What Do Aerospace Engineer Do?
Job Description & Duties 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.
A Day in the Life of an Aerospace Engineer
- Formulate mathematical models or other methods of computer analysis to develop, evaluate, or modify design, according to customer engineering requirements.
- Develop design criteria for aeronautical or aerospace products or systems, including testing methods, production costs, quality standards, environmental standards, or completion dates.
- Analyze project requests, proposals, or engineering data to determine feasibility, productibility, cost, or production time of aerospace or aeronautical products.
- Diagnose performance problems by reviewing performance reports or documentation from customers or field engineers or inspecting malfunctioning or damaged products.
- Plan or conduct experimental, environmental, operational, or stress tests on models or prototypes of aircraft or aerospace systems or equipment.
- Design or engineer filtration systems that reduce harmful emissions.
Featured schools near , edit
Aerospace Engineer Skills
These are the skills Aerospace Engineers say are the most useful in their careers:
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
- Flight Engineer
- Aeronautical Design Engineer
- Airplane Engineer
- Value Engineer
- Aircraft Instrument Engineer
Are There Job Opportunities for Aerospace Engineers?
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. There will be an estimated 4,600 positions for Aerospace Engineer per year.
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.
Average Aerospace Engineers Salary
Aerospace Engineers make between $71,640 and $164,210 a year.
Aerospace Engineers who work in District of Columbia, Hawaii, or Virginia, make the highest salaries.
How much do Aerospace Engineers make in different U.S. states?
| 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 & Technology do Aerospace Engineers Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Aerospace Engineers may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Python
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Project
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Microsoft Visio
- The MathWorks MATLAB
- Linux
- Microsoft Visual Basic
- Extensible markup language XML
- UNIX
- National Instruments LabVIEW
- C
- Dassault Systemes CATIA
- Practical extraction and reporting language Perl
How do I Become an Aerospace Engineer?
Education needed to be an Aerospace Engineer:
How Long Does it Take to Become an Aerospace Engineer?
Where do Aerospace Engineers Work?
The table below shows the approximate number of Aerospace Engineers employed by various industries.
Similar Careers
Those thinking about becoming an Aerospace Engineer might also be interested in the following careers:
References:
Image Credit: Michel Villeneuve via Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Featured Schools
Request Info
|
Southern New Hampshire University You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs. Learn More > |
Course Advisor provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© Course Advisor – All Rights Reserved.