SOC 17-2011.00Bright outlook

    Aerospace Engineers

    Perform engineering duties in designing, constructing, and testing aircraft, missiles, and spacecraft.

    Median pay
    $134,960
    Growth
    +8.3%
    Much faster than average
    Openings a year
    3,800
    Typical education
    Bachelor's degree

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $86,700
    Median
    $134,960
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $205,890
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    67,710 people work in this occupation.

    In short

    Aerospace engineers design, build, and test aircraft, missiles, and spacecraft, earning a median annual pay of $134,960. They evaluate materials, recommend testing techniques, and conduct research to advance aerospace technology.

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What aerospace engineers do

    Job Zone 4: Considerable preparation

    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.

    Most need a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience.

    What the work is like

    Aerospace engineers spend their days designing, constructing, and testing flight technologies. Their daily tasks involve drafting technical specifications for parts and equipment, analyzing data, and evaluating information to ensure everything complies with industry standards. They solve complex problems, monitor manufacturing processes, and inspect equipment to ensure safety and functionality.

    To succeed in this role, individuals need strong skills in critical thinking, mathematics, science, and complex problem solving. They must be active learners who can read and comprehend complex technical documents. The work requires deep knowledge of engineering, technology, physics, mechanical systems, and computer electronics. Because of the high stakes in aviation and space travel, professionals must exhibit work styles such as extreme attention to detail, cautiousness, dependability, and intellectual curiosity. This career strongly appeals to people with investigative interests who enjoy researching and solving scientific puzzles.

    How to get there

    Entering this field typically requires a bachelor's degree. Most professionals also need several years of related work experience before they are fully prepared for the role. Students preparing for this career commonly major in aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering, mechanical engineering, or electrical, electronics, and communications engineering.

    While gaining experience, individuals can pursue professional credentials such as the Aerospace Engineering certification from NOCTI. Additionally, some states list specific licensing requirements for people performing this type of engineering work.

    Pay and outlook explained

    In 2025, the median annual pay for aerospace engineers was $134,960. The lowest 10% of earners made less than $86,700, while the highest 10% earned more than $205,890.

    There are 67,710 people employed in this field. Between 2025 and 2035, employment is projected to grow by 8.3%, which is much faster than average. This growth is expected to result in approximately 3,800 job openings each year.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R)
    78 / 100
    Investigative (I) · strongest
    84 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    23 / 100
    Social (S)
    4 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    25 / 100
    Conventional (C)
    57 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code IRC. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
    98
    Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment
    97
    Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    90
    Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
    88
    Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
    87
    Analyzing Data or Information
    85
    Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    85
    Getting Information
    85
    Documenting/Recording Information
    83
    Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
    81
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

    • Critical Thinking
    • Reading Comprehension
    • Complex Problem Solving
    • Judgment and Decision Making
    • Mathematics
    • Science
    • Writing
    • Active Learning
    • Active Listening
    • Operations Analysis

    Knowledge

    • Engineering and Technology
    • Design
    • Mechanical
    • Mathematics
    • Physics
    • Computers and Electronics
    • English Language
    • Production and Processing
    • Administration and Management
    • Education and Training

    Abilities

    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Written Comprehension
    • Deductive Reasoning
    • Inductive Reasoning
    • Information Ordering
    • Mathematical Reasoning
    • Near Vision
    • Oral Comprehension
    • Oral Expression
    • Written Expression

    Work styles

    • Attention to Detail
    • Dependability
    • Innovation
    • Cautiousness
    • Intellectual Curiosity
    • Achievement Orientation
    • Integrity
    • Perseverance
    • Adaptability
    • Self-Confidence

    Also called

    Aerodynamicist · Aerodynamics Engineer · Aeronautical Design Engineer · Aeronautical Engineer · Aeronautical Project Engineer · Aeronautical Research Engineer · Aeronautical Test Engineer · Aerospace Design Engineer · Aerospace Physiologist · Aerospace Programmable Logic Design Engineer

    Career pathway

    From your interests to aerospace engineers

    Interests that fit the work, the career, majors that lead there and colleges whose graduates in those majors earn the most. Hover or focus a step to follow one path.

    1. Interests

    2. This career

      • Aerospace Engineers$134,960 median pay

    3. Majors

    4. Colleges

    College Scorecard program outcomes

    Colleges with strong outcomes

    Programs that lead to this career, ranked by what their graduates earn four years after finishing. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid.

    1. 1Carnegie Mellon University logo
      Carnegie Mellon University

      Pittsburgh, PA · Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $150,074
      4 yrs after
      $250,168
      Median debt
      $19,500
    2. 2University of California-Berkeley CAL logo
      University of California-Berkeley CAL

      Berkeley, CA · Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $154,713
      4 yrs after
      $200,543
      Median debt
      $13,548
    3. 3Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT logo
      Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT

      Cambridge, MA · Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $150,863
      4 yrs after
      $161,118
      Median debt
      $15,000
    4. 4Cornell University-New York logo
      Cornell University-New York

      Ithaca, NY · Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $110,607
      4 yrs after
      $147,241
      Median debt
      $12,750
    5. 5The University of Texas at Austin Main Campus logo
      The University of Texas at Austin Main Campus

      Austin, TX · Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $111,942
      4 yrs after
      $146,003
      Median debt
      $18,118
    6. 6Columbia University in the City of New York logo
      Columbia University in the City of New York

      New York, NY · Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $143,332
      Median debt
      Not reported
    7. 7
      Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art

      New York, NY · Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $139,068
      Median debt
      Not reported
    8. 8Rice University logo
      Rice University

      Houston, TX · Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $103,698
      4 yrs after
      $136,656
      Median debt
      Not reported

    Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Programs with few graduates are not listed.

    NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk

    Majors that lead here

    Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What aerospace engineers may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Certifications

    Core certifications employers recognise for this work.

    Search all certifications on CareerOneStop

    Training

    Programs of study that prepare people for this work.

    • Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering, General
    • Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering, Other
    • Astronautical Engineering
    • Electrical and Electronics Engineering
    • Mechanical Engineering

    Find training near you on CareerOneStop

    Licenses by state

    51 states list a license for this work. Open your state for the license and the agency that issues it.

    Check license requirements on CareerOneStop

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 6, 2026.

    Your plan

    Build my pathway plan

    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Related careers

    Careers with similar work, interests or skills.

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    Questions about aerospace engineers

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What college majors are best for becoming an aerospace engineer?

    Students typically major in aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering. Other relevant majors include mechanical engineering as well as electrical, electronics, and communications engineering.

    What is the job outlook for this career?

    The field is projected to grow by 8.3% from 2025 to 2035, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. This growth is expected to generate about 3,800 job openings every year.

    Are there any certifications or licenses needed?

    Some states list specific licensing requirements for aerospace engineers. Additionally, professionals can earn the Aerospace Engineering certification offered by NOCTI to demonstrate their expertise.

    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    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.

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 6, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.