Aerospace Engineers
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.
Also called: Aeronautical Engineer · Aerospace Engineer · Aerospace Stress Engineer · Avionics Engineer · Design Engineer · Flight Controls Engineer
Median pay (national)
$134,830
$85,350–$205,850 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
68,440
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+6.1%
~4,500 openings/yr
Typical entry
Bachelor's degree
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for aerospace engineers shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $205,850 versus $85,350 at the bottom 10% — 2.4x. The median of $134,830 leaves roughly 53% 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 +6.1% from 2024 to 2034 — faster than the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 4,500 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 42 states with released data, District of Columbia pays the most for this role (median $175,350, +30% vs the national median), while Wisconsin sits lowest at $75,790 — a 131% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Science as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Autodesk AutoCAD, C, C++, Dassault Systemes CATIA as in-demand technologies for this role.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Science
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Speaking
- Mathematics
- Monitoring
- Active Learning
- Learning Strategies
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Plan or conduct experimental, environmental, operational, or stress tests on models or prototypes of aircraft or aerospace systems or equipment.
- Formulate conceptual design of aeronautical or aerospace products or systems to meet customer requirements or conform to environmental regulations.
- Plan or coordinate investigation and resolution of customers' reports of technical problems with aircraft or aerospace vehicles.
- Write technical reports or other documentation, such as handbooks or bulletins, for use by engineering staff, management, or customers.
- Evaluate product data or design from inspections or reports for conformance to engineering principles, customer requirements, environmental regulations, or quality standards.
- Analyze project requests, proposals, or engineering data to determine feasibility, productibility, cost, or production time of aerospace or aeronautical products.
- Maintain records of performance reports for future reference.
- Formulate mathematical models or other methods of computer analysis to develop, evaluate, or modify design, according to customer engineering requirements.
- Direct or coordinate activities of engineering or technical personnel involved in designing, fabricating, modifying, or testing of aircraft or aerospace products.
- Develop design criteria for aeronautical or aerospace products or systems, including testing methods, production costs, quality standards, environmental standards, or completion dates.
Tools & technology
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- C
- C++
- Dassault Systemes CATIA
- Dassault Systemes SolidWorks
- MathWorks Simulink
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Python
- The MathWorks MATLAB
- C#
- Extensible markup language XML
- Linux
- Microsoft Visio
- Microsoft Visual Basic
Knowledge areas
- Engineering and Technology
- Mathematics
- Design
- Physics
- Computers and Electronics
- English Language
- Mechanical
- Production and Processing