8 accredited programs at 7 schools in New Jersey, ranked for 2027: automotive, diesel and aviation maintenance. Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Teterboro in Hasbrouck Heights, NJ has the highest score, and aircraft mechanics and service technicians here earn a median $105,370.
By Trevor Rupe, Contributor at Savo Media Group Updated
At a Glance
8 ranked programs at 7 schools in New Jersey: 5 automotive, 2 diesel and 1 aviation maintenance.
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Teterboro in Hasbrouck Heights, NJ scores highest, 69.7 out of 100 (aviation maintenance).
BLS reports a May 2025 median of $56,610 for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023) in New Jersey.
Published prices run from $5,160 a year, in-district (Rowan College of South Jersey-Gloucester Campus) to $40,250 for the 11-month program (Universal Technical Institute-Bloomfield).
2 of 7 ranked mechanic schools in New Jersey are public institutions.
Top Mechanic Schools in New Jersey
These mechanic schools in New Jersey run in score order. Ranks are this state’s; each card also gives the national rank in its trade.
Rank 1
Aviation Maintenance Technician Program
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Teterboro
Hasbrouck Heights, NJ
Score69.7
FAA Part 147
Private For-Profit
Certificate
Cost
$16,757a year
Graduation rate
70%within 150% of normal time
Aircraft mechanic pay in New Jersey
$105,370median, BLS May 2025
Graduate earnings
$71,246median four years after completing, certificate level
Why it ranks here
Ranked #7 of 148 aviation maintenance programs nationally. Earns its place with graduates earning a median $71,246, a 70% graduation rate and 289 awards in 2024-25, among the larger aviation maintenance programs.
Source: IPEDS 2024-25 (provisional), College Scorecard, the FAA school list and BLS OEWS May 2025.
Rank 2
Automotive & EV Technology
Universal Technical Institute-Bloomfield
Bloomfield, NJ
Score64.1
ASE Accredited Program
Private For-Profit
Certificate, 51 weeks
Cost
$42,700for the 13-month program (scored as $39,415 a year)
Graduation rate
67%within 150% of normal time
Graduate earnings
$58,012median four years after completing, certificate level; school-wide, shared by 5 campuses
Awards
493in 2024-25
Why it ranks here
Ranked #43 of 415 automotive programs nationally. Scores well on graduates earning a median $58,012, a 67% graduation rate and 493 awards in 2024-25, among the larger automotive programs.
5 ranked automotive programs at 5 schools in New Jersey. Universal Technical Institute-Bloomfield (Bloomfield, NJ) leads and stands #43 of 415 nationally, in the top quarter, on a score of 64.1. Rowan College of South Jersey-Gloucester Campus is the lowest priced at $5,160 a year, in-district, against $42,700 for the 13-month program at Universal Technical Institute-Bloomfield. Automotive programs are taught in Bloomfield, NJ, Union, NJ, Mahwah, NJ, Sewell, NJ and Toms River, NJ. The best completion rate, 79% within 150% of normal time, belongs to the program in Mahwah, NJ. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $56,610 for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023) in New Jersey, $5,990 above the national median of $50,620.
2 ranked diesel programs at 2 schools in New Jersey. The best placed is Lincoln Technical Institute-South Plainfield (South Plainfield, NJ), #23 of 76 nationally and in the upper half, scoring 61.4. Lincoln Technical Institute-South Plainfield is the lowest priced at $34,442 for the 14-month program, against $40,250 for the 11-month program at Universal Technical Institute-Bloomfield. Diesel programs are taught in South Plainfield, NJ and Bloomfield, NJ. The program graduated 77% of its students within 150% of normal time and awarded 97 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $72,340 for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists (SOC 49-3031) in New Jersey, $10,570 above the national median of $61,770.
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Teterboro (Hasbrouck Heights, NJ) is the only ranked aviation maintenance program in New Jersey, and #7 of 148 nationally puts it in the top quarter, with a score of 69.7. Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Teterboro publishes $16,757 a year. The program graduated 70% of its students within 150% of normal time and awarded 289 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $105,370 for aircraft mechanics and service technicians (SOC 49-3011) in New Jersey, $25,500 above the national median of $79,870.
BLS counts 17,640 wage and salary jobs for automotive service technicians and mechanics in New Jersey, close to the national concentration. The medians below describe each occupation in the state, not the graduates of the mechanic schools in $New Jersey above.
BLS median pay in New Jersey by occupation, May 2025
Occupation
Median
Lowest 10%
Highest 10%
Jobs
U.S. median
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics SOC 49-3023
$56,610
under $33,500
over $91,210
17,640
$50,620
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists SOC 49-3031
$72,340
under $49,140
over $94,150
8,160
$61,770
Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians SOC 49-3011
$105,370
under $72,760
over $133,790
1,900
$79,870
Largest metropolitan areas for automotive service technicians and mechanics: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ at $57,760 (28,420 jobs), Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD at $58,460 (12,700 jobs) and Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ at $57,810 (1,830 jobs).
For bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ at $75,780 (12,430 jobs) and Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD at $64,550 (4,490 jobs).
For aircraft mechanics and service technicians: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ at $127,140 (5,110 jobs) and Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD at $84,100 (1,280 jobs).
Mechanic Salary in New Jersey has the full percentiles, every metropolitan area BLS publishes and the five mechanic trades side by side.
Mechanic Licensing in New Jersey
State inspection or emissions work calls for inspector License (INL), issued by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission; that is a separate matter from general repair.
For 2027, Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Teterboro in Hasbrouck Heights, NJ has the highest score of the 8 ranked programs in New Jersey, 69.7 out of 100. Among the mechanic schools in New Jersey, the leaders by trade are Universal Technical Institute-Bloomfield (automotive), Lincoln Technical Institute-South Plainfield (diesel) and Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Teterboro (aviation maintenance). 2 of the 7 ranked schools with a recorded control are public.
Which mechanic schools in New Jersey are accredited?
The 7 ranked mechanic schools in New Jersey 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 New Jersey?
In the Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2025 estimates, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics in New Jersey earn a median of $56,610, $5,990 above the national median of $50,620; Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists earn a median of $72,340, $10,570 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 New Jersey cost?
Among the mechanic schools in New Jersey with a published price, tuition and fees run from $5,160 a year, in-district at Rowan College of South Jersey-Gloucester Campus (Sewell, NJ) to $40,250 for the 11-month program at Universal Technical Institute-Bloomfield (Bloomfield, NJ). The median across the state is about $30,225 a year.
Do you need a license to work as a mechanic in New Jersey?
State inspection or emissions work calls for inspector License (INL), issued by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission; that is a separate matter from general repair.
Sources for New Jersey 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.
