--- title: "Aircraft Mechanic Programs in Illinois: Pay & Tuition" canonical: https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/aircraft-mechanic/illinois/ description: "Aircraft Mechanic pay in Illinois: BLS average $88,650 (all experience levels), median $81,680, bottom 10% $46,460. 12 listed programs." updated: 2026-11-03 wage_source: "BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15" --- 1. [Home](https://highpayingtrades.com/) 2. [Trades](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/) 3. [Aircraft Mechanic](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/aircraft-mechanic/) 4. Illinois Illinois # Aircraft Mechanic programs in *Illinois* 12 listed aircraft mechanic programs in Illinois, plus BLS pay data for the state and 5 metro areas. - **$88,650** Average pay (state, all experience levels) - **$46,460** Entry-level / bottom 10% - **$81,680** Median pay (state) - **$130,950** Top 10% earn over 3,370 jobs in Illinois · 12 listed programs. Average = BLS mean across all experience levels, not starting pay. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. Cities with listed programs - [Belleville 3](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/aircraft-mechanic/illinois/belleville/) - [Rockford 3](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/aircraft-mechanic/illinois/rockford/) - [Springfield 3](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/aircraft-mechanic/illinois/springfield/) - [Romeoville 2](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/aircraft-mechanic/illinois/romeoville/) - [Chicago 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/aircraft-mechanic/illinois/chicago/) BLS wage data ## Aircraft Mechanic pay in Illinois Annual wages from the BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. | Area | 10th pct | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | 90th pct | Mean | Employed | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Illinois | $46,460 | $57,720 | $81,680 | $126,500 | $130,950 | $88,650 | 3,370 | | United States | $48,780 | $62,630 | $79,870 | $99,130 | $128,890 | $84,740 | 138,090 | Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. ### Metro areas | Area | 10th pct | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | 90th pct | Mean | Employed | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $50,060 | $75,500 | $100,610 | $130,950 | $130,950 | $101,600 | 2,090 | | St. Louis, MO-IL | $47,980 | $62,500 | $77,600 | $86,780 | $106,890 | $75,620 | 890 | | Peoria, IL | $58,870 | $66,920 | $68,450 | $77,580 | $82,950 | $71,010 | 50 | | Springfield, IL | $45,820 | $45,820 | $60,860 | $81,120 | $90,170 | $67,380 | 60 | | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $38,570 | $43,620 | $54,690 | $73,980 | $83,870 | $59,760 | 60 | Metropolitan area estimates, BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. Only areas BLS published are shown. Programs ## Listed programs in Illinois Every aircraft mechanic program we matched in Illinois. Schools with published tuition are listed first. | Program / provider | Location | Type | Graduates 2023-24 | Tuition | Source | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Chicago](https://aviationmaintenance.edu/campuses/chicago-il) Airframe Mechanics and Aircraft Maintenance Technology/Technician | Chicago, IL | Certificate (2-4 years) | 82 | $16,657 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 47.0607 | | [Lewis University](https://www.lewisu.edu/) Airframe Mechanics and Aircraft Maintenance Technology/Technician | Romeoville, IL | Certificate (1-2 years) | 0 | $40,700 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 47.0607 | | [Lewis University](https://www.lewisu.edu/) Airframe Mechanics and Aircraft Maintenance Technology/Technician | Romeoville, IL | Associate degree | 4 | $40,700 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 47.0607 | | [Lincoln Land Community College](https://www.llcc.edu/) Airframe Mechanics and Aircraft Maintenance Technology/Technician | Springfield, IL | Certificate (1-2 years) | 10 | $3,828–$10,716 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 47.0607 | | [Lincoln Land Community College](https://www.llcc.edu/) Airframe Mechanics and Aircraft Maintenance Technology/Technician | Springfield, IL | Associate degree | 4 | $3,828–$10,716 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 47.0607 | | [Lincoln Land Community College](https://www.llcc.edu/) Aircraft Powerplant Technology/Technician | Springfield, IL | Certificate (1-2 years) | 14 | $3,828–$10,716 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 47.0608 | | [Rock Valley College](https://www.rockvalleycollege.edu/) Airframe Mechanics and Aircraft Maintenance Technology/Technician | Rockford, IL | Certificate (1-2 years) | 85 | $4,324–$7,414 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 47.0607 | | [Rock Valley College](https://www.rockvalleycollege.edu/) Airframe Mechanics and Aircraft Maintenance Technology/Technician | Rockford, IL | Associate degree | 46 | $4,324–$7,414 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 47.0607 | | [Rock Valley College](https://www.rockvalleycollege.edu/) Aircraft Powerplant Technology/Technician | Rockford, IL | Certificate (1-2 years) | 41 | $4,324–$7,414 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 47.0608 | | [Southwestern Illinois College](https://www.swic.edu/) Airframe Mechanics and Aircraft Maintenance Technology/Technician | Belleville, IL | Certificate (1-2 years) | 25 | $4,590–$7,320 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 47.0607 | | [Southwestern Illinois College](https://www.swic.edu/) Airframe Mechanics and Aircraft Maintenance Technology/Technician | Belleville, IL | Associate degree | 38 | $4,590–$7,320 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 47.0607 | | [Southwestern Illinois College](https://www.swic.edu/) Aircraft Powerplant Technology/Technician | Belleville, IL | Certificate (1-2 years) | 28 | $4,590–$7,320 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 47.0608 | Schools: NCES IPEDS Completions 2023-24, matched by 6-digit CIP code; “Graduates 2023-24” is the number of first-major certificates or associate degrees the school awarded in that program from July 2023 to June 2024 (IPEDS). Tuition: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (updated 2026-10-15), matched by IPEDS unit ID; it is the published figure, not a quote. Apprenticeship sponsors: DOL Office of Apprenticeship partner file (retrieved 2026-10-29); apprenticeships are typically paid, so no tuition is listed — contact the program. ### Browse by city - [Belleville 3](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/aircraft-mechanic/illinois/belleville/) - [Rockford 3](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/aircraft-mechanic/illinois/rockford/) - [Springfield 3](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/aircraft-mechanic/illinois/springfield/) - [Romeoville 2](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/aircraft-mechanic/illinois/romeoville/) - [Chicago 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/aircraft-mechanic/illinois/chicago/) Related resources ## Keep researching [**Trade schools approved for the GI Bill** Search programs that accept VA education benefits. · VeteranTradeSchools.com](https://veterantradeschools.com/) [**Registered apprenticeships in Illinois** The full DOL sponsor list for the state. · RegisteredTradeSchools.com](https://registeredtradeschools.com/apprenticeships/il/) ## Sources - **Wages:** U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15 ([news release USDL-26-0725](https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/ocwage_05152026.htm); [data tables](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm)). Cross-checked against the BLS Public Data API on 2026-11-03. - **Occupation:** O\*NET OnLine, [49-3011.00 Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/49-3011.00), retrieved 2026-11-03 (CC BY 4.0). - **Apprenticeship sponsors:** U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship: partner sponsors file, retrieved 2026-10-29 ([Partner Finder](https://www.apprenticeship.gov/partner-finder)). - **Schools & graduates:** U.S. Department of Education, NCES IPEDS Completions 2023-24 (C2024\_A) and Institutional Characteristics (HD2024), award year 2023-24, matched by 6-digit CIP code ([completions file](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/datacenter/data/C2024_A.zip); [CIP-SOC crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/Files/CIP2020_SOC2018_Crosswalk.xlsx)). - **Tuition:** U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (Most Recent Cohorts: Institution + Field of Study), data updated 2026-10-15, matched by IPEDS unit ID ([source](https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/)). Program listings are matched from public files by occupation code or organization name; they are not endorsements and we have not visited or tested any program. Confirm schedules, entry requirements and costs with the program. Compiled by the HighPayingTrades team; last refreshed 2026-11-03. --- Canonical HTML: https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/aircraft-mechanic/illinois/ Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15 (https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/ocwage_05152026.htm). Programs: NCES IPEDS 2023-24 completions; DOL Office of Apprenticeship. Tuition: College Scorecard.