Job Description

Aerospace engineers design, develop, and test aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles. Aerospace engineers typically work in an office setting, often using a computer. Most work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. Aerospace engineers must have a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering or a related field to enter the occupation. Aerospace engineers who work on projects that are related to national defense may need a security clearance. The median annual wage for aerospace engineers was $134,830 in May 2024. Employment of aerospace engineers is projected to grow 6 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations. About 4,500 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. Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for aerospace engineers. Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of aerospace engineers with similar occupations. Learn more about aerospace engineers by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations. Aerospace engineers evaluate designs to see that the products meet engineering principles. Aerospace engineers design, develop, and test aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles. In addition, they create and test prototypes to make sure that they function according to design. Duties Aerospace engineers typically do the following: Coordinate and direct the design, manufacture, and testing of aircraft and aerospace products Assess project proposals to determine whether they are technically and financially feasible Determine whether proposed projects will be safe and meet definedgoals Evaluate designs to ensure that meet engineering principles, customer requirements, and environmental regulations Ensure that projects meet required standards Inspect malfunctioning or damaged products to identify sources of problems and possible solutions Aerospace engineers develop technologies for use in aviation, defense systems, and spacecraft. They may focus on areas such as aerodynamic fluid flow; structural design; guidance, navigation, and control; instrumentation and communication; robotics; or propulsion and combustion. Aerospace engineers may design specific 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. The following are the two common types of aerospace engineers: Aeronautical engineers work with aircraft. They are involved primarily in designing aircraft 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. Aerospace engineers work in industries that build aircraft and often help oversee construction. Aerospace engineers held about 71,600 jobs in 2024. The largest employers of aerospace engineers were as follows: Aerospace product and parts manufacturing 37% Engineering services 15 Federal government, excluding postal service 15 Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences 10 Navigational, measuring, electromedical, and control instruments manufacturing 6 Aerospace engineers typically work in an office setting, often using a computer. They also may travel to meet with clients. Work Schedules Most aerospace engineers work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. Engineers may need to work extra hours to monitor progress and troubleshoot when problems arise. Aerospace engineers use the principles of calculus, trigonometry, and other advanced topics in mathematics for analysis, design, and troubleshooting in their work. Aerospace engineers typically need a bachelor’s in aerospace engineering or a related field to enter the occupation. Aerospace engineers who work on projects that are related to national defense may need a security clearance. Some types and levels of clearance require U.S. citizenship. Education Aerospace engineers typically need a bachelor's degree in engineering or a related field. High school students interested in studying aerospace engineering should take classes in chemistry, physics, and math. Bachelor’s degree programs in engineering usually include classroom, laboratory, and field courses in subjects such as stability and control, structures, and mechanics. College students may have an opportunity to participate in cooperative education programs or internships. Through partnership with local businesses, these programs allow students to gain practical experience while they complete their education. Some colleges and universities offer a 5-year program that leads to both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree. A graduate degree may allow an engineer to work as an instructor at a university or to do research and development. Employers may prefer to hire graduates of aerospace engineering programs accredited by a professional association. A degree from an accredited program is usually required to become licensed. Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations Licensure is not required for entry‑level aerospace engineer positions. Experienced engineers may obtain a Professional Engineering (PE) license, which allows them to oversee the work of other engineers, sign off on projects, and provide services directly to the public. State licensure generally requires a bachelor’s or higher degree from an accredited engineering program, a passing score on the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, several years of relevant work experience, and a passing score on the PE exam. Each state issues its own license. 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. Information on state licensing board requirements is available from CareerOneStop. The following are examples of qualities that are important for these workers to perform their duties. For more information, visit the Employment Projections (EP) skills data page. Analytical skills. Aerospace engineers must be able to evaluate project design elements and propose improvements, if necessary. Business skills. Meeting federal standards in aerospace engineering requires business knowledge, including commercial law. Project management or systems engineering skills also may be useful. Communication skills. Aerospace engineers must be able to explain, both orally and in writing, the details of their designs. They may need to convey information to a variety of audiences, including nontechnical ones. Interpersonal skills. Aerospace engineers often work on teams and must be able to interact with other types of engineers and with nontechnical team members. Math skills. Aerospace engineers use calculus, trigonometry, and other math in their analysis, design, and troubleshooting work. Problem‑solving skills. Aerospace engineers upgrade designs and troubleshoot problems to improve aircraft, such as for increased fuel efficiency or safety. Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics The median annual wage for aerospace engineers was $134,830 in May 2024. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $85,350, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $205,850. In May 2024, the median annual wages for aerospace engineers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows: Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences $143,860 Federal government, excluding postal service 140,710 Aerospace product and parts manufacturing 134,950 Navigational, measuring, electromedical, and control instruments manufacturing 131,990 Engineering services 130,410 Most aerospace engineers work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. Engineers may need to work extra hours to monitor progress and to troubleshoot when problems arise. Percent change in employment, projected 2024–34 7% 6% 3% Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program Employment of aerospace engineers is projected to grow 6 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations. About 4,500 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 Aircraft are being redesigned for less noise pollution and better fuel efficiency, which should help drive demand for aerospace engineers. Technological advancements have reduced the cost of launching satellites. Demand for aerospace engineers is expected to increase as space becomes more accessible, especially with developments in small satellites that have greater commercial viability. In addition, continued interest in drones for certain uses, such as forest fire detection, may help to drive employment growth for these engineers. Employment projections data for aerospace engineers, 2024–34 Occupational Title SOC Code Employment, 2024 Projected Employment, 2034 Change, 2024–34 Employment by Industry Percent Numeric SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link below goes to OEWS data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Use the dropdown boxes to select an occupation. Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left‑hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code. This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of aerospace engineers. Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians run and maintain equipment used to develop, test, produce, and sustain aircraft and spacecraft. Architectural and engineering managers plan, direct, and coordinate activities in the fields of architecture and engineering. Computer hardware engineers research, design, develop, and test computer systems and components. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians help engineers design and develop equipment that is powered by electricity or electric current. Electrical and electronics engineers design, develop, and test electrical and electronic equipment, components, and systems. Industrial engineers design, develop, and test integrated systems for managing industrial production processes. Materials engineers develop, process, and test materials used to create a wide range of products. Mechanical engineers design, develop, build, and test mechanical and thermal sensors and devices. Project management specialists coordinate the budget, schedule, staffing, and other details of a project. For information about state licensing board requirements, visit CareerOneStop. For a career video on aerospace engineers, visit Last Modified Date: Thursday, August 28, 2025 What They Do The What They Do tab describes the typical duties and responsibilities of workers in the occupation, including what tools and equipment they use and how closely they are supervised. This tab also covers different types of occupational specialties. Work Environment The Work Environment tab includes the number of jobs held in the occupation and describes the workplace, the level of physical activity expected, and typical hours worked. It may also discuss the major industries that employed the occupation. This tab may also describe opportunities for part‑time work, the amount and type of travel required, any safety equipment that is used, and the risk of injury that workers may face. How to Become One The How to Become One tab describes how to prepare for a job in the occupation. This tab can include information on education, training, work experience, licensing and certification, and important qualities that are required or helpful for entering or working in the occupation. Pay The Pay tab describes typical earnings and how workers in the occupation are compensated—annual salaries, hourly wages, commissions, tips, or bonuses. Within every occupation, earnings vary by experience, responsibility, performance, tenure, and geographic area. For most profiles, this tab has a table with wages in the major industries employing the occupation. It does not include pay for self‑employed workers, agriculture workers, or workers in private households because these data are not collected by the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, the source of BLS wage data in the OOH. State & Area Data The State and Area Data tab provides links to state and area occupational data from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, state projections data from Projections Central, and occupational information from the Department of Labor’s CareerOneStop. Job Outlook The Job Outlook tab describes the factors that affect employment growth or decline in the occupation, and in some instances, describes the relationship between the number of job seekers and the number of job openings. Similar Occupations The Similar Occupations tab describes occupations that share similar duties, skills, interests, education, or training with the occupation covered in the profile. Contacts for More Information The More Information tab provides the Internet addresses of associations, government agencies, unions, and other organizations that can provide additional information on the occupation. This tab also includes links to relevant occupational information from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET). 2024 Median Pay The wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. Median wage data are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey. In May 2024, the median annual wage for all workers was $49,500. On-the-job Training Additional training needed (post‑employment) to attain competency in the skills needed in this occupation. Entry‑level Education Typical level of education that most workers need to enter this occupation. Work experience in a related occupation Work experience that is commonly considered necessary by employers, or is a commonly accepted substitute for more formal types of training or education. Number of Jobs, 2024 The employment, or size, of this occupation in 2024, which is the base year of the 2024–34 employment projections. Job Outlook, 2024-34 The projected percent change in employment from 2024 to 2034. The average growth rate for all occupations is 3 percent. Employment Change, 2024-34 The projected numeric change in employment from 2024 to 2034. Entry‑level Education Typical level of education that most workers need to enter this occupation. On‑the‑job Training Additional training needed (post‑employment) to attain competency in the skills needed in this occupation. Employment Change, projected 2024-34 The projected numeric change in employment from 2024 to 2034. Growth Rate (Projected) The percent change of employment for each occupation from 2024 to 2034. Projected Number of New Jobs The projected numeric change in employment from 2024 to 2034. Projected Growth Rate The projected percent change in employment from 2024 to 2034. 2024 Median Pay The wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. Median wage data are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey. In May 2024, the median annual wage for all workers was $49,500. #J-18808-Ljbffr U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Job Tags

Hourly pay, Full time, Part time, Work experience placement, Self employment, Second job, Work at office, Local area, Remote work,

Similar Jobs