Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
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Aerospace Engineers
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.
Table of contents
What they do
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.
- Formulate mathematical models or other methods of computer analysis to develop, evaluate, or modify the design, according to customer engineering requirements.
- 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.
Typical day
On a daily basis, Aerospace Engineers direct or coordinate activities of engineering or technical personnel involved in designing, fabricating, modifying, or testing aircraft or aerospace products. They diagnose performance problems by reviewing reports or documentation from customers or field engineers or by inspecting malfunctioning or damaged products.
A typical day for an Aerospace Engineer will also include:
- Formulate mathematical models or other methods of computer analysis to develop, evaluate, or modify design, according to customer engineering requirements.
- Direct aerospace research and development programs.
- 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.
- Formulate conceptual design of aeronautical or aerospace products or systems to meet customer requirements or conform to environmental regulations.
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Aerospace Engineers also plan or coordinate investigation and resolution of customers’ reports of technical problems with aircraft or aerospace vehicles. They may also develop design criteria for aeronautical or aerospace products or systems, including testing methods, production costs, quality standards, environmental standards, or completion dates.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Aerospace Engineers evaluate product data or design from inspections or reports for conformance to engineering principles, customer requirements, environmental regulations, or quality standards. They might also design new or modify existing aerospace systems to reduce polluting emissions, such as nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, or smoke emissions.
In addition, they write technical reports or other documentation, such as handbooks or bulletins, for use by engineering staff, management, or customers.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them maintain records of performance reports for future reference.
To some Aerospace Engineers, it is also their responsibility to review aerospace engineering designs to determine how to reduce negative environmental impacts.
What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
71% said they were satisfied with their job and 64% said they found their job meaningful.
I worked as an Aeronautic Engineer for 7 years. I was Mechanical Design and Certification Engineer for parts on Engines for Civil Aircrafts such as the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320.
My typical workday was full of meetings. I oversaw a large scope of engine parts. It required me to attend any meetings that were directly or indirectly related to my scope of parts. Those meetings were generally addressing issues in fleets or projects on new parts.
Daily, to solve those potential issues encountered in the fleet or to improve an existing design in terms of cost or weight, I managed the design of new parts. The design phase is very interactive as I had to discuss with part manufacturers, the design team, the material department. During this design phase, it’s important that the part is manufacturable, optimized in terms of weight and material choice, and that it fulfills specific requirements coming from the Aviation Authorities. Those specific requirements sometimes lead to specific part testing. In that case, I was planning the test, the facilities, the budget, the planning.
Another important aspect of part design was the mechanical sizing. Almost every day I was managing that all our new designs were compatible with the mechanical and thermal loads seen in operations. For example, I had to make sure a part would withstand vibration loads and temperatures seen during a flight.
Pros
- The diversity of interlocutors. Throughout the design development, my role was very interactive. I could discuss with other designers, material specialists, mechanical specialists, manufacturers, the quality department, certification authorities, and the assembly teams.
- Learning every day. As said above, I had the chance to be in contact with so many different profiles. On a daily basis and with enough curiosity you can learn their job. In return, it can open new job opportunities if you want to switch to a new path in the future.
- Aeronautic is fulfilling. Most of the people working in the field of Aeronautics are passionate about aviation. It’s a very nice environment to evolve if you also share this passion for the sky.
- Moreover, if you’re lucky to work on an end product, it’s very gratifying to be able to see the part produced and eventually installed on an aircraft.
Cons
- The environment can be very stressful. The ever-growing number of aircrafts is giving manufacturers a lot more pressure to answer short deadline questions. When during an inspection an airline observes something about a part and awaits the response from the design engineers to say if it’s acceptable, it can be stressful for the design team to give an answer in such a short amount of time.
- Aeronautic is a big industry. Like Automotive, Aeronautic is an industry that involves very big companies. This leads to big organizations with a lot of inertia. High inertia is very inherent to big organizations. It can be seen as a con. But I think it’s a necessity to ensure all processes are respected and parts produced are safe for operation.
Pros
Suitable for people who like to solve problems mentally.
Suitable for people who wants job security and a good working condition.
This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.
One of the highest-paid careers in the world.
Cons
Not suitable for people who like to help and teach others.
It is hard to get into this career. A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.
How much do they make
Average salary
Average hourly wage
Entry-level Aerospace Engineers with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $72,770 to $91,480 per year or $35 to $44 per hour.
| Salary by experience | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Highest (Top 10%) | $171,220 | $82 |
| Senior (Top 25%) | $148,570 | $71 |
| Median | $118,610 | $57 |
| Junior (Bottom 25%) | $91,480 | $44 |
| No experience (Bottom 10%) | $72,770 | $35 |
This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Aerospace Engineers based on their average annual salary.
| Salary by industry | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Technical and Trade Schools | $134830 | $64.82 |
| Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | $129480 | $62.25 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | $127570 | $61.33 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | $127090 | $61.10 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | $125110 | $60.15 |
| Federal Executive Branch | $124110 | $59.67 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $122840 | $59.06 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | $120410 | $57.89 |
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services | $119400 | $57.40 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | $118860 | $57.14 |
View more salary by industries here.
Where can they work
Where can Aerospace Engineers work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Aerospace Engineers including the average salary in that industry.
| Employers | Total Employed | Annual Salary | Hourly Wages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 21000 | $118860 | $57.14 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | 11430 | $120410 | $57.89 |
| Federal Executive Branch | 9460 | $124110 | $59.67 |
| Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | 5360 | $129480 | $62.25 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | 4740 | $127090 | $61.10 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 1810 | $122840 | $59.06 |
| Support Activities for Air Transportation | 1740 | $109050 | $52.43 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | 1150 | $127570 | $61.33 |
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services | 930 | $119400 | $57.40 |
| Employment Services | 820 | $112500 | $54.09 |
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What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
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Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Group discussions
How often do you have group discussions in this job?
Public speaking
How often does this job require you to do public speaking?
Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
Mechanical Engineering
Electrical and Electronics Engineering
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering
Astronautical Engineering
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
People with this personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.
People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.
People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
People who are suitable for this job tend to like working with ideas and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
They also like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.
Work Values
Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?
You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.
You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.
You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.
You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.
You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.
You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.
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