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Aerospace Engineer

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What Do Aerospace Engineer Do?

Job Description: 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.

Daily Life Of an Aerospace Engineer

  • Direct aerospace research and development programs.
  • Review aerospace engineering designs to determine how to reduce negative environmental impacts.
  • Formulate conceptual design of aeronautical or aerospace products or systems to meet customer requirements or conform to environmental regulations.
  • Formulate mathematical models or other methods of computer analysis to develop, evaluate, or modify design, according to customer engineering requirements.
  • Evaluate biofuel performance specifications to determine feasibility for aerospace applications.
  • Maintain records of performance reports for future reference.

Qualities of an Aerospace Engineer

Aerospace Engineers state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Science: Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.

Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Mathematics: Using mathematics to solve problems.

Types of Aerospace Engineer Jobs

  • Aircraft Stress Analyst
  • Physical Aerodynamicist
  • Structural Analysis Engineer
  • Propulsion Engineer
  • Thermodynamicist

What Kind of Aerospace Engineer Job Opportunities Are There?

In the United States, there were 69,600 jobs for Aerospace Engineer in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 6% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 4,200 new jobs for Aerospace Engineer by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 4,600 job openings in this field each year.

Forecasted Number of Jobs for Aerospace Engineers in U.S.

The states with the most job growth for Aerospace Engineer are Wisconsin, Utah, and Nevada. Watch out if you plan on working in Washington, West Virginia, or Kansas. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

What is the Average Salary of an Aerospace Engineer

Aerospace Engineers make between $71,640 and $164,210 a year.

Salary Ranges for Aerospace Engineers

Aerospace Engineers who work in District of Columbia, Hawaii, or Virginia, make the highest salaries.

How much do Aerospace Engineers make in each U.S. state?

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $115,820
Alaska $112,890
Arizona $107,230
California $125,540
Colorado $124,070
Connecticut $106,790
District of Columbia $138,480
Florida $105,460
Georgia $114,160
Hawaii $121,100
Illinois $108,520
Indiana $95,390
Iowa $110,770
Kansas $105,540
Kentucky $98,650
Louisiana $117,170
Maryland $127,330
Massachusetts $119,700
Minnesota $113,350
Mississippi $110,760
Missouri $114,570
Montana $91,940
Nebraska $115,120
Nevada $91,850
New Jersey $115,850
New Mexico $114,340
New York $115,420
North Carolina $100,080
Ohio $112,480
Oklahoma $92,460
Oregon $109,250
Pennsylvania $108,300
Tennessee $88,180
Texas $122,570
Utah $105,320
Virginia $127,390
West Virginia $90,710
Wisconsin $85,880

What Tools do Aerospace Engineers Use?

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Aerospace Engineers:

How do I Become an Aerospace Engineer?

Learn what Aerospace Engineer education requirements there are.

Aerospace Engineer Degree Level

How many years of work experience do I need?

Aerospace Engineer Work Experience

Where Aerospace Engineers Work

Aerospace Engineer Sectors

Below are examples of industries where Aerospace Engineers work:

Aerospace Engineer Industries

Similar Careers

Those interested in being an Aerospace Engineer may also be interested in:

References:

Image Credit: Michel Villeneuve via Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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