Careers · Explore one path
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.
Other titles employers use
Aeronautical Engineer · Aerospace Engineer · Aerospace Stress Engineer · Avionics Engineer · Design Engineer · Flight Controls Engineer · Flight Test Engineer · Structural Analysis Engineer
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- Formulate mathematical models or other methods of computer analysis to develop, evaluate, or modify design, according to customer engineering requirements.
- Plan or conduct experimental, environmental, operational, or stress tests on models or prototypes of aircraft or aerospace systems or equipment.
- Formulate conceptual design of aeronautical or aerospace products or systems to meet customer requirements or conform to environmental regulations.
- Plan or coordinate investigation and resolution of customers' reports of technical problems with aircraft or aerospace vehicles.
- Write technical reports or other documentation, such as handbooks or bulletins, for use by engineering staff, management, or customers.
- Direct or coordinate activities of engineering or technical personnel involved in designing, fabricating, modifying, or testing of aircraft or aerospace products.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to analytical, practical and organizing work.
- Analytical
- Investigating questions, testing ideas, and solving problems
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Science
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Speaking
Subjects to know
- Engineering and Technology
- Mathematics
- Design
- Physics
- Computers and Electronics
Useful strengths
- Written Comprehension
- Problem Sensitivity
- Deductive Reasoning
- Inductive Reasoning
- Information Ordering
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 3.0 | Largely your own space |
| On your feet | 1.9 | Mostly seated |
| Talking face to face | 4.9 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 1.9 | Little of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a bachelor's degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A four-year degree 59%
- A master's degree 33%
- A two-year degree 8%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Object or component oriented development software
- Operating system software
- Development environment software
- Computer aided design CAD software
- Analytical or scientific software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Project management software
- Enterprise application integration software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 12,000
- Job openings each year
- 690
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 9.1%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 12,000 | 690 | 9.1% |
| Texas | 6,600 | 430 | 21.5% |
| Washington | 6,600 | 450 | 9.8% |
| Florida | 5,670 | 360 | 20.1% |
| Alabama | 4,240 | 240 | 6.5% |
| Colorado | 4,210 | 260 | 15.7% |
| Maryland | 3,440 | 200 | 11.3% |
| Georgia | 3,300 | 190 | 9.6% |
| Ohio | 3,280 | 190 | 8.6% |
| Virginia | 2,750 | 160 | 8.7% |
| Kansas | 2,240 | 130 | 12.6% |
| Arizona | 1,570 | 100 | 13.8% |
| Utah | 1,570 | 110 | 37.7% |
| Oklahoma | 1,540 | 90 | 6.2% |
| Connecticut | 1,240 | 70 | 6.9% |
| Pennsylvania | 900 | 50 | 7.1% |
| Illinois | 800 | 50 | 5.3% |
| New Jersey | 800 | 50 | 6.7% |
| South Carolina | 690 | 50 | 23.2% |
| Nevada | 580 | 30 | 7.4% |
| District of Columbia | 520 | 30 | 4.0% |
| Kentucky | 510 | 30 | 10.9% |
| New York | 440 | 0 | 2.3% |
| Tennessee | 420 | 30 | 13.5% |
| Massachusetts | 280 | 20 | 7.7% |
| Minnesota | 260 | 20 | 8.3% |
| Oregon | 240 | 20 | 26.3% |
| Michigan | 230 | 10 | 4.5% |
| Indiana | 170 | 10 | 13.3% |
| Mississippi | 170 | 10 | 6.3% |
| Arkansas | 140 | 10 | 27.3% |
| Nebraska | 110 | 10 | — |
| Louisiana | 100 | 10 | — |
| Montana | 90 | 10 | 12.5% |
| Wisconsin | 60 | 0 | 20.0% |
| Alaska | 40 | 0 | 33.3% |
| Idaho | 40 | 0 | 33.3% |
| Delaware | 30 | 0 | — |
| New Hampshire | 30 | 0 | — |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Purdue University-Main Campus
- Degrees each year
- 966
- Admit rate
- 50%
- Annual cost after aid
- $9,000
Program entryApply after enrollment
Open college GAGeorgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus
- Degrees each year
- 806
- Admit rate
- 16%
- Annual cost after aid
- $11,000
Program entryOpen major
Open college TXTexas A & M University-College Station
- Degrees each year
- 901
- Admit rate
- 63%
- Annual cost after aid
- $17,000
Program entryDirect to college
Open college FLUniversity of Central Florida
- Degrees each year
- 809
- Admit rate
- 40%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
Program entryApply after enrollment
Open college VAVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
- Degrees each year
- 699
- Admit rate
- 57%
- Annual cost after aid
- $18,000
Program entryApply after enrollment
Open college TXThe University of Texas at Austin
- Degrees each year
- 755
- Admit rate
- 29%
- Annual cost after aid
- $17,000
Program entryDirect to college
Open college FLEmbry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach
- Degrees each year
- 412
- Admit rate
- 66%
- Annual cost after aid
- $37,000
Program entryOpen major
Open college COUniversity of Colorado Boulder
- Degrees each year
- 508
- Admit rate
- 83%
- Annual cost after aid
- $19,000
Program entryDirect to major
Open collegeCompare every college offering aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering