# Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians

> 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/aerospace-engineering-and-operations-technologists-and-technicians
- SOC code: 17-3021.00
- Career family: Architecture and engineering
- Median annual pay: $82,890 (10th percentile $59,050, 90th percentile $125,160)
- Projected growth: Much faster than average, +11.9%
- Openings a year: 1,100
- Typical entry education: Associate's degree
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 91 |
| Investigative (I) | 69 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 0 |
| Enterprising (E) | 7 |
| Conventional (C) | 72 |

## What you'd do

- Getting Information (importance 91/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 89/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 88/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 86/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 85/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 82/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 82/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 80/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 75/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 74/100)

## Skills

Critical Thinking, Operations Monitoring, Quality Control Analysis, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Troubleshooting, Monitoring

## Knowledge

Mechanical, Engineering and Technology, Mathematics, Production and Processing, Customer and Personal Service, English Language, Administrative, Physics, Computers and Electronics, Education and Training

## Also called

Aerographer, Aerospace Assembler, Aerospace Engineering Technologist, Aerospace Mechanic, Aerospace Operations Technologist, Aerospace Physiological Technician, Aerospace Technician, Aircraft Research Mechanic, Altitude Chamber Technician, Avionics Installation Technician

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4706) (CIP 4706, 713 colleges)
- [Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1503) (CIP 1503, 553 colleges)
- [Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1508) (CIP 1508, 319 colleges)
- [Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1500) (CIP 1500, 288 colleges)
- [Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1402) (CIP 1402, 96 colleges)
- Military Systems and Maintenance Technology (CIP 2904, 8 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [California State University Maritime Academy](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-university-maritime-academy-363) | Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | $97,197 | $126,209 | $26,935 |
| [University of Southern California USC](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-southern-california-usc-3050) | Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | $88,334 | $125,514 | $19,125 |
| [University of Massachusetts-Lowell](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-massachusetts-lowell-2953) | Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | not reported | $120,219 | not reported |
| [University of Colorado Boulder Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-colorado-boulder-main-campus-2899) | Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | $80,376 | $116,350 | $22,750 |
| [University of California-Los Angeles UCLA](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-los-angeles-ucla-2884) | Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | $88,702 | $115,706 | $14,095 |
| [University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-michigan-ann-arbor-main-campus-2956) | Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | $85,422 | $115,075 | $21,000 |
| [Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT](https://www.collegesref.com/college/massachusetts-institute-of-technology-mit-1615) | Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | $94,732 | $114,620 | not reported |
| [University of Washington-Seattle Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-washington-seattle-main-campus-3075) | Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | $88,006 | $111,349 | $15,925 |

## Related careers

- [Calibration Technologists and Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/calibration-technologists-and-technicians): $67,820 median pay
- [Avionics Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/avionics-technicians): $82,280 median pay
- [Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/electro-mechanical-and-mechatronics-technologists-and-technicians): $73,900 median pay
- [Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/mechanical-engineering-technologists-and-technicians): $74,510 median pay
- [Automotive Engineering Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/automotive-engineering-technicians): $74,510 median pay
- [Robotics Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/robotics-technicians): $73,900 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.