Aerospace Engineering overview operate and maintain equipment used in developing, testing, producing, and sustaining new aircraft and spacecraft. Increasingly, these workers are being required to program and run computer simulations tools and processes in their work, as well as advanced automation and robotics. Their work is critical in preventing the failure of key parts of new aircraft, spacecraft, and missiles. They also help in the quality assurance, testing, and operation of advanced technology equipment used in producing aircraft and the systems that go into the aircraft.
Recruiter & Staffing Needs
Aerospace Engineering overview operate and maintain equipment used in developing, testing, producing, and sustaining new aircraft and spacecraft. Increasingly, these workers are being required to program and run computer simulations tools and processes in their work, as well as advanced automation and robotics. Their work is critical in preventing the failure of key parts of new aircraft, spacecraft, and missiles. They also help in the quality assurance, testing, and operation of advanced technology equipment used in producing aircraft and the systems that go into the aircraft.
Recruiter & Staffing Needs
Employment projections data for aerospace engineering and operations technicians, 2016-26
| Occupational Title | SOC Code | Employment, 2016 | Projected Employment, 2026 | Change, 2016-26 | Employment by Industry | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percent | Numeric | |||||
| Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technicians | 17-3021 | 12,100 | 12,900 | 7 | 800 |  xlsx |
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
Employment projections data for aerospace engineering and operations technicians, 2016-26
| Occupational Title |
|---|
| Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technicians |
| SOC Code |
| 17-3021 |
| Employment, 2016 |
| 12,100 |
| Projected Employment, 2026 |
| 12,900 |
| CHANGE, 2016-26 |
| PERCENT |
| 7 |
| NUMERIC |
| 800 |
| EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY |
| xlsx |
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
Pay
The median annual wage for aerospace engineering and operations technicians was $67,240 in May 2017. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $43,050, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $102,960.
In May 2017, the median annual wages for aerospace engineering and operations technicians in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
| Scientific Research and Development services | $80,840 |
|---|---|
| Engineering Services | $69,550 |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | $67,930 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts manufacturing | $65,730 |
| Testing Laboratories | $59,670 |
Most service technicians work full time, and many work evenings or weekends. Overtime is common.
Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technicians
Median annual wages, May 2017
Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics
Job Outlook
Employment of aerospace engineering and operations technicians is projected to grow 7 percent from 2016 to 2026, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Many aerospace engineering and operations technicians work on projects related to national defense and therefore require security clearances. In addition, aircraft may be redesigned to cut down on noise pollution and to raise fuel efficiency. Need for such redesigns should raise demand for research and development, particularly in support of air transportation.
Aerospace engineering and operations technicians work mainly in national defense–related projects or in constructing civilian aircraft. These technicians also are employed in the rising market for unmanned aerial systems. Successful research and development projects, ranging from more efficient propulsion systems to new air transport concepts, will result in new product lines and create demand for these workers.
Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technicians
Percent change in employment, projected 2016-26
Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics
Run Your First Background Check for Aerospace Engineers
Similar Occupations
| Occupational Title | Job duties | Entry-Level education | 2017 Median pay | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Aerospace Engineers | Aerospace engineers design primarily aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles. In addition, they create and test prototypes to make sure that they function according to design. | Bachelor's Degree | $113,030 |
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Electro-mechanical Technicians | Electro-mechanical technicians combine knowledge of mechanical technology with knowledge of electrical and electronic circuits. They operate, test, and maintain unmanned, automated, robotic, or electromechanical equipment. | Associate's Degree | $56,740 |
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Industrial Engineering Technicians | Industrial engineering technicians assist industrial engineers in devising efficient systems that integrate workers, machines, materials, information, and energy to make a product or provide a service. They prepare machinery and equipment layouts, plan workflows, conduct statistical production studies, and analyze production costs. | Associate's Degree | $54,280 |
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Mechanical Engineering Technicians | Mechanical engineering technicians help mechanical engineers design, develop, test, and manufacture mechanical devices, including tools, engines, and machines. They may make sketches and rough layouts, record and analyze data, make calculations and estimates, and report their findings. | Associate's Degree | $55,360 |
|
| OCCUPATIONAL TITLE |
|---|
| Aerospace Engineers |
| JOB DUTIES |
| Aerospace engineers design primarily aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles. In addition, they create and test prototypes to make sure that they function according to design. |
| ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION |
| Bachelor's Degree |
| 2017 MEDIAN PAY |
| $113,030 |
|
| OCCUPATIONAL TITLE |
| Drafters |
| JOB DUTIES |
| Drafters use software to convert the designs of engineers and architects into technical drawings. Most workers specialize in architectural, civil, electrical, or mechanical drafting and use technical drawings to help design everything from microchips to skyscrapers. |
| ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION |
| Associate's Degree |
| 2017 MEDIAN PAY |
| $54,170 |
|
| OCCUPATIONAL TITLE |
| JOB DUTIES |
| Electro-mechanical technicians combine knowledge of mechanical technology with knowledge of electrical and electronic circuits. They operate, test, and maintain unmanned, automated, robotic, or electromechanical equipment. |
| ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION |
| Associate's Degree |
| 2017 MEDIAN PAY |
| $56,740 |
|
| OCCUPATIONAL TITLE |
| Industrial Engineering Technicians |
| JOB DUTIES |
| Industrial engineering technicians assist industrial engineers in devising efficient systems that integrate workers, machines, materials, information, and energy to make a product or provide a service. They prepare machinery and equipment layouts, plan workflows, conduct statistical production studies, and analyze production costs. |
| ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION |
| Associate's Degree |
| 2017 MEDIAN PAY |
| $54,280 |
|
| OCCUPATIONAL TITLE |
| Mechanical Engineering Technicians |
| JOB DUTIES |
| Mechanical engineering technicians help mechanical engineers design, develop, test, and manufacture mechanical devices, including tools, engines, and machines. They may make sketches and rough layouts, record and analyze data, make calculations and estimates, and report their findings. |
| ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION |
| Associate's Degree |
| 2017 MEDIAN PAY |
| $55,360 |
Free Staffing Resources
Professional Recruiter and Staffing Organizations
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National Association of Personnel Services
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Association of Talent Acquisition Professionals
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American Association of International Healthcare Recruitment
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National Association of Executive Recruiters
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National Association for Health Care Recruitment
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Recruitment Process Outsourcing Association
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American Staffing Association
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Top Echelon Recruiting Network
