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Aerospace Engineer

Overview and Key Facts

NASA aerospace engineer
Education
Education
Bachelor's degree
Median Pay
Median Pay
$134,830
Job Growth
Job Growth
6.10%
(Above US Average)
Jobs in 2034
Jobs in 2034
75,900

What Do They Do?

An aerospace engineer could...

 
rendering of Perserverance rover approaching Mars
Help invent and build a spacecraft for the first manned mission to Mars.
airplane
Design airplane wings that change shape to enhance maneuverability.
Man in a rugged landscape talking on a satellite phone
Design satellite phone technology so that data can be sent and received from remote areas.
satellite
Build satellites that help us monitor global climate changes from space.
 
rendering of Perserverance rover approaching Mars airplane Man in a rugged landscape talking on a satellite phone satellite

Overview Listen to this section

Humans have always longed to fly and to make other things fly, both through the air and into outer space—aerospace engineers are the people that make those dreams come true. They design, build, and test vehicles like airplanes, helicopters, balloons, rockets, missiles, satellites, and spacecraft.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJr4VSvrpog

Do You Have the Skills and Characteristics of an Aerospace Engineer?


  1. Critical Thinking: ?
  2. Reading Comprehension: ?
  3. Science: ?
  4. Operations Analysis: ?
  5. Writing: ?
More skills...

Core Tasks

Think about if you'd like the typical tasks an Aerospace Engineer might do:
  • Formulate mathematical models or other methods of computer analysis to develop, evaluate, or modify design, according to customer engineering requirements.
  • Plan or conduct experimental, environmental, operational, or stress tests on models or prototypes of aircraft or aerospace systems or equipment.
  • Formulate conceptual design of aeronautical or aerospace products or systems to meet customer requirements or conform to environmental regulations.
  • Plan or coordinate investigation and resolution of customers' reports of technical problems with aircraft or aerospace vehicles.
  • Write technical reports or other documentation, such as handbooks or bulletins, for use by engineering staff, management, or customers.
  • Direct or coordinate activities of engineering or technical personnel involved in designing, fabricating, modifying, or testing of aircraft or aerospace products.
  • Evaluate product data or design from inspections or reports for conformance to engineering principles, customer requirements, environmental regulations, or quality standards.
  • 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.
  • Maintain records of performance reports for future reference.
  • Design or engineer filtration systems that reduce harmful emissions.
  • Evaluate biofuel performance specifications to determine feasibility for aerospace applications.

Salary & Job Openings

Median Salary (Yearly Pay)

Tap or scroll over map to see median salaries for each state
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Future Jobs

Blast-Off:

How Will Aerospace Engineer Jobs Grow by 2034?
Projected % Growth
Rapid growth
(10% or higher)
Much faster than average
(7% - 10%)
Faster than average
(5% - 7%)
About as fast as average
(3% - 5%)
Slower than average
(0% - 3%)
Decreasing
Average of all U.S. jobs (5.3%)
Aerospace Engineer jobs (6.10%)
Source: https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm

Steps to Get There: Becoming an Aerospace Engineer

High School Subjects to Study

Aim to study the yellow-shaded subjects.
Math
Algebra 1
Geometry
Algebra 2
Pre-Calculus
Calculus
Statistics
Science
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Environmental Science
Physiology
Bio-Medical / Biotech
IT &
Engineering
Computer Science
Applied Technology
Drafting & CAD Training
Core
English
Foreign Language
Business
Psychology / Sociology

Career Pathway Listen to this section

Aerospace engineers typically enter the occupation with a bachelor's degree in an engineering specialty, but some basic research positions may require a graduate degree. Engineers offering their services directly to the public must be licensed. Continuing education to keep current with rapidly changing technology is important for engineers.

Education- Typical Degree Needed After High School Listen to this section

Degree
Post
high school credential
AA
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctoral or Professional Degree

Typical degree for an entry-level position: Bachelor's degree ? Types of Degrees and Credentials

A bachelor's degree in engineering is required for almost all entry-level aerospace engineering jobs. College graduates with a degree in a natural science or mathematics may occasionally qualify for some engineering jobs, especially in specialties that are in high demand. Most engineering degrees are granted in electrical, electronics, mechanical, or civil engineering. However, engineers trained in one branch may work in related branches. For example, many aerospace engineers have training in mechanical engineering. This flexibility allows employers to meet staffing needs in new technologies and specialties in which engineers may be in short supply. It also allows engineers to shift to fields with better employment prospects or to those that more closely match their interests.

