13 accredited programs at 9 schools in Alabama, ranked for 2027: automotive, diesel, collision repair and aviation maintenance. George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville in Hanceville, AL has the highest score, and bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists here earn a median $50,470.
By Trevor Rupe, Contributor at Savo Media Group Updated
At a Glance
13 ranked programs at 9 schools in Alabama: 6 automotive, 3 diesel, 1 collision repair and 3 aviation maintenance.
George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville in Hanceville, AL scores highest, 64.4 out of 100 (diesel).
BLS reports a May 2025 median of $45,640 for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023) in Alabama.
Published prices run from $4,272 a year, in-state (Gadsden State Community College) to $5,278 a year, in-state (Snead State Community College).
9 of 9 ranked mechanic schools in Alabama are public institutions.
Top Mechanic Schools in Alabama
These mechanic schools in Alabama run in score order. Ranks are this state’s; each card also gives the national rank in its trade.
Rank 1
Diesel Technology
George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville
Hanceville, AL
Score64.4
ASE Accredited Program
Public
Associate in Applied Science
Cost
$5,220a year, in-state
Graduation rate
51%within 150% of normal time
Diesel technician pay in Alabama
$50,470median, BLS May 2025
Awards
121in 2024-25
Why it ranks here
Ranked #13 of 76 diesel programs nationally. Earns its place with a price toward the low end of ranked diesel programs ($5,220 a year, in-state) and 121 awards in 2024-25, among the larger diesel programs.
Source: IPEDS 2024-25 (provisional), the ASE accreditation list and BLS OEWS May 2025.
Rank 2
Aviation Maintenance
Enterprise State Community College
Enterprise, AL
Score58.3
FAA Part 147
Public
Powerplant Technology
Cost
$5,100a year, in-state
Graduation rate
42%within 150% of normal time
Awards
263in 2024-25
Why it ranks here
Ranked #44 of 148 aviation maintenance programs nationally. Ranked on a price of $5,100 a year, in-state, a 42% graduation rate and 263 awards in 2024-25.
6 ranked automotive programs at 6 schools in Alabama. The best placed is George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville (Hanceville, AL), #181 of 415 nationally and in the upper half, scoring 53.3. Gadsden State Community College is the lowest priced at $4,272 a year, in-state, against $5,220 a year, in-state at George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville. Automotive programs are taught in Hanceville, AL, Tanner, AL, Tuscaloosa, AL, Birmingham, AL, Andalusia, AL and Gadsden, AL. The largest, in Tanner, AL, awarded 130 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $45,640 for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023) in Alabama, $4,980 below the national median of $50,620.
3 ranked diesel programs at 3 schools in Alabama. George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville (Hanceville, AL) leads and stands #13 of 76 nationally, in the top quarter, on a score of 64.4. Gadsden State Community College is the lowest priced at $4,272 a year, in-state, against $5,220 a year, in-state at George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville. Diesel programs are taught in Hanceville, AL, Tuscaloosa, AL and Gadsden, AL. The program graduated 51% of its students within 150% of normal time and awarded 121 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $50,470 for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists (SOC 49-3031) in Alabama, $11,300 below the national median of $61,770.
The one collision repair program ranked in Alabama is Gadsden State Community College (Gadsden, AL): #47 of 59 nationally, in the bottom quarter, scoring 46.2. Gadsden State Community College publishes $4,272 a year, in-state. The program graduated 38% of its students within 150% of normal time and awarded 24 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $52,040 for automotive body and related repairers (SOC 49-3021) in Alabama, $2,850 below the national median of $54,890.
3 ranked aviation maintenance programs at 3 schools in Alabama. The best placed is Enterprise State Community College (Enterprise, AL), #44 of 148 nationally and in the upper half, scoring 58.3. Coastal Alabama Community College is the lowest priced at $5,040 a year, in-state, against $5,278 a year, in-state at Snead State Community College. Aviation maintenance programs are taught in Enterprise, AL, Boaz, AL and Bay Minette, AL. The best completion rate, 49% within 150% of normal time, belongs to the program in Boaz, AL. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $82,260 for aircraft mechanics and service technicians (SOC 49-3011) in Alabama, $2,390 above the national median of $79,870.
BLS counts 9,040 wage and salary jobs for automotive service technicians and mechanics in Alabama, close to the national concentration. The medians below describe each occupation in the state, not the graduates of the mechanic schools in $Alabama above.
BLS median pay in Alabama by occupation, May 2025
Occupation
Median
Lowest 10%
Highest 10%
Jobs
U.S. median
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics SOC 49-3023
$45,640
under $31,030
over $79,230
9,040
$50,620
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists SOC 49-3031
$50,470
under $37,470
over $75,660
6,130
$61,770
Automotive Body and Related Repairers SOC 49-3021
$52,040
under $33,060
over $72,880
1,810
$54,890
Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians SOC 49-3011
$82,260
under $48,350
over $98,440
4,310
$79,870
Largest metropolitan areas for automotive service technicians and mechanics: Birmingham, AL at $47,830 (2,220 jobs), Huntsville, AL at $46,840 (940 jobs) and Mobile, AL at $47,330 (890 jobs).
For bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists: Birmingham, AL at $55,040 (1,590 jobs) and Mobile, AL at $49,880 (560 jobs).
For automotive body and related repairers: Birmingham, AL at $56,860 (400 jobs) and Mobile, AL at $58,990 (190 jobs).
For aircraft mechanics and service technicians: Mobile, AL at $82,260 (840 jobs) and Birmingham, AL at $61,040 (380 jobs).
Mechanic Salary in Alabama has the full percentiles, every metropolitan area BLS publishes and the five mechanic trades side by side.
For 2027, George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville in Hanceville, AL has the highest score of the 13 ranked programs in Alabama, 64.4 out of 100. Among the mechanic schools in Alabama, the leaders by trade are George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville (automotive), George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville (diesel), Gadsden State Community College (collision repair) and Enterprise State Community College (aviation maintenance). All nine are public institutions.
Which mechanic schools in Alabama are accredited?
The 9 ranked mechanic schools in Alabama 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 Alabama?
In the Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2025 estimates, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics in Alabama earn a median of $45,640, $4,980 below the national median of $50,620; Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists earn a median of $50,470, $11,300 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 Alabama cost?
Among the mechanic schools in Alabama with a published price, tuition and fees run from $4,272 a year, in-state at Gadsden State Community College (Gadsden, AL) to $5,278 a year, in-state at Snead State Community College (Boaz, AL). The median across the state is about $5,120 a year.
Sources for Alabama 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.
