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.

$134,830

Median Annual Pay

Jobs growth:

+6% projected 2024–2034

Bachelor's degree

Typical Entry-Level Education

What They Do

Aerospace engineers design and develop some of the most sophisticated machines ever created, from commercial airplanes to space exploration vehicles. They spend their days using advanced computer software to create detailed designs, running simulations to test how aircraft will perform under different conditions, and analyzing data from wind tunnel experiments and flight tests. Much of their work happens in office settings where they collaborate with other engineers and specialists, though they also visit manufacturing facilities to oversee production and occasionally observe test flights of prototypes.

Programs That Prepare You

College programs linked to this occupation, ranked by graduate earnings

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering(masters)University of California-Berkeley, CA

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering(masters)Carnegie Mellon University, PA

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering(masters)Stanford University, CA

Mechanical Engineering(masters)Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MA

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering(masters)Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MA

Mechanical Engineering(doctoral)Stanford University, CA

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering(bachelors)Carnegie Mellon University, PA

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering(bachelors)University of California-Berkeley, CA

Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering(masters)Johns Hopkins University, MD

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering(masters)University of Southern California, CA

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering(masters)Johns Hopkins University, MD

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering(masters)Worcester Polytechnic Institute, MA

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering(masters)Columbia University in the City of New York, NY

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering(masters)University of Washington-Seattle Campus, WA

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering(masters)University of Washington-Bothell Campus, WA

Mechanical Engineering(masters)Santa Clara University, CA

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering(masters)Cornell University, NY

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering(masters)California State University-Northridge, CA

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering(masters)San Diego State University, CA

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering(masters)California State University-Long Beach, CA

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering(masters)Loyola Marymount University, CA

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering(masters)San Jose State University, CA

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering(masters)Santa Clara University, CA

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering(masters)California State Polytechnic University-Pomona, CA

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering(masters)California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, CA

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