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Aerospace Engineers

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeLower pressure Bright Outlook

What they do

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.

Kinds of work

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

Lower 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 $134,960 Median per year · $64.89/hr Most earn $86,700–$205,890

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Write technical reports or other documentation, such as handbooks or bulletins, for use by engineering staff, management, or customers.
  • Diagnose performance problems by reviewing reports or documentation from customers or field engineers or by inspecting malfunctioning or damaged products.
  • Diagnose performance problems by reviewing reports or documentation from customers or field engineers or by inspecting malfunctioning or damaged products.
  • 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.
  • Maintain records of performance reports for future reference.

Job outlook

Bright Outlook Rapid Growth

United States
8% more jobs by 2035, much faster than average · about 3,800 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 manufacturing38.0%
  • Engineering services15.6%
  • Federal government, excluding postal service14.8%
  • Navigational, measuring, electromedical, and control instruments manufacturing8.4%
  • Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences8.4%

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

Experience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Career path

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

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeExperience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Aerospace engineering is not usually an entry-level job. Most people earn a bachelor's degree, then spend about 1 to 2 years in a junior or entry engineering role before working as an Aerospace Engineer.

  1. Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering or mechanical engineering

    4 years

    You learn the math and physics behind flight, structures, propulsion, and materials, which every aerospace job relies on. Internships or co-ops during these years make it much easier to land your first engineering role.

  2. Junior Aerospace Engineer

    1-2 years

    You work under senior engineers on design analysis, testing, or documentation for aircraft or spacecraft parts. This hands-on work builds the experience employers expect before they hand you full design responsibility.

  3. Aerospace Engineer

    Ongoing

    You design, build, and test aircraft, missiles, or spacecraft, and you recommend improvements to testing methods and equipment. Many engineers also earn a professional license or a graduate degree to move further.

Where it can lead

  1. Senior Aerospace Engineer

    3-5 years of experience first

    You lead design reviews, own larger parts of a project, and mentor junior engineers. Strong technical judgment and clear communication with teams matter most here.

  2. Lead or Principal Aerospace Engineer

    5-10 years of experience first

    You set technical direction for a whole system or program and make the final calls on tough design trade-offs. Deep expertise and a track record of successful projects are key.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take physics, calculus, and any engineering or drafting classesThese courses build the math and physics foundation you will use in every aerospace engineering program.
  • Join a robotics, rocketry, or science clubBuilding and testing a real machine teaches teamwork and problem solving that engineering schools and employers look for.
  • Learn basic CAD softwareMany schools and libraries have free or school-licensed CAD tools, and designing parts early gives you a head start in college.
  • Look for a summer job or volunteer role in a machine shop, lab, or STEM programHands-on experience with tools and lab work shows you enjoy building and testing things.

In college

  • Major in aerospace or mechanical engineeringA accredited engineering degree is the usual starting point for this career and covers aerodynamics, structures, and propulsion.
  • Apply for internships or co-op positionsReal work experience during college is one of the strongest signals employers look for when hiring new engineers.
  • Join a student design team or your school's aerospace or engineering societyTeams that build rockets, drones, or vehicles let you practice design, testing, and teamwork in a real project setting.
  • Build skills in CAD, MATLAB, or PythonThese tools are used daily in aerospace work, and showing them on your resume helps you stand out.
  • Get to know your professors and campus career officeMentors can point you to research openings, internships, and job leads that are not always posted publicly.

Tips for getting started

  • Get hands-on early: internships, co-ops, and summer jobs at aerospace companies or research labs show employers you can apply classroom learning.
  • Learn CAD software and a programming language like Python or MATLAB; these tools appear in most aerospace job ads.
  • Keep your grades strong in calculus, physics, and engineering courses, since many employers screen on them for entry-level roles.

Related jobs a step up

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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