Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians
Operate, install, adjust, and maintain integrated computer/communications systems, consoles, simulators, and other data acquisition, test, and measurement instruments and equipment, which are used to launch, track, position, and evaluate air and space vehicles. May record and interpret test data.
Also called: Avionics Installation Technician · Avionics Test Technician · Engineering Technician · Engineering Test Technician · Flight Test Instrument Technician · Instrumentation Technician
Median pay (national)
$79,830
$53,730–$120,440 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
9,060
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+8.1%
~900 openings/yr
Typical entry
Associate's degree
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $120,440 versus $53,730 at the bottom 10% — 2.2x. The median of $79,830 leaves roughly 51% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +8.1% from 2024 to 2034 — much faster than the 3% average for all occupations. Even so, BLS projects about 900 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 23 states with released data, Colorado pays the most for this role (median $124,290, +56% vs the national median), while Michigan sits lowest at $46,620 — a 167% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Writing
- Science
- Monitoring
- Mathematics
- Active Learning
- Learning Strategies
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Record and interpret test data on parts, assemblies, and mechanisms.
- Fabricate and install parts and systems to be tested in test equipment, using hand tools, power tools, and test instruments.
- Test aircraft systems under simulated operational conditions, performing systems readiness tests and pre- and post-operational checkouts, to establish design or fabrication parameters.
- Adjust, repair, or replace faulty components of test setups and equipment.
- Identify required data, data acquisition plans, and test parameters, setting up equipment to conform to these specifications.
- Inspect, diagnose, maintain, and operate test setups and equipment to detect malfunctions.
- Confer with engineering personnel regarding details and implications of test procedures and results.
- Operate and calibrate computer systems and devices to comply with test requirements and to perform data acquisition and analysis.
- Design electrical and mechanical systems for avionic instrumentation applications.
- Construct and maintain test facilities for aircraft parts and systems, according to specifications.
Tools & technology
- Apache Hadoop
- Atlassian JIRA
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- C++
- Dassault Systemes SolidWorks
- Extensible markup language XML
- JavaScript
- JUnit
- Linux
- Microsoft SQL Server
- Microsoft Visio
- Oracle Database
- Oracle Java
- Python
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux
- SAP software
Knowledge areas
- Mechanical
- Engineering and Technology
- Mathematics
- Production and Processing
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Administrative
- Physics