Building the Aviation Workforce: Preparing the Capital Region for What’s Next
As the Greater Sacramento region continues to grow into a hub for advanced manufacturing and transportation, aviation is emerging as a small but strategically important sector with significant influence. While aviation currently represents just 0.33% of total regional employment, it is projected to grow by 16% over the next five years, significantly outpacing the regional average. This growth, coupled with strong wages and clear career pathways, positions aviation as an essential opportunity for educators, learners, and workforce development partners alike. These realities were at the center of the Fall 2025 Aviation Careers Regional Advisory, which convened educators, employers, and workforce leaders to examine where the aviation workforce is headed and what it will take to prepare the future workforce. The discussion reinforced a shared understanding that aviation may be smaller in scale today, but it plays an essential role in the region’s economy and offers high quality, middle skill careers that support long term economic mobility.
The Greater Sacramento region supports approximately 4,300 private sector aviation jobs, concentrated in air transportation, support activities for air transportation, and aircraft manufacturing. Growth is driven largely by demand for middle skill occupations, which account for roughly 58% of core aviation roles and typically require postsecondary education short of a four year degree. Aviation careers also stand out for their earning potential. On average, aviation wages exceed the regional average by approximately $8,000 per year, with particularly strong earnings in specialized and technical roles. Average annual wages vary by subsector, with aircraft manufacturing at approximately $134,900, air transportation at around $92,700, and support activities for air transportation at approximately $82,500. Many entry level aviation roles are already above regional living wage thresholds for singles, while mid-level positions offer clear advancement opportunities through additional certification and experience. For learners seeking stable, well paying careers with long term growth potential, aviation presents a compelling option.
Community colleges and postsecondary training institutions are central to meeting aviation workforce demand, particularly given the sector’s reliance on middle skill talent. Programs in aircraft maintenance, avionics, airfield operations, and technical support align closely with employer needs. To help bring this conversation into data, regional labor market insights were provided by Ebony Benzing, Director of the California Community Colleges North/Far North Center of Excellence for Labor Market Research. The Center of Excellence supports community colleges and workforce partners with data-driven analysis on industry trends, employment demand, and workforce needs across the region. However, Ebony Benzing emphasized that program completion rates currently fall well short of projected demand, highlighting the need to scale capacity and strengthen alignment with industry.
A panel of aviation employers from across Greater Sacramento shared firsthand insights into hiring needs and workforce challenges. Panelists represented a range of aviation subsectors and emphasized the importance of professionalism, reliability, and adaptability alongside technical expertise. Panelists reported strong demand for aircraft mechanics, avionics technicians, airfield operations specialists, and ground operations staff, emphasizing that entry level roles can lead quickly to supervisory or specialized positions for individuals who demonstrate strong communication skills, schedule flexibility, and a commitment to safety.
Panel participants included:
- Gary Pelfrey, Vice President, Davis Flight Support / Woodland Aviation
- Douglas “Bud” Ehrk, Airtanker Lead Mechanic, Amentum / CAL FIRE
- David Freed, CEO, Second Star Aviation
- Amber Pancaro, Flight Coordinator Manager, Axis Jet
- Lori Rucks, Recruiter, Airport Operations Support, Southwest Airlines
Employers across aviation subsectors highlighted strong demand for roles such as aircraft mechanics, avionics technicians, airfield operations specialists, and ground operations staff. While technical skills are essential, they emphasized that professionalism, reliability, and adaptability are equally critical, with entry-level roles often leading quickly to advancement for individuals who demonstrate strong communication skills, schedule flexibility, and a commitment to safety.
Panelists consistently spoke that while technical skills are essential, work readiness remains a challenge. They emphasized that safety culture, situational judgment, and operational decision making are critical competencies, often developed through hands-on, work-based learning rather than classroom instruction alone. As a result, deeper collaboration between educators and employers is needed to ensure students graduate job ready.
Sacramento City College plays a particularly important role in the region’s aviation training ecosystem through its aviation maintenance technician program, which was recently awarded Federal Aviation Administration certification. As one of the primary providers of FAA-certified training in the Capital Region, the college serves as a key entry point for students seeking to enter high demand technical roles such as aircraft mechanics and avionics technicians. The program not only equips students with the technical knowledge required by industry but also reinforces safety protocols and regulatory compliance essential in aviation environments. As demand for certified mechanics continues to grow, the capacity and completion rates of programs like Sacramento City College’s will be critical to meeting regional workforce needs.
Federal Aviation Administration funding and regulatory support also play a key role in shaping the strength and scalability of the aviation workforce pipeline. FAA investment in training infrastructure, equipment, and program certification helps ensure that educational institutions can maintain industry standards while expanding access to students. At the same time, FAA requirements define the competencies and instructional hours needed for certification, directly influencing how programs are structured and delivered. Strengthening alignment between FAA supported initiatives, community college programs, and employer needs will be essential to addressing current shortages of certified instructors and mechanics. Continued investment in FAA-aligned programs can help close workforce gaps while ensuring graduates are fully prepared to enter a highly regulated, safety critical industry.
Despite strong demand, key barriers continue to limit access to aviation careers, including non-traditional work schedules and shortages of FAA-certified mechanics and instructors, which constrain training capacity and workforce growth. At the same time, advisory participants highlighted underutilized entry points that offer accessible pathways into the sector. For more detail, see the Meeting Proceedings Report. Roles in business aviation and airport operations, such as dispatch, flight coordination, customer service, ground operations, and aircraft servicing, often provide on the job training and clear advancement potential. Veterans and adult learners were also identified as key talent pools, particularly when military experience can be translated into civilian credentials and bridge programs.As aviation activity continues to expand across the Capital Region, the need for a skilled and adaptable workforce will only increase. For educators, this presents a timely opportunity to strengthen and scale programs that lead directly to high quality careers. For learners, aviation offers clear pathways into stable, well paying professions that play a critical role in keeping transportation systems safe and efficient. Building the aviation workforce is not simply about filling jobs; it is about aligning systems, expanding access, and ensuring that regional growth is supported by a workforce prepared to meet industry demands. With sustained collaboration and intentional investment, the Capital Region is well positioned to become a leader in aviation talent development for years to come. To explore more findings from the Fall 2025 Aviation Advisory, click here. If you are interested in learning more about regional labor market data, you can find additional information here.
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Diangelo Andrews is Valley Vision’s Workforce Project Coordinator.
Caitlin Blockus is Valley Vision’s Workforce Senior Project Manager.