Milwaukee at a Glance
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Milwaukee
4
Within 100 mi, FAA 2026
Aircraft Mechanic Jobs, Milwaukee Metro
510
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Metro Median Pay
$74,480
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location Quotient
0.70
BLS OEWS, May 2025
MKE Passenger Boardings
3,104,054
FAA, CY2024
Area covered: Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 33340).
General Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee hosts two very different aviation maintenance operations under one roof. SkyWest Airlines runs an aircraft maintenance base there, and the Wisconsin Air National Guard keeps its KC-135R Stratotankers flying through a maintenance group at the same airfield. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians in the metro earn a median $74,480 a year.
Training starts close to home. Milwaukee Area Technical College is 9.8 miles from downtown, with an Aviation Maintenance Technician program leading to a general FAA certificate. Fox Valley Technical College in Oshkosh is 69 miles out, with an Airframe and Powerplant Mechanics program for those willing to commute farther.
Within Commuting Range
FAA-Approved Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Milwaukee
4 FAA-approved schools are within 100 miles, nearest first. The closest is 10 miles away.
Distances are straight-line miles from the center of Milwaukee.
Milwaukee Area Technical College
Milwaukee · 10 mi
Community college. FAA certificate CF9T058R.
Fox Valley Technical College
Oshkosh · 69 mi
- In-State Tuition
- $4,485 IPEDS
- Graduation Rate
- 65% IPEDS
Community college. FAA certificate OAYT031K.
Rock Valley College
Rockford, IL · 82 mi
- In-State Tuition
- $6,795 IPEDS
- Graduation Rate
- 37% IPEDS
Community college. FAA certificate BS9T045R.
Aviation Institute of Maintenance Chicago
Chicago, IL · 87 mi
Private aviation school. FAA certificate AMRT647K.
See all FAA-approved programs statewide on the aviation maintenance schools in Wisconsin page.
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Milwaukee
Aircraft mechanics in the Milwaukee metro area earn a median of $74,480 a year ($35.81 an hour), $550 above the Wisconsin median of $73,930.
Milwaukee Pay vs. Wisconsin and U.S. Medians
The Milwaukee median is $5,390 below the U.S. median of $79,870.
Avionics Technician Pay in Milwaukee
BLS counts 30 avionics technicians in the Milwaukee metro area, with a median of $83,080 a year.
Compare metro areas across the state on the Wisconsin aircraft mechanic salary page, or see the national aircraft mechanic salary breakdown.
Local Employers
Where Aircraft Mechanics Work in Milwaukee
BLS counts 510 aircraft mechanic jobs in the Milwaukee metro area as of May 2025, a location quotient of 0.70.
A location quotient above 1.00 means these jobs make up a larger share of local employment than they do nationally.
Airline Maintenance
SkyWest Airlines
Aircraft maintenance base at General Mitchell International Airport, Milwaukee, WI
SkyWest Airlines established an aircraft maintenance base at Milwaukee's General Mitchell International Airport in 2018.
Source: General Mitchell International Airport (Wikipedia) (Wikipedia)
Military Depot
128th Air Refueling Wing (Wisconsin Air National Guard)
128th Maintenance Group, General Mitchell Air National Guard Base, Milwaukee, WI
The Wisconsin Air National Guard's 128th Air Refueling Wing operates and maintains KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft at General Mitchell Air National Guard Base through its dedicated Maintenance Group.
Source: 128th Air Refueling Wing (Wikipedia) (Wikipedia)
Airports
Commercial and Cargo Airports in the Area
General Mitchell International (MKE) recorded 3,104,054 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Mitchell International | MKE | Medium hub | 3,104,054 | 508,551,880 |
Local Context
A Military Maintenance Group Shares the Airfield
The Wisconsin Air National Guard keeps a maintenance group at General Mitchell Air National Guard Base, working on KC-135R Stratotankers alongside the airport's commercial traffic. SkyWest Airlines also runs an aircraft maintenance base at the same field, giving Milwaukee mechanics two very different employers within one gate.
Cargo Moves Through the Same Runways
General Mitchell International landed 508,551,880 pounds of cargo in 2024, alongside its role as home to both an airline maintenance base and a military maintenance group. That mix gives mechanics work tied to passenger jets, tankers, and freight without changing employers far from home.
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Milwaukee: Common Questions
What Schools Near Milwaukee Train Aircraft Mechanics?
What Do Aircraft Mechanics Earn in Milwaukee?
Who Are the Largest Aviation Maintenance Employers in Milwaukee?
How Far Is Training From Where Mechanics Work?
Do Hours Working 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)
- SkyWest Airlines: General Mitchell International Airport (Wikipedia)
- 128th Air Refueling Wing (Wisconsin Air National Guard): 128th Air Refueling Wing (Wikipedia)
All sources retrieved .
Read how we source and check school, wage, and airport data for every page on this site.