Aerospace Engineers

SOC: 17-2011 O*NET: 17-2011.00
Median Salary
$134,830
per year
Job Growth
πŸ“ˆ 6.1%
Faster (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
4.5
projected jobs/year
Education Level
Bachelor's degree or higher
Job Zone 4

Perform engineering duties in designing, constructing, and testing aircraft, missiles, and spacecraft. May conduct basic and applied research to evaluate adaptability of materials and equipment to aircraft design and manufacture. May recommend improvements in testing equipment and techniques.

What does a Aerospace Engineers do?

Perform engineering duties in designing, constructing, and testing aircraft, missiles, and spacecraft. May conduct basic and applied research to evaluate adaptability of materials and equipment to aircraft design and manufacture. May recommend improvements in testing equipment and techniques.

How much can you earn?

Salary Distribution by Percentile

Understanding where you might fall in the salary range based on experience and location.

10th
$80,898
25th
$107,864
50th (Median)
$134,830
75th
$161,796
90th
$202,245

Percentile Explained: If you're in the 75th percentile, you earn more than 75% of workers in this occupation. Entry-level positions typically fall in the 10th-25th percentile range, while experienced professionals often reach the 75th-90th percentile.

Typical Benefits Package

Health & Wellness

  • βœ“Health Insurance
  • βœ“Dental Insurance
  • βœ“Vision Insurance
  • βœ“Mental Health Support
  • βœ“Wellness Programs

Financial Benefits

  • βœ“401(k) Retirement Plan
  • βœ“Employer Match (typically 3-6%)
  • βœ“Profit Sharing
  • βœ“Stock Options
  • βœ“Performance Bonuses

Work-Life Balance

  • βœ“Paid Time Off (15-25 days)
  • βœ“Paid Sick Leave
  • βœ“Flexible Work Arrangements
  • βœ“Remote Work Options
  • βœ“Parental Leave

Professional Development

  • βœ“Tuition Reimbursement
  • βœ“Professional Certifications
  • βœ“Conference Attendance
  • βœ“Training Programs
  • βœ“Mentorship Opportunities

Note: Benefits vary widely by employer, company size, and location. Large corporations and tech companies often offer more comprehensive packages, while small businesses may offer fewer benefits but more flexibility. Always review the complete compensation package, not just base salary.

What's the job outlook?

Job Market Intelligence

Medium Demand
Market demand
Medium Risk
Automation risk

Current Employment

National Employment:71,600

10-Year Outlook

Growth Rate:+6.1%
Annual Openings:4,500

Employment Projections

2024 (Current)71,600
Current
2034 (Projected)75,900
+6.1%
+4,400
Employment Change
+6.1%
Growth Rate
10
Year Projection

Growth Category: As fast as average

Key Growth Factors

  • β€’Average growth expected

What skills do you need?

Top 10 Most Important Skills

#1
Critical Thinking
100%
#2
Reading Comprehension
94%
#3
Science
86%
#4
Mathematics
80%
#5
Operations Analysis
74%
#6
Speaking
66%
#7
Writing
60%
#8
Complex Problem Solving
54%
#9
Active Listening
46%
#10
Judgment and Decision Making
40%

Skills Overview

Critical Thinking
advanced5.0
100%
Reading Comprehension
advanced4.7
94%
Science
intermediate4.3
86%
Mathematics
intermediate4.0
80%
Operations Analysis
intermediate3.7
74%
Speaking
intermediate3.3
66%
Writing
intermediate3.0
60%
Complex Problem Solving
advanced2.7
54%

Skills are rated on a scale of 0-5, with 5 being the most important. The complexity level indicates how advanced the skill typically needs to be.

Filter:
Sort by:

Critical Thinking

advanced
Importance100%
abilities
5.0/5.0

Reading Comprehension

advanced
Importance94%
abilities
4.7/5.0

Science

intermediate
Importance86%
abilities
4.3/5.0

Mathematics

intermediate
Importance80%
skills
4.0/5.0

Operations Analysis

intermediate
Importance74%
skills
3.7/5.0

Speaking

intermediate
Importance66%
skills
3.3/5.0

Writing

intermediate
Importance60%
skills
3.0/5.0

Complex Problem Solving

advanced
Importance54%
abilities
2.7/5.0

Active Listening

basic
Importance46%
skills
2.3/5.0

Judgment and Decision Making

basic
Importance40%
abilities
2.0/5.0

Highly Transferable Skills

These skills are valuable across multiple career paths, making career transitions easier:

Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers100%
5 shared skills
Atmospheric and Space Scientists82%
5 shared skills
Mechanical Engineers82%
5 shared skills
Statisticians82%
5 shared skills
Wind Energy Engineers82%
5 shared skills
Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health82%
5 shared skills

Skills by Career Stage

Entry Level

Learn on the Job:
  • β†’Speaking
  • β†’Writing
  • β†’Complex Problem Solving

Mid Career

Expected:
  • βœ“Mathematics
  • βœ“Critical Thinking
  • βœ“Reading Comprehension
  • βœ“Science

Senior Level

Mastery Required:
  • β˜…Mathematics
  • β˜…Critical Thinking
  • β˜…Reading Comprehension
  • β˜…Science
  • β˜…Operations Analysis

Skill Development Tips

  • β€’Focus on developing the top 5 skills first - they have the highest impact on career success
  • β€’Transferable skills open doors to related careers and provide flexibility
  • β€’Balance technical skills with soft skills for well-rounded professional development
  • β€’Entry-level positions prioritize foundational skills that can be built upon over time

What technology will you use?

