25 accredited programs at 17 schools in Pennsylvania, ranked for 2027: automotive, diesel, collision repair and aviation maintenance. Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics in West Mifflin, PA has the highest score, and aircraft mechanics and service technicians here earn a median $78,000.
By Trevor Rupe, Contributor at Savo Media Group Updated
At a Glance
25 ranked programs at 17 schools in Pennsylvania: 15 automotive, 3 diesel, 3 collision repair and 4 aviation maintenance.
Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics in West Mifflin, PA scores highest, 73.0 out of 100 (aviation maintenance).
BLS reports a May 2025 median of $49,800 for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023) in Pennsylvania.
Published prices run from $4,632 a year, in-district (Community College of Philadelphia) to $47,450 for the 14-month program (Universal Technical Institute of Pennsylvania).
9 of 17 ranked mechanic schools in Pennsylvania are public institutions.
Top Mechanic Schools in Pennsylvania
These mechanic schools in Pennsylvania run in score order. Ranks are this state’s; each card also gives the national rank in its trade.
Rank 1
Aviation Maintenance Technology (AMT)
Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics
West Mifflin, PA
Score73.0
FAA Part 147
Private Nonprofit
Certificate
Cost
$18,730a year
Graduation rate
76%within 150% of normal time
Aircraft mechanic pay in Pennsylvania
$78,000median, BLS May 2025
Graduate earnings
$81,408median four years after completing, certificate level
Why it ranks here
Ranked #1 of 148 aviation maintenance programs nationally. Earns its place with graduates earning a median $81,408, a 76% graduation rate and 337 awards in 2024-25, among the larger aviation maintenance programs. Its figures cover its accredited sites in Hagerstown, MD; Vienna, OH; West Mifflin, PA; Myrtle Beach, SC.
Source: IPEDS 2024-25 (provisional), College Scorecard and the ASE accreditation list.
Rank 3
Aviation Maintenance Technician
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA
Score64.6
FAA Part 147
Private For-Profit
Certificate, 21 months
Cost
$16,757a year
Graduation rate
63%within 150% of normal time
Graduate earnings
$70,361median four years after completing, certificate level
Awards
121in 2024-25
Why it ranks here
Ranked #19 of 148 aviation maintenance programs nationally. Stands out for graduates earning a median $70,361, a 63% graduation rate and 121 awards in 2024-25.
15 ranked automotive programs at 15 schools in Pennsylvania. Universal Technical Institute of Pennsylvania (Exton, PA) leads and stands #56 of 415 nationally, in the top quarter, on a score of 63.3. Community College of Philadelphia is the lowest priced at $4,632 a year, in-district, against $49,950 for the 16-month program at Universal Technical Institute of Pennsylvania. Automotive programs are taught in Exton, PA, Williamsport, PA, Levittown, PA, Pittsburgh, PA, Bethlehem, PA and York, PA, and 7 more cities. The best completion rate, 91% within 150% of normal time, belongs to the program in Willow Street, PA. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $49,800 for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023) in Pennsylvania, $820 below the national median of $50,620.
3 ranked diesel programs at 3 schools in Pennsylvania. The best placed is Pennsylvania College of Technology (Williamsport, PA), #20 of 76 nationally and in the upper half, scoring 62.8. Pennsylvania College of Technology is the lowest priced at $18,240 a year, in-state, against $47,450 for the 14-month program at Universal Technical Institute of Pennsylvania. Diesel programs are taught in Williamsport, PA, Exton, PA and Pittsburgh, PA. The largest, in Exton, PA, awarded 90 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $61,740 for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists (SOC 49-3031) in Pennsylvania, $30 below the national median of $61,770.
3 ranked collision repair programs at 3 schools in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania College of Technology (Williamsport, PA) leads and stands #11 of 59 nationally, in the top quarter, on a score of 64.7. Pennsylvania College of Technology is the lowest priced at $18,240 a year, in-state, against $38,880 for the 16-month program at Automotive Training Center-Warminster. Collision repair programs are taught in Williamsport, PA, Exton, PA and Warminster, PA. The largest, in Exton, PA, awarded 29 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $53,660 for automotive body and related repairers (SOC 49-3021) in Pennsylvania, $1,230 below the national median of $54,890.
4 ranked aviation maintenance programs at 4 schools in Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics (West Mifflin, PA) leads and stands #1 of 148 nationally, in the top quarter, on a score of 73.0. Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia is the lowest priced at $16,757 a year, against $21,225 a year at Johnson College. Aviation maintenance programs are taught in West Mifflin, PA, Philadelphia, PA, Williamsport, PA and Scranton, PA. The program graduated 76% of its students within 150% of normal time and awarded 337 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $78,000 for aircraft mechanics and service technicians (SOC 49-3011) in Pennsylvania, $1,870 below the national median of $79,870.
BLS counts 29,400 wage and salary jobs for automotive service technicians and mechanics in Pennsylvania, close to the national concentration. The medians below describe each occupation in the state, not the graduates of the mechanic schools in $Pennsylvania above.
BLS median pay in Pennsylvania by occupation, May 2025
Occupation
Median
Lowest 10%
Highest 10%
Jobs
U.S. median
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics SOC 49-3023
$49,800
under $35,600
over $77,630
29,400
$50,620
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists SOC 49-3031
$61,740
under $45,910
over $80,440
12,630
$61,770
Automotive Body and Related Repairers SOC 49-3021
$53,660
under $34,840
over $78,310
6,650
$54,890
Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians SOC 49-3011
$78,000
under $48,560
over $136,510
2,080
$79,870
Largest metropolitan areas for automotive service technicians and mechanics: Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD at $58,460 (12,700 jobs), Pittsburgh, PA at $48,900 (6,430 jobs) and Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ at $57,810 (1,830 jobs).
For bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists: Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD at $64,550 (4,490 jobs) and Pittsburgh, PA at $60,280 (2,070 jobs).
For automotive body and related repairers: Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD at $59,000 (2,660 jobs) and Pittsburgh, PA at $51,380 (1,330 jobs).
For aircraft mechanics and service technicians: Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD at $84,100 (1,280 jobs) and Pittsburgh, PA at $72,090 (510 jobs).
Mechanic Salary in Pennsylvania has the full percentiles, every metropolitan area BLS publishes and the five mechanic trades side by side.
Mechanic Licensing in Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) issues certified safety inspector for state inspection or emissions work, which is separate from general repair.
What are the best mechanic schools in Pennsylvania?
For 2027, Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics in West Mifflin, PA has the highest score of the 25 ranked programs in Pennsylvania, 73.0 out of 100. Among the mechanic schools in Pennsylvania, the leaders by trade are Universal Technical Institute of Pennsylvania (automotive), Pennsylvania College of Technology (diesel), Pennsylvania College of Technology (collision repair) and Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics (aviation maintenance). 9 of the 17 ranked schools with a recorded control are public.
Which mechanic schools in Pennsylvania are accredited?
The 17 ranked mechanic schools in Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania?
In the Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2025 estimates, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics in Pennsylvania earn a median of $49,800, $820 below the national median of $50,620; Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists earn a median of $61,740, $30 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 Pennsylvania cost?
Among the mechanic schools in Pennsylvania with a published price, tuition and fees run from $4,632 a year, in-district at Community College of Philadelphia (Philadelphia, PA) to $47,450 for the 14-month program at Universal Technical Institute of Pennsylvania (Exton, PA). The median across the state is about $18,730 a year.
Do you need a license to work as a mechanic in Pennsylvania?
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) issues certified safety inspector for state inspection or emissions work, which is separate from general repair.
Sources for Pennsylvania 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.
