61 accredited programs at 43 schools in Florida, ranked for 2027: automotive, diesel, collision repair and aviation maintenance. Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Orlando in Casselberry, FL has the highest score, and aircraft mechanics and service technicians here earn a median $76,940.
By Trevor Rupe, Contributor at Savo Media Group Updated
At a Glance
61 ranked programs at 43 schools in Florida: 38 automotive, 4 diesel, 8 collision repair and 11 aviation maintenance.
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Orlando in Casselberry, FL scores highest, 69.8 out of 100 (aviation maintenance).
BLS reports a May 2025 median of $48,260 for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023) in Florida.
Published prices run from $4,920 for the 26-month program (Lindsey Hopkins Technical College) to $42,345 for the 45-week program (Universal Technical Institute-Orlando).
39 of 43 ranked mechanic schools in Florida are public institutions.
Top Mechanic Schools in Florida
These mechanic schools in Florida run in score order. Ranks are this state’s; each card also gives the national rank in its trade.
Rank 1
Aviation Maintenance Technician
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Orlando
Casselberry, FL
Score69.8
FAA Part 147
Private For-Profit
Certificate, 21 months
Cost
$16,757a year
Graduation rate
83%within 150% of normal time
Aircraft mechanic pay in Florida
$76,940median, BLS May 2025
Graduate earnings
$71,513median four years after completing, certificate level; school-wide, shared by 2 campuses
Why it ranks here
Ranked #6 of 148 aviation maintenance programs nationally. Earns its place with graduates earning a median $71,513, an 83% graduation rate and 172 awards in 2024-25, among the larger aviation maintenance programs.
$43,400for the 13-month program (scored as $40,062 a year)
Graduation rate
70%within 150% of normal time
Graduate earnings
$60,060median four years after completing, associate’s level; school-wide, shared by 6 campuses
Awards
211in 2024-25
Why it ranks here
Ranked #26 of 415 automotive programs nationally. Scores well on graduates earning a median $60,060, a 70% graduation rate and 211 awards in 2024-25, among the larger automotive programs.
Source: IPEDS 2024-25 (provisional), College Scorecard and the ASE accreditation list.
Rank 3
Automotive & EV Technology
Universal Technical Institute-Orlando
Orlando, FL
Score63.6
ASE Accredited Program
Private For-Profit
Occupational Associate Degree (OAD)
Cost
$43,400for the 12-month program (scored as $43,400 a year)
Graduation rate
68%within 150% of normal time
Graduate earnings
$56,764median four years after completing, associate’s level; school-wide, shared by 3 campuses
Awards
420in 2024-25
Why it ranks here
Ranked #50 of 415 automotive programs nationally. Stands out for graduates earning a median $56,764, a 68% graduation rate and 420 awards in 2024-25, among the larger automotive programs.
38 ranked automotive programs at 38 schools in Florida. Universal Technical Institute-South Florida Miramar (Miramar, FL) leads and stands #26 of 415 nationally, in the top quarter, on a score of 65.7. Lindsey Hopkins Technical College is the lowest priced at $4,920 for the 26-month program, against $43,400 for the 12-month program at Universal Technical Institute-Orlando. Automotive programs are taught in Miramar, FL, Orlando, FL, Hollywood, FL, Gainesville, FL, Clearwater, FL and Tampa, FL, and 28 more cities. The largest, in Orlando, FL, awarded 420 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $48,260 for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023) in Florida, $2,360 below the national median of $50,620.
4 ranked diesel programs at 4 schools in Florida. The best placed is Universal Technical Institute-Orlando (Orlando, FL), #25 of 76 nationally and in the upper half, scoring 60.6. Robert Morgan Educational Center and Technical College is the lowest priced at $5,962 for the 24-month program, against $42,345 for the 45-week program at Universal Technical Institute-Orlando. Diesel programs are taught in Orlando, FL, Miramar, FL, Saint Augustine, FL and Miami, FL. The best completion rate, 77% within 150% of normal time, belongs to the program in Saint Augustine, FL. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $60,490 for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists (SOC 49-3031) in Florida, $1,280 below the national median of $61,770.
