Aerospace Engineers

Career, Salary and Education Information

What They Do: Aerospace engineers primarily design aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles.

Work Environment: Aerospace engineers are employed in industries whose workers design or build aircraft, missiles, systems for national defense, or spacecraft. Aerospace engineers are employed primarily in manufacturing, analysis and design, research and development, and the federal government.

How to Become One: Aerospace engineers must have a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering or another field of engineering or science related to aerospace systems. Aerospace engineers who work on projects that are related to national defense may need a security clearance.

Salary: The median annual wage for aerospace engineers is $122,270.

Job Outlook: Employment of aerospace engineers is projected to grow 6 percent over the next ten years, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

Related Careers: Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of aerospace engineers with similar occupations.

Following is everything you need to know about a career as an Aerospace Engineer with lots of details. As a first step, take a look at some of the following Aerospace Engineer jobs, which are real jobs with real employers. You will be able to see the very real job career requirements for employers who are actively hiring. The link will open in a new tab so that you can come back to this page to continue reading about the career:

Top 3 Aerospace Engineer Jobs

Senior GN&C Engineer - TriVector - Hazel Green, AL
TriVector Services, Inc. provides quality aerospace engineering solutions to complex problems through a renowned team of engineering professionals. We are a Service-Disabled, Veteran-Owned, SBA ...
Quality Engineer - TLPlough &Associates - Los Angeles, CA
Quality Engineer Job Decription: This position is responsible for the quality conformance of new ... Qualifications · 3 years ears experience in a quality capacity, preferably aerospace related; · ...
CNC Machinist Weekend Lead (3-12s Friday - Sunday 5am - 5:30pm) - RTC Aerospace - Fife, WA
... aerospace manufacturer of complex, high-tolerance, difficult-to-machine parts. We have 4 facilities across the nation bringing exceptional cellular manufacturing capabilities and unique engineered ...

See all Aerospace Engineer jobs

What Aerospace Engineers Do[About this section] [To Top]

Aerospace engineers design primarily aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles. In addition, they create and test prototypes to make sure that they function according to design.

Duties of Aerospace Engineers

Aerospace engineers typically do the following:

Direct and coordinate the design, manufacture, and testing of aircraft and aerospace products
Assess proposals for projects to determine if they are technically and financially feasible
Determine if proposed projects will result in safe operations that meet the defined goals
Evaluate designs to see that the products meet engineering principles, customer requirements, and environmental regulations
Develop acceptance criteria for design methods, quality standards, sustainment after delivery, and completion dates
Ensure that projects meet quality standards
Inspect malfunctioning or damaged products to identify sources of problems and possible solutions

Aerospace engineers may develop new technologies for use in aviation, defense systems, and spacecraft. They often specialize in areas such as aerodynamic fluid flow; structural design; guidance, navigation, and control; instrumentation and communication; robotics; and propulsion and combustion.

Aerospace engineers can specialize in designing different types of aerospace products, such as commercial and military airplanes and helicopters; remotely piloted aircraft and rotorcraft; spacecraft, including launch vehicles and satellites; and military missiles and rockets.

Aerospace engineers often become experts in one or more related fields: aerodynamics, thermodynamics, materials, celestial mechanics, flight mechanics, propulsion, acoustics, and guidance and control systems.

Aerospace engineers typically specialize in one of two types of engineering: aeronautical or astronautical.

Aeronautical engineers work with aircraft. They are involved primarily in designing aircraft and propulsion systems and in studying the aerodynamic performance of aircraft and construction materials. They work with the theory, technology, and practice of flight within the Earth's atmosphere.

Astronautical engineers work with the science and technology of spacecraft and how they perform inside and outside the Earth's atmosphere. This includes work on small satellites such as cubesats, and traditional large satellites.

Aeronautical and astronautical engineers face different environmental and operational issues in designing aircraft and spacecraft. However, the two fields overlap a great deal because they both depend on the basic principles of physics.

