### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Aerospace Engineers Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			aerospace engineers imageAerospace engineers design aircraft and propulsion systems, and study the aerodynamic performance of aircraft.							
						Quick Facts:     Aerospace Engineers2023     Median Pay
            						$130,720     per year
										$62.85     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    Bachelor's degreeWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    NoneNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    63,800Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    6% (Faster than average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    3,900What Aerospace Engineers Do
                                                
                        
                        
Aerospace engineers design, develop, and test aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
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.
            
                                                How to Become an Aerospace Engineer
                                                
                        
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.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for aerospace engineers was $130,720 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Employment							of aerospace engineers is projected to grow							 6 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
						About 3,800 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.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for aerospace engineers.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of aerospace engineers with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about aerospace engineers by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Aerospace Engineers Do 
            

			Aerospace engineersAerospace 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 defined goals
Evaluate designs to ensure that products meet engineering principles, customer requirements, and environmental regulations
Develop criteria for design, quality, completion, and sustainment after delivery
Ensure that projects meet required standards
Inspect malfunctioning or damaged products to identify sources of problems and possible solutionsAerospace 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 and 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.
 Work Environment
			Aerospace engineersAerospace engineers work in industries that build aircraft and often help oversee construction.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Aerospace engineers held about 63,800 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of aerospace engineers were as follows:
        Aerospace product and parts manufacturing
                34%Engineering services
                16Federal government, excluding postal service
                16Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences
                10Navigational, measuring, electromedical, and control instruments manufacturing
                6Aerospace 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.
 How to Become an Aerospace Engineer

			Aerospace engineersAerospace 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 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. 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 such as ABET. 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 ABET-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.
Advancement
Aerospace engineers who gain experience or who have additional education or credentials may advance into technical or supervisory positions. Those with leadership skills also may become engineering managers or project management specialists.
Important Qualities
***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.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                Aerospace EngineersMedian annual wages, May 2023Aerospace engineers$130,720  Engineers$102,660  Total, all occupations$48,060Note: 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 $130,720 in May 2023. 


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 $81,620, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $188,910.





		
	    					 In May 2023, 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
                $136,620Navigational, measuring, electromedical, and control instruments manufacturing
                135,280Federal government, excluding postal service
                133,040Aerospace product and parts manufacturing
                130,720Engineering services
                128,870Most 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.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
                Aerospace EngineersPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Engineers7%  Aerospace engineers6%  Total, all occupations3%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 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
			
			About 3,800 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, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Aerospace engineers**
			17-2011
			63,800
			67,700
			6
			3,900
			Get data
 State & Area Data **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(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Aerospace engineers **Projections Central** 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 www.projectionscentral.com. 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** 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.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of aerospace engineers. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians**
            Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians run and maintain equipment used to develop, test, produce, and sustain aircraft and spacecraft.
            Associate's degree
            $77,830**Architectural and Engineering Managers**
            Architectural and engineering managers plan, direct, and coordinate activities in the fields of architecture and engineering.
            Bachelor's degree
            $165,370**Computer Hardware Engineers**
            Computer hardware engineers research, design, develop, and test computer systems and components.
            Bachelor's degree
            $138,080**Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians**
            Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians help engineers design and develop equipment that is powered by electricity or electric current.
            Associate's degree
            $72,800**Electrical and Electronics Engineers**
            Electrical engineers design, develop, test, and supervise the manufacture of electrical equipment.
            Bachelor's degree
            $109,010**Industrial Engineers**
            Industrial engineers devise efficient systems that integrate workers, machines, materials, information, and energy to make a product or provide a service.
            Bachelor's degree
            $99,380**Materials Engineers**
            Materials engineers develop, process, and test materials used to create a wide range of products.
            Bachelor's degree
            $104,100**Mechanical Engineers**
            Mechanical engineers design, develop, build, and test mechanical and thermal sensors and devices.
            Bachelor's degree
            $99,510**Project Management Specialists**
            Project management specialists coordinate the budget, schedule, staffing, and other details of a project.
            Bachelor's degree
            $98,580
 Contacts for More Information
								
For more information about general engineering education and career resources, visit
American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE)
Technology Student Association (TSA)
For more information about licensure as an aerospace engineer, visit
National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES)
National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE)
For more information about accredited engineering programs, visit
ABET
For more information about current developments in aeronautics, visit
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
CareerOneStop
For a career video on aerospace engineers, visit
Aerospace Engineers

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Aerospace Engineers
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Aerospace Engineers, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/aerospace-engineers.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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