Most engineering programs involve a concentration of study in an engineering specialty, along with courses in both mathematics and the physical and life sciences. Many programs also include courses in general engineering. A design course, sometimes accompanied by a computer or laboratory class, or both, is part of the curriculum of most programs. General courses not directly related to engineering, such as those in the social sciences or humanities, are also often required.

Graduate training is essential for engineering faculty positions and many research and development programs, but is not required for the majority of entry-level engineering jobs. Many experienced engineers obtain graduate degrees in engineering or business administration to learn new technology and broaden their education. Many high-level executives in government and industry began their careers as engineers.

Admissions requirements for undergraduate engineering schools include a solid background in mathematics (algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and calculus) and science (biology, chemistry, and physics), with courses in English, social studies, and humanities. Bachelor's degree programs in engineering typically are designed to last 4 years, but many students find that it takes between 4 and 5 years to complete their studies. In a typical 4-year college curriculum, the first 2 years are spent studying mathematics, basic sciences, introductory engineering, humanities, and social sciences. In the last 2 years, most courses are in engineering, usually with a concentration in one specialty. Some programs offer a general engineering curriculum; students then specialize on the job or in graduate school.

Some engineering schools have agreements with 2-year colleges whereby the college provides the initial engineering education, and the engineering school automatically admits students for their last 2 years. In addition, a few engineering schools have arrangements that allow students who spend 3 years in a liberal arts college studying pre-engineering subjects and 2 years in an engineering school, studying core subjects to receive a bachelor's degree from each school. Some colleges and universities offer 5-year master's degree programs. Some 5-year or even 6-year cooperative plans combine classroom study and practical work, permitting students to gain valuable experience and to finance part of their education.

Companies That Hire Aerospace Engineers

Try it Out with an Activity or Project

STEM Activities

STEM activities are fun hands-on explorations that usually take from 10 minutes to one hour and use readily available household or classroom materials while introducing you to STEM concepts common in this career.

Science Project Ideas

Project Ideas are in-depth STEM explorations that have a strong focus on controlling variables, taking accurate measurements, and analyzing data suitable for investigating the scientific method or the engineering design process.

On the Job

Role Models

Join student Kavya for a chat with Cathy Koerner, a NASA leader who is guiding the development of systems that will land the first woman on the Moon and send humans to Mars!
My part of, and the role I had in that was actually building the hardware that became the International Space Station. When I came into the International Space Station Program Vehicle Office, we were in the middle of assembling, and it took many Space Shuttle missions to assemble all the piece parts that is the current International Space Station. I helped manage that assembly process. 
Cathy Koerner, NASA Engineer, Artemis Mission
Learn more about Diana Trujillo, an engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and her work on the NASA Mars Curiosity Rover mission to give us close-up glimpses of Mars.
I am the mission lead of the Mars Curiosity rover. It is an SUV size, nuclear power, laser-beam eye rover. My job is to troubleshoot anything that happens to the rover. So, anything that goes wrong with the rover, it’s my problem. It’s my team that needs to figure it out….I love the rush 
Diana Trujillo, NASA Engineer

Nature of the Work

Aerospace engineers design, develop, and test aircraft, spacecraft, and missiles, as well as supervise the manufacture of these products. Those who work with aircraft are called aeronautical engineers, and those who work specifically with spacecraft are called astronautical engineers. Aerospace engineers develop new technologies for use in aviation, defense systems, and space exploration, often specializing in areas such as structural design, guidance, navigation and control, instrumentation and communication, or production methods. They also may specialize in a particular type of aerospace product, such as commercial aircraft, military fighter jets, helicopters, spacecraft, or missiles and rockets, and may become experts in aerodynamics, thermodynamics, celestial mechanics, propulsion, acoustics, or guidance and control systems.

Work Environment

Most aerospace engineers work in office buildings, laboratories, or industrial plants. Others may spend time outdoors at construction or test sites, where they monitor or direct operations, or solve onsite problems. Some engineers travel extensively to plants or worksites, both in the United States and abroad.

Many engineers work a standard 40-hour week. At times, deadlines or design standards may bring extra pressure to a job, requiring engineers to work longer hours.

More Information

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