5 accredited programs at 3 schools in Hawaii, ranked for 2027: automotive, diesel and aviation maintenance. Kauai Community College in Lihue, HI has the highest score, and automotive service technicians and mechanics here earn a median $52,160.
By Trevor Rupe, Contributor at Savo Media Group Updated
At a Glance
5 ranked programs at 3 schools in Hawaii: 3 automotive, 1 diesel and 1 aviation maintenance.
Kauai Community College in Lihue, HI scores highest, 50.9 out of 100 (automotive).
BLS reports a May 2025 median of $52,160 for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023) in Hawaii.
Published prices run from $3,174 a year, in-state (Honolulu Community College) to $3,252 a year, in-state (Kauai Community College).
3 of 3 ranked mechanic schools in Hawaii are public institutions.
Top Mechanic Schools in Hawaii
These mechanic schools in Hawaii run in score order. Ranks are this state’s; each card also gives the national rank in its trade.
Rank 1
Automotive Technology
Kauai Community College
Lihue, HI
Score50.9
ASE Accredited Program
Public
Associate in Applied Science, 71 credit hours
Cost
$3,252a year, in-state
Graduation rate
48%within 150% of normal time
Auto technician pay in Hawaii
$52,160median, BLS May 2025
Awards
53in 2024-25
Why it ranks here
Ranked #217 of 415 automotive programs nationally. Ranked on a price of $3,252 a year, in-state, a 48% graduation rate and 53 awards in 2024-25.
Source: IPEDS 2024-25 (provisional), the ASE accreditation list and BLS OEWS May 2025.
Rank 2
Aeronautics Maintenance Technology (AERO)
Honolulu Community College
Honolulu, HI
Score50.5
FAA Part 147
Public
Associate in Science (AS)
Cost
$3,174a year, in-state
Graduation rate
25%within 150% of normal time
Graduate earnings
$71,687median four years after completing, associate’s level; school-wide across its mechanic programs
Awards
33in 2024-25
Why it ranks here
Ranked #86 of 148 aviation maintenance programs nationally. Scores well on a price toward the low end of ranked aviation maintenance programs ($3,174 a year, in-state) and graduates earning a median $71,687.
3 ranked automotive programs at 3 schools in Hawaii. Kauai Community College (Lihue, HI) is the best of them at #217 of 415 nationally (lower half), with 50.9 points. Honolulu Community College is the lowest priced at $3,174 a year, in-state, against $3,252 a year, in-state at Kauai Community College. Automotive programs are taught in Lihue, HI, Pearl City, HI and Honolulu, HI. The program graduated 48% of its students within 150% of normal time and awarded 53 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $52,160 for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023) in Hawaii, $1,540 above the national median of $50,620.
The one diesel program ranked in Hawaii is Honolulu Community College (Honolulu, HI): #60 of 76 nationally, in the bottom quarter, scoring 47.0. Honolulu Community College publishes $3,174 a year, in-state. The program graduated 25% of its students within 150% of normal time and awarded 19 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $80,080 for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists (SOC 49-3031) in Hawaii, $18,310 above the national median of $61,770.
Only Honolulu Community College (Honolulu, HI) makes the aviation maintenance list for Hawaii; it ranks #86 of 148 nationally, 50.5 points, in the lower half. Honolulu Community College publishes $3,174 a year, in-state. The program graduated 25% of its students within 150% of normal time and awarded 33 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $90,830 for aircraft mechanics and service technicians (SOC 49-3011) in Hawaii, $10,960 above the national median of $79,870.
BLS counts 2,710 wage and salary jobs for automotive service technicians and mechanics in Hawaii, close to the national concentration. The medians below describe each occupation in the state, not the graduates of the mechanic schools in $Hawaii above.
BLS median pay in Hawaii by occupation, May 2025
Occupation
Median
Lowest 10%
Highest 10%
Jobs
U.S. median
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics SOC 49-3023
$52,160
under $36,360
over $79,090
2,710
$50,620
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists SOC 49-3031
$80,080
under $54,330
over $100,540
690
$61,770
Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians SOC 49-3011
$90,830
under $62,570
over $130,560
1,150
$79,870
Largest metropolitan areas for automotive service technicians and mechanics: Urban Honolulu, HI at $49,020 (1,720 jobs) and Kahului-Wailuku, HI at $57,180 (440 jobs).
For bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists: Urban Honolulu, HI at $85,040 (540 jobs) and Kahului-Wailuku, HI at $72,630 (60 jobs).
For aircraft mechanics and service technicians: Urban Honolulu, HI at $90,110 (870 jobs) and Kahului-Wailuku, HI at $98,280 (120 jobs).
Mechanic Salary in Hawaii has the full percentiles, every metropolitan area BLS publishes and the five mechanic trades side by side.
Mechanic Licensing in Hawaii
Hawaii requires a mechanic credential for repair work done for pay, issued by the Motor Vehicle Repair Industry Board (DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing): motor vehicle mechanic license (requires certification).
Repair businesses are licensed or registered through the Motor Vehicle Repair Industry Board (DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing): motor vehicle repair dealer license.
For 2027, Kauai Community College in Lihue, HI has the highest score of the 5 ranked programs in Hawaii, 50.9 out of 100. Among the mechanic schools in Hawaii, the leaders by trade are Kauai Community College (automotive), Honolulu Community College (diesel) and Honolulu Community College (aviation maintenance). All three are public institutions.
Which mechanic schools in Hawaii are accredited?
The 3 ranked mechanic schools in Hawaii hold ASE Education Foundation accreditation in automotive and diesel and FAA Part 147 certification for aviation maintenance, and each met the federal entry bar for the ranking.
How much do mechanics make in Hawaii?
In the Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2025 estimates, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics in Hawaii earn a median of $52,160, $1,540 above the national median of $50,620; Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists earn a median of $80,080, $18,310 above 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 Hawaii cost?
Among the mechanic schools in Hawaii with a published price, tuition and fees run from $3,174 a year, in-state at Honolulu Community College (Honolulu, HI) to $3,252 a year, in-state at Kauai Community College (Lihue, HI). The median across the state is about $3,174 a year.
Do you need a license to work as a mechanic in Hawaii?
Hawaii requires a mechanic credential for repair work done for pay, issued by the Motor Vehicle Repair Industry Board (DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing): motor vehicle mechanic license (requires certification). Repair businesses are licensed or registered through the Motor Vehicle Repair Industry Board (DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing): motor vehicle repair dealer license.
Sources for Hawaii 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.
