# Aerospace Engineers

> 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/aerospace-engineers
- SOC code: 17-2011.00
- Career family: Architecture and engineering
- Median annual pay: $134,960 (10th percentile $86,700, 90th percentile $205,890)
- Projected growth: Much faster than average, +8.3%
- Openings a year: 3,800
- Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code IRC)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 78 |
| Investigative (I) | 84 |
| Artistic (A) | 23 |
| Social (S) | 4 |
| Enterprising (E) | 25 |
| Conventional (C) | 57 |

## What you'd do

- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 98/100)
- Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment (importance 97/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 90/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 88/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 87/100)
- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 85/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 85/100)
- Getting Information (importance 85/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 83/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 81/100)

## 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

## 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

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

- [Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1410) (CIP 1410, 456 colleges)
- [Mechanical Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1419) (CIP 1419, 445 colleges)
- [Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1402) (CIP 1402, 96 colleges)

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

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Carnegie Mellon University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/carnegie-mellon-university-406) | Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $150,074 | $250,168 | $19,500 |
| [University of California-Berkeley CAL](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-berkeley-cal-2881) | Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $154,713 | $200,543 | $13,548 |
| [Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT](https://www.collegesref.com/college/massachusetts-institute-of-technology-mit-1615) | Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $150,863 | $161,118 | $15,000 |
| [Cornell University-New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cornell-university-new-york-710) | Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $110,607 | $147,241 | $12,750 |
| [The University of Texas at Austin Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/the-university-of-texas-at-austin-main-campus-2764) | Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $111,942 | $146,003 | $18,118 |
| [Columbia University in the City of New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york-656) | Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | not reported | $143,332 | not reported |
| [Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cooper-union-for-the-advancement-of-science-and-art-704) | Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | not reported | $139,068 | not reported |
| [Rice University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/rice-university-2227) | Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $103,698 | $136,656 | not reported |

## Related careers

- [Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/aerospace-engineering-and-operations-technologists-and-technicians): $82,890 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
- [Avionics Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/avionics-technicians): $82,280 median pay
- [Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/mechanical-engineering-technologists-and-technicians): $74,510 median pay
- [Mechanical Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/mechanical-engineers): $104,110 median pay
- [Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/aircraft-mechanics-and-service-technicians): $79,870 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.