8 ranked collision repair programs at 8 schools in Florida. The best placed is Traviss Technical College (Lakeland, FL), #25 of 59 nationally and in the upper half, scoring 57.5. Hillsborough College is the lowest priced at $2,506 a year, in-state, against $6,200 for the 12-month program, in-state at Sheridan Technical College. Collision repair programs are taught in Lakeland, FL, Hollywood, FL, Tampa, FL, Fort Myers, FL, Eustis, FL and Daytona Beach, FL, and 2 more cities. The largest, in Eustis, FL, awarded 19 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $48,600 for automotive body and related repairers (SOC 49-3021) in Florida, $6,290 below the national median of $54,890.
11 ranked aviation maintenance programs at 11 schools in Florida. Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Orlando (Casselberry, FL) leads and stands #6 of 148 nationally, in the top quarter, on a score of 69.8. Eastern Florida State College is the lowest priced at $2,496 a year, in-state, against $39,900 for the 14-month program at National Aviation Academy of Tampa Bay. Aviation maintenance programs are taught in Casselberry, FL, Melbourne, FL, Miami, FL, Port Charlotte, FL, Clearwater, FL and Niceville, FL, and 5 more cities. The largest, in Clearwater, FL, awarded 330 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $76,940 for aircraft mechanics and service technicians (SOC 49-3011) in Florida, $2,930 below the national median of $79,870.
BLS counts 49,930 wage and salary jobs for automotive service technicians and mechanics in Florida, a denser market than the national average. The medians below describe each occupation in the state, not the graduates of the mechanic schools in $Florida above.
BLS median pay in Florida by occupation, May 2025
Occupation
Median
Lowest 10%
Highest 10%
Jobs
U.S. median
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics SOC 49-3023
$48,260
under $31,970
over $79,180
49,930
$50,620
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists SOC 49-3031
$60,490
under $44,300
over $79,210
14,900
$61,770
Automotive Body and Related Repairers SOC 49-3021
$48,600
under $36,390
over $93,170
9,220
$54,890
Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians SOC 49-3011
$76,940
under $45,500
over $130,190
14,850
$79,870
Largest metropolitan areas for automotive service technicians and mechanics: Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL at $49,550 (11,970 jobs), Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL at $47,880 (7,380 jobs) and Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL at $47,850 (6,480 jobs).
For bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists: Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL at $61,340 (4,240 jobs) and Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL at $60,240 (1,960 jobs).
For automotive body and related repairers: Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL at $51,680 (2,430 jobs) and Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL at $47,060 (1,800 jobs).
For aircraft mechanics and service technicians: Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL at $78,260 (6,460 jobs) and Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL at $92,430 (2,380 jobs).
Mechanic Salary in Florida has the full percentiles, every metropolitan area BLS publishes and the five mechanic trades side by side.
Mechanic Licensing in Florida
Repair businesses are licensed or registered through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: motor vehicle repair shop registration.
For 2027, Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Orlando in Casselberry, FL has the highest score of the 61 ranked programs in Florida, 69.8 out of 100. Among the mechanic schools in Florida, the leaders by trade are Universal Technical Institute-South Florida Miramar (automotive), Universal Technical Institute-Orlando (diesel), Traviss Technical College (collision repair) and Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Orlando (aviation maintenance). 39 of the 43 ranked schools with a recorded control are public.
Which mechanic schools in Florida are accredited?
The 43 ranked mechanic schools in Florida hold ASE Education Foundation accreditation in automotive, diesel and collision repair and FAA Part 147 certification for aviation maintenance, and each met the federal entry bar for the ranking.
How much do mechanics make in Florida?
In the Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2025 estimates, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics in Florida earn a median of $48,260, $2,360 below the national median of $50,620; Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists earn a median of $60,490, $1,280 below the national median of $61,770. These are medians for wage and salary workers in the occupation, not starting pay.
How much do mechanic schools in Florida cost?
Among the mechanic schools in Florida with a published price, tuition and fees run from $4,920 for the 26-month program at Lindsey Hopkins Technical College (Miami, FL) to $42,345 for the 45-week program at Universal Technical Institute-Orlando (Orlando, FL). The median across the state is about $3,930 a year.
Do you need a license to work as a mechanic in Florida?
Repair businesses are licensed or registered through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: motor vehicle repair shop registration.
Sources for Florida Mechanic School Rankings
U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS Completions (awards July 2024 to June 2025, provisional), tuition and fees for 2024-25, graduation rates within 150% of normal time and the institutional directory.
This site earns money from sponsored school listings served by the education ad network Esyoh, which are marked as ads wherever they appear. Schools pay to appear in those listings, not in the rankings: a listing is not scored, and no listing can change a ranking. Rankings come from published records, and program details from each school’s own published pages.
