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Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipHigh pressure Bright Outlook

What they do

Operate, install, adjust, and maintain integrated computer/communications systems, consoles, simulators, and other data acquisition, test, and measurement instruments and equipment, which are used to launch, track, position, and evaluate air and space vehicles. May record and interpret test data.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.
  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $82,890 Median per year · $39.85/hr Most earn $59,050–$125,160

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Finish vehicle instrumentation and deinstrumentation.
  • Construct and maintain test facilities for aircraft parts and systems, according to specifications.
  • Operate and calibrate computer systems and devices to comply with test requirements and to perform data acquisition and analysis.
  • Identify required data, data acquisition plans, and test parameters, setting up equipment to conform to these specifications.
  • Adjust, repair, or replace faulty components of test setups and equipment.
  • Record and interpret test data on parts, assemblies, and mechanisms.

Job outlook

Bright Outlook Rapid Growth

United States
12% more jobs by 2035, much faster than average · about 1,100 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Aerospace product and parts manufacturing44.4%
  • Engineering services16.3%
  • Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences11.6%
  • Navigational, measuring, electromedical, and control instruments manufacturing7.0%
  • Computer systems design and related services5.7%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipExperience before this job: 2 to 4 years

This career usually isn't an entry-level job. Most people reach it after a certificate or apprenticeship in electronics or technology plus about 2 to 4 years of hands-on technical work. Starting in high school and building skills steadily can make that path much smoother.

  1. High school diploma with strong math and physics

    4 years

    Taking algebra, geometry, physics, and any electronics or shop classes builds the base you need for technical training.

  2. Electronics or engineering technology certificate or associate degree

    1-2 years

    Hands-on training in electronics, circuits, and test equipment prepares you for technician work and is the main education step for this field.

  3. Avionics Technician

    1-2 years

    Working on aircraft or spacecraft electronics teaches you troubleshooting, testing, and maintaining complex systems, which are the core skills used in test and launch operations.

  4. Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technician

    Ongoing once hired

    You operate and maintain the consoles, simulators, and measurement systems used to launch, track, and evaluate air and space vehicles, and you record and interpret test data.

Where it can lead

  1. Lead Test Technician

    3-5 years of experience first

    You take charge of test setups and coordinate other technicians, which requires strong troubleshooting, clear communication, and a record of reliable work.

  2. Test Engineer

    3-5 years in a technician role, plus a bachelor's degree of experience first

    You design test plans and analyze results rather than mainly running equipment, which usually requires an engineering degree on top of hands-on experience.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take physics, algebra, and any electronics or computer classesThese classes build the math and science skills used every day in test and measurement work.
  • Join a robotics, science, or engineering clubBuilding and testing real equipment as a team gives you hands-on practice and something to show future employers or schools.
  • Enter a science fair or robotics competitionDesigning a test, collecting data, and explaining your results mirrors the core work of this career.
  • Get a summer or part-time job in a repair, electronics, or tech-support settingAny job where you fix or maintain equipment builds troubleshooting habits and work experience early.
  • Learn basic coding or spreadsheet data analysisMany test systems are computer-controlled, and recording and interpreting data is a regular part of the job.

In college

  • Enroll in an electronics or engineering technology certificate or associate programThis is the most common training route into this career and teaches circuits, instrumentation, and test equipment.
  • Seek an internship at an aerospace, defense, or test-equipment companyReal work at a test site or company shows you how launch and test operations run and can lead to a job offer.
  • Take a campus job in a lab, makerspace, or the physics or engineering departmentWorking with lab instruments and data builds practical skills and a reference from a supervisor.
  • Join a student engineering or aerospace clubClub projects let you practice teamwork, troubleshooting, and presenting results, which employers value.
  • Pursue a relevant technical certificationA recognized certification in electronics or avionics can show employers you have verified skills, which can help you get hired after school.

Tips for getting started

  • Look for hands-on work early, such as a summer job, a repair shop job, or volunteering with a local makerspace, so you build real troubleshooting experience.
  • Keep a simple log of projects you build or fix, including what went wrong and how you solved it. This helps you show employers what you can do.
  • Ask a technician or engineer you meet at a local airport, college, or company what their day looks like and which training they would recommend.

Related jobs that often lead here

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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