Aerospace Engineering - Aerospace Engineer Career |
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Nature of Aerospace Engineer Work |
Aerospace engineers design, develop, and test aircraft, spacecraft, and missiles and supervise the manufacture of these products. Those who work with aircraft are called aeronautical engineers, and those working specifically with spacecraft are astronautical engineers. Aerospace engineers develop new technologies for use in aviation, defense systems, and space exploration, often specializing in areas such as structural design, guidance, navigation and control, instrumentation and communication, or production methods. They also may specialize in a particular type of aerospace product, such as commercial aircraft, military fighter jets, helicopters, spacecraft, or missiles and rockets, and may become experts in aerodynamics, thermodynamics, celestial mechanics, propulsion, acoustics, or guidance and control systems.
Aerospace Engineer Career Job Outlook |
Aerospace engineers are expected to have 10 percent growth in employment over the projections decade, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Increases in the number and scope of military aerospace projects likely will generate new jobs. In addition, new technologies expected to be used on commercial aircraft produced during the next decade should spur demand for aerospace engineers. The employment outlook for aerospace engineers appears favorable. The number of degrees granted in aerospace engineering has declined for many years because of a perceived lack of opportunities in this field. Although this trend has reversed, new graduates continue to be needed to replace aerospace engineers who retire or leave the occupation for other reasons.
Aerospace Engineer Salaries |
Earnings for engineers vary significantly by specialty, industry, and education. Variation in median earnings and in the earnings distributions for engineers in various specialties is especially significant. Table 2 shows wage-and-salary earnings distributions in May 2006 for engineers in specialties covered in this statement.
Table 2: Earnings distribution by engineering specialty, May 2006
| Specialty |
Lowest 10% |
Lowest 25% |
Median |
Highest 25% |
Highest 10% |
| Aerospace engineers |
59,610 |
71,360 |
87,610 |
106,450 |
124,550 |
| Agricultural engineers |
42,390 |
53,040 |
66,030 |
80,370 |
96,270 |
| Biomedical engineers |
44,930 |
56,420 |
73,930 |
93,420 |
116,330 |
| Chemical engineers |
50,060 |
62,410 |
78,860 |
98,100 |
118,670 |
| Civil engineers |
44,810 |
54,520 |
68,600 |
86,260 |
104,420 |
| Computer hardware engineers |
53,910 |
69,500 |
88,470 |
111,030 |
135,260 |
| Electrical engineers |
49,120 |
60,640 |
75,930 |
94,050 |
115,240 |
| Electronics engineers, except computer |
52,050 |
64,440 |
81,050 |
99,630 |
119,900 |
| Environmental engineers |
43,180 |
54,150 |
69,940 |
88,480 |
106,230 |
| Health and safety engineers |
41,050 |
51,630 |
66,290 |
83,240 |
100,160 |
| Industrial engineers |
44,790 |
55,060 |
68,620 |
84,850 |
100,980 |
| Marine engineers and naval architects |
45,200 |
56,280 |
72,990 |
90,790 |
113,320 |
| Materials engineers |
46,120 |
57,850 |
73,990 |
92,210 |
112,140 |
| Mechanical engineers |
45,170 |
55,420 |
69,850 |
87,550 |
104,900 |
| Mining and geological engineers |
42,040 |
54,390 |
72,160 |
94,110 |
128,410 |
| Nuclear engineers |
65,220 |
77,920 |
90,220 |
105,710 |
124,510 |
| Petroleum engineers |
57,960 |
75,880 |
98,380 |
123,130 |
Over 145,600 |
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Table 3: Average starting salary by engineering specialty and degree , 2007
| Curriculum |
Bachelor's |
Master's |
Ph.D. |
| Aerospace/aeronautical/astronautical |
$53,408 |
$62,459 |
$73,814 |
| Agricultural |
49,764 |
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| Architectural |
48,664 |
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| Bioengineering and biomedical |
51,356 |
59,240 |
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| Chemical |
59,361 |
68,561 |
73,667 |
| Civil |
48,509 |
48,280 |
62,275 |
| Computer |
56,201 |
60,000 |
92,500 |
| Electrical/electronics and communications |
55,292 |
66,309 |
75,982 |
| Environmental/environmental health |
47,960 |
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| Industrial/manufacturing |
55,067 |
64,759 |
77,364 |
| Materials |
56,233 |
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| Mechanical |
54,128 |
62,798 |
72,763 |
| Mining and mineral |
54,381 |
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| Nuclear |
56,587 |
59,167 |
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| Petroleum |
60,718 |
57,000 |
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Footnotes:
(NOTE) Source: National Association of Colleges and Employers
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