Technology & Digital Skills

Essential technology proficiencies for Aerospace Engineers

Technology Intensity
Very High
πŸ”₯

Hot Technologies in Demand

These technologies are currently trending and highly sought after in this field

The MathWorks MATLAB

πŸ”₯ Hot Tech

Autodesk AutoCAD

πŸ”₯ Hot Tech

Dassault Systemes SolidWorks

πŸ”₯ Hot Tech

Microsoft Access

πŸ”₯ Hot Tech

C

πŸ”₯ Hot Tech

Microsoft Visual Basic

πŸ”₯ Hot Tech

Microsoft Visual Studio

πŸ”₯ Hot Tech

Microsoft Outlook

πŸ”₯ Hot Tech

Extensible markup language XML

πŸ”₯ Hot Tech

SAP software

πŸ”₯ Hot Tech

C#

πŸ”₯ Hot Tech

C++

πŸ”₯ Hot Tech

Technology Stack

Technology Stack Overview

Key technologies used in this career

The MathWorks MATLAB
Autodesk AutoCAD
Dassault Systemes SolidWorks
Microsoft Access
C
Microsoft Visual Basic
Microsoft Visual Studio
Microsoft Outlook
Extensible markup language XML
SAP software
C#
C++

πŸ“š Technology Learning Resources

Recommended Certifications

  • β€’Vendor-specific software certifications
  • β€’Industry-recognized technology credentials
  • β€’Professional development courses

Online Learning Platforms

  • β€’LinkedIn Learning - Comprehensive technology courses
  • β€’Coursera - University-level programs
  • β€’Udemy - Practical skills training

πŸ’‘ Technology Skill Development Tips

  • β€’Focus on mastering hot technologies first - they're currently most in-demand
  • β€’Build a portfolio demonstrating your proficiency with key tools and software
  • β€’Stay current through continuous learning - technology evolves rapidly
  • β€’Consider vendor certifications to validate your skills to employers

What's the work environment like?

🏒
Location
MOSTLY INDOOR
πŸ’ͺ
Physical Demand
MODERATE
πŸ‘₯
Team Orientation
MOSTLY TEAM
🀝
Customer Interaction
FREQUENT

πŸ’‘Is This Work Environment Right for You?

Consider these factors when evaluating if you'll thrive in this work environment:

  • β€’Are you comfortable working in mostly indoor environments?
  • β€’Can you meet moderate physical demands?
  • β€’Do you enjoy mostly team team environments?
  • β€’Are you comfortable working with safety protocols and protective equipment?

What are the key tasks?

Tasks & Responsibilities

16
Core Tasks
8
Daily Tasks
20
Work Activities
0
Emerging Tasks
Filter:
Sort by:
Planning & Development (10)Management & Supervision (1)Analysis & Evaluation (3)Documentation & Record-Keeping (1)Operations & Execution (1)
1

Direct or coordinate activities of engineering or technical personnel involved in designing, fabricating, modifying, or testing of aircraft or aerospace products.

πŸ”΄
Daily
Importance:
100%
Planning & Development100% perform
2

Plan or conduct experimental, environmental, operational, or stress tests on models or prototypes of aircraft or aerospace systems or equipment.

πŸ”΄
Daily
Importance:
98%
Planning & Development97% perform
3

Formulate mathematical models or other methods of computer analysis to develop, evaluate, or modify design, according to customer engineering requirements.

πŸ”΄
Daily
Importance:
96%
Planning & Development94% perform
4

Write technical reports or other documentation, such as handbooks or bulletins, for use by engineering staff, management, or customers.

πŸ”΄
Daily
Importance:
94%
Management & Supervision91% perform
5

Analyze project requests, proposals, or engineering data to determine feasibility, productibility, cost, or production time of aerospace or aeronautical products.

πŸ”΄
Daily
Importance:
92%
Analysis & Evaluation88% perform
6

Evaluate and approve selection of vendors by studying past performance or new advertisements.

πŸ”΄
Daily
Importance:
90%
Analysis & Evaluation85% perform
7

Plan or coordinate investigation and resolution of customers' reports of technical problems with aircraft or aerospace vehicles.

πŸ”΄
Daily
Importance:
88%
Planning & Development82% perform
8

Maintain records of performance reports for future reference.

πŸ”΄
Daily
Importance:
86%
Documentation & Record-Keeping79% perform
9

Design new or modify existing aerospace systems to reduce polluting emissions, such as nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, or smoke emissions.

🟑
Weekly
Importance:
84%
Planning & Development76% perform
10

Design or engineer filtration systems that reduce harmful emissions.

🟑
Weekly
Importance:
82%
Planning & Development73% perform

πŸ’‘ Key Takeaways

  • β€’Daily tasks focus primarily on planning & development activities
  • β€’44% of tasks are performed by most workers in this occupation
  • β€’Career advancement brings increased leadership and strategic responsibilities

What education is required?

Education Required

Bachelor's degree or higher

Experience Required

A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience needed

Job Training

Significant preparation with related work experience