Engineering and architecture
Aerospace engineer
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.
Median pay
$134,960
Growth to 2035
+8%
faster than average
Openings a year
3,800
Time to qualify*
Minimal
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Aerospace engineer
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- On-the-job training
- None
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Hazardous conditions
Aerospace engineer: 73% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Formulate conceptual design of aeronautical or aerospace products or systems to meet customer requirements or conform to environmental regulations.
- Evaluate product data or design from inspections or reports for conformance to engineering principles, customer requirements, environmental regulations, or quality standards.
- Direct or coordinate activities of engineering or technical personnel involved in designing, fabricating, modifying, or testing of aircraft or aerospace products.
- Plan or conduct experimental, environmental, operational, or stress tests on models or prototypes of aircraft or aerospace systems or equipment.
- Diagnose performance problems by reviewing reports or documentation from customers or field engineers or by inspecting malfunctioning or damaged products.
- Formulate mathematical models or other methods of computer analysis to develop, evaluate, or modify design, according to customer engineering requirements.
- Write technical reports or other documentation, such as handbooks or bulletins, for use by engineering staff, management, or customers.
- Maintain records of performance reports for future reference.
Also called: Aeronautical Engineer · Aerospace Stress Engineer · Avionics Engineer · Design Engineer · Flight Controls Engineer · Flight Systems Test Engineer · Flight Test Engineer · Special Mission Engineer
Outlook and AI
Aerospace engineers held 68,700 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 74,400 by 2035 (+8%, faster than average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Aerospace engineer vs. Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians
- Aerospace engineer vs. Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians
- Aerospace engineer vs. Avionics technician
- Aerospace engineer vs. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
- Aerospace engineer vs. Mechanical engineer
- Aerospace engineer vs. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
- Aerospace engineer vs. Electronics engineers, except computer
- Aerospace engineer vs. Engineers, all other
- Aerospace engineer vs. Marine engineers and naval architects