,040.

Aircraft Mechanic Salary, Knoxville Metro $67,300median/yr ($32.36/hr)
$44,490 $87,620
Box shows the 25th to 75th percentile. Line spans the 10th to 90th percentile. BLS OEWS, May 2025.

Knoxville Pay vs. Tennessee and U.S. Medians

The Knoxville median is $12,570 below the U.S. median of $79,870.

Median Annual Aircraft Mechanic Wage
Knoxville metro $67,300
Tennessee statewide $81,040
United States $79,870

BLS OEWS, May 2025

Avionics Technician Pay in Knoxville

BLS counts 90 avionics technicians in the Knoxville metro area, with a median of $52,190 a year.

Avionics Technicians, Knoxville Metro $52,190median/yr ($25.09/hr)
$40,910 $82,230
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 Tennessee aircraft mechanic salary page, or see the national aircraft mechanic salary breakdown.

Local Employers

Where Aircraft Mechanics Work in Knoxville

BLS counts 300 aircraft mechanic jobs in the Knoxville metro area as of May 2025, a location quotient of 0.80.

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

  • Military Depot

    134th Air Refueling Wing (Tennessee Air National Guard)

    McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Knoxville, TN

    The 134th Air Refueling Wing at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base in Knoxville maintains KC-135 refueling tankers through its 134th Maintenance Group, and the base is slated to gain a new maintenance hangar for incoming KC-46A tankers.

    Responsibilities include more than 1,170 personnel and 10 KC-135R aircraft

    Source: Commander, 134th Air Refueling Wing - Tennessee.gov (tn.gov)

  • Xpress Aircraft Maintenance

    General aviation maintenance shop at Knoxville Downtown Island Airport

    Xpress Aircraft Maintenance is the certified maintenance provider for general aviation aircraft at Knoxville Downtown Island Airport, servicing Cessna, Pilatus, Beechcraft, and Cirrus aircraft.

    Source: Getting to Know: Xpress Aircraft Maintenance - Downtown Island Airport (dkxairport.com)

Airports

Commercial and Cargo Airports in the Area

McGhee Tyson (TYS) recorded 1,639,080 passenger boardings in 2024, the most of the airports listed here.

FAA Commercial Service and All-Cargo Airports, Knoxville Area
AirportFAA IDHub ClassPassenger Boardings, 2024All-Cargo Landed Weight, 2024 (lb)
McGhee TysonTYSSmall hub1,639,080262,476,610
FAA CY2024 enplanement and all-cargo landed weight data.

Local Context

A Refueling Wing Keeps Its Tankers Flying

McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base is home to the Tennessee Air National Guard's air refueling wing, whose maintenance group keeps 10 KC-135R aircraft mission-ready for refueling missions. The base is slated to gain a new maintenance hangar built for incoming refueling tankers, a sign the maintenance workload here keeps growing rather than shrinking.

General Aviation Work at Downtown Island Airport

Not all the maintenance work in Knoxville happens on a Guard base. Xpress Aircraft Maintenance, the certified provider at Knoxville Downtown Island Airport, services Cessna, Pilatus, Beechcraft, and Cirrus aircraft. That kind of shop gives mechanics experience with turboprops and piston aircraft, a different skill set than refueling tankers.

Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Knoxville: Common Questions

What Schools Near Knoxville Train Aircraft Mechanics?
Pellissippi State Community College is 15.3 miles away, Tennessee College of Applied Technology Morristown is 35.4 miles away, Somerset Community College in Kentucky is 84.1 miles away, and Northeast State Community College is 93.3 miles away. All four lead toward FAA Airframe and Powerplant certification.

What Do Aircraft Mechanics Earn in Knoxville?
Aircraft mechanics and service technicians in the Knoxville metro earn a median $67,300 a year, with the middle half earning between $56,220 and $73,660. That sits below the $79,870 U.S. median for the occupation.

Who Are the Largest Aviation Maintenance Employers in Knoxville?
The Tennessee Air National Guard's air refueling wing at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base maintains KC-135 refueling tankers. Xpress Aircraft Maintenance, at Knoxville Downtown Island Airport, services general aviation aircraft including Cessna, Pilatus, Beechcraft, and Cirrus models.

How Far Is Training From Where Mechanics Work in Knoxville?
Pellissippi State Community College is 15.3 miles from downtown Knoxville. Tennessee College of Applied Technology Morristown is 35.4 miles out, a commute many students make from across the wider metro.

Do Hours at a Local Employer Count Toward FAA Certification?
Yes. Documented practical experience under 14 CFR Part 65 counts toward the FAA's mechanic certification requirements, whether it's gained at a Guard base, a repair station, or another aviation employer in the Knoxville area.

More Metro Guides

Aviation Maintenance Schools in Other Metro Areas

Aviation Maintenance Schools in TennesseeEvery FAA-approved aviation maintenance school in Tennessee, with locations and program facts.Aircraft Mechanic Salary in TennesseeBLS May 2025 pay and employment for Tennessee, by metro area.Aircraft Mechanic Salary in the U.S.National median, percentile spread, and top-paying states and industries.How to Become an Aircraft MechanicThe FAA routes to the mechanic certificate, from an FAA-approved school to testing.What Aviation Maintenance School CostsCompare published program prices, in-state and out-of-state rates, and FAA test fees.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.

Tennessee

Compare Every Aviation Maintenance School in Tennessee

See all 8 FAA-approved schools in Tennessee side by side.

Tennessee Schools