Work Environment for Aerospace Engineers[About this section] [To Top]

Aerospace engineers hold about 58,800 jobs. The largest employers of aerospace engineers are as follows:

Aerospace product and parts manufacturing	32%
Federal government, excluding postal service	18%
Engineering services	15%
Navigational, measuring, electromedical, and control instruments manufacturing	10%
Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences	9%

Aerospace engineers are employed in industries in which workers design or build aircraft, missiles, systems for national defense, or spacecraft. They work primarily for firms that engage in manufacturing, analysis and design, research and development, and for the federal government.

Aerospace engineers now spend more of their time in an office environment than they have in the past, because modern aircraft design requires the use of sophisticated computer equipment and software design tools, modeling, and simulations for tests, evaluation, and training.

Aerospace engineers work with other professionals involved in designing and building aircraft, spacecraft, and their components. Therefore, they must be able to communicate well, divide work into manageable tasks, and work with others toward a common goal.

Aerospace Engineer Work Schedules

Aerospace engineers typically work full time. Engineers who direct projects must often work extra hours to monitor progress, to ensure that designs meet requirements, to determine how to measure aircraft performance, to see that production meets design standards, to participate in test flights and first flights, and to ensure that deadlines are met.

How to Become an Aerospace Engineer[About this section] [To Top]

Get the education you need: Find schools for Aerospace Engineers near you!

Aerospace engineers must have a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering or another field of engineering or science related to aerospace systems. Aerospace engineers who work on projects that are related to national defense may need a security clearance. U.S. citizenship may be required for certain types and levels of clearances.

Education for Aerospace Engineers

Entry-level aerospace engineers usually need a bachelor's degree. High school students interested in studying aerospace engineering should take courses in chemistry, physics, advanced math, and computer programming and computer languages.

Bachelor's degree programs include classroom, laboratory, and field studies in subjects such as general engineering principles, propulsion, stability and control, structures, mechanics, and aerodynamics, which is the study of how air interacts with moving objects.

Some colleges and universities offer cooperative programs in partnership with regional businesses, which give students practical experience while they complete their education. Cooperative programs and internships enable students to gain valuable experience and to finance part of their education.

At some universities, a student can enroll in a 5-year program that leads to both a bachelor's degree and a master's degree upon completion. A graduate degree will allow an engineer to work as an instructor at a university or to do research and development. Programs in aerospace engineering are accredited by ABET.

Important Qualities for Aerospace Engineers

Analytical skills.Aerospace engineers must be able to identify design elements that may not meet requirements and then must formulate alternatives to improve the performance of those elements.

Business skills.Much of the work done by aerospace engineers involves meeting federal government standards. Meeting these standards often requires knowledge of standard business practices, as well as knowledge of commercial law. Additionally, project management or systems engineering skills can be useful.

Critical-thinking skills.Aerospace engineers must be able to produce designs that meet governmental standards, and to figure out why a particular design does not work. They must be able to ask the right question, then find an acceptable answer.

Math skills.Aerospace engineers use the principles of calculus, trigonometry, and other advanced topics in math for analysis, design, and troubleshooting in their work.

Problem-solving skills. Aerospace engineers use their education and experience to upgrade designs and troubleshoot problems when meeting new demands for aircraft, such as increased fuel efficiency or improved safety.

Writing skills.Aerospace engineers must be able both to write papers that explain their designs clearly and to create documentation for future reference.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations for Aerospace Engineers

Licensure for aerospace engineers is not as common as it is for other engineering occupations, nor it is required for entry-level positions. A Professional Engineering (PE) license, which allows for higher levels of leadership and independence, can be acquired later in one's career. Licensed engineers are called professional engineers (PEs). A PE can oversee the work of other engineers, sign off on projects, and provide services directly to the public. State licensure generally requires

A degree from an ABET-accredited engineering program
A passing score on the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam
Relevant work experience, typically at least 4 years
A passing score on the Professional Engineering (PE) exam.

The initial FE exam can be taken after earning a bachelor's degree. Engineers who pass this exam are commonly called engineers in training (EITs) or engineer interns (EIs). After meeting work experience requirements, EITs and EIs can take the second exam, called the Principles and Practice of Engineering.

Each state issues its own licenses. Most states recognize licensure from other states, as long as the licensing state's requirements meet or exceed their own licensure requirements. Several states require continuing education for engineers to keep their licenses.

Other Experience for Aerospace Engineers

During high school, students can attend engineering summer camps to see what these and other engineers do. Attending these camps can help students plan their coursework for the remainder of their time in high school.

Advancement for Aerospace Engineers

Eventually, aerospace engineers may advance to become technical specialists or to supervise a team of engineers and technicians. Some may even become engineering managers or move into executive positions, such as program managers.

Aerospace Engineer Salaries[About this section] [More salary/earnings info] [To Top]

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The median annual wage for aerospace engineers is $122,270. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earn more than that amount and half earn less. The lowest 10 percent earn less than $77,440, and the highest 10 percent earn more than $168,370.

The median annual wages for aerospace engineers in the top industries in which they work are as follows:

Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences	$128,020
Aerospace product and parts manufacturing	$126,780
Federal government, excluding postal service	$123,800
Navigational, measuring, electromedical, and control instruments manufacturing	$121,530
Engineering services	$120,640

Job Outlook for Aerospace Engineers[About this section] [To Top]

Employment of aerospace engineers is projected to grow 6 percent over the next ten years, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

About 3,800 openings for aerospace engineers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Employment of Aerospace Engineers

Aircraft are being redesigned for less noise pollution and better fuel efficiency, particularly with the introduction of electric and hybrid-electric aircraft, which should help sustain demand for aerospace engineers in research and development.

Technological advancements have reduced the cost of launching satellites. As space becomes more accessible, especially with developments in small satellites that have greater commercial viability, demand for aerospace engineers among businesses and government entities is expected to increase. In addition, continued interest in drones will help to drive employment growth for these engineers.

Employment projections data for Aerospace Engineers, 2021-31
Occupational Title	Employment, 2021	Projected Employment, 2031	Change, 2021-31
Occupational Title	Employment, 2021	Projected Employment, 2031	Percent	Numeric
Aerospace engineers	58,800	62,400	6	3,700

Careers Related to Aerospace Engineers[About this section] [To Top]

Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technicians

Aerospace engineering and operations technicians operate and maintain equipment used in developing, testing, producing, and sustaining new aircraft and spacecraft. Increasingly, these workers are using computer-based modeling and simulation tools and processes in their work, as well as advanced automation and robotics.

Architectural and Engineering Managers

Architectural and engineering managers plan, direct, and coordinate activities in architectural and engineering companies.

Computer Hardware Engineers

Computer hardware engineers research, design, develop, and test computer systems and components such as processors, circuit boards, memory devices, networks, and routers.

Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technicians

Electrical and electronics engineering technicians help engineers design and develop computers, communications equipment, medical monitoring devices, navigational equipment, and other electrical and electronic equipment. They often work in product evaluation and testing, and use measuring and diagnostic devices to adjust, test, and repair equipment. They are also involved in the manufacture and deployment of equipment for automation.

Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Electrical engineers design, develop, test, and supervise the manufacturing of electrical equipment, such as electric motors, radar and navigation systems, communications systems, and power generation equipment. Electronics engineers design and develop electronic equipment, including broadcast and communications systems, such as portable music players and Global Positioning System (GPS) devices.

Industrial Engineers

Industrial engineers find ways to eliminate wastefulness in production processes. They devise efficient systems that integrate workers, machines, materials, information, and energy to make a product or provide a service.

Materials Engineers

Materials engineers develop, process, and test materials used to create a wide range of products, from computer chips and aircraft wings to golf clubs and biomedical devices. They study the properties and structures of metals, ceramics, plastics, composites, nanomaterials (extremely small substances), and other substances in order to create new materials that meet certain mechanical, electrical, and chemical requirements.