Aerospace Engineers

What Aerospace Engineers Do

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.

Career Outlook

National employment outlook, 2024–2034.

Related work experience

None

On-the-job training

None

Self-employed

2.6%

Source: BLS Employment Projections — 2024-2034.

Key Knowledge Areas

Subject-matter areas this occupation draws on most, per O*NET.

• Engineering and Technologyimportance 4.8/5
• Mathematicsimportance 4.3/5
• Designimportance 4.1/5
• Physicsimportance 4.0/5
• Computers and Electronicsimportance 3.9/5
• English Languageimportance 3.8/5
• Mechanicalimportance 3.4/5
• Production and Processingimportance 3.3/5

Work Environment

What the day-to-day work setting is like, per O*NET.

• E-Mail5.0/5
• Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams4.9/5
• Indoors, Environmentally Controlled4.8/5
• Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team4.5/5
• Telephone Conversations4.4/5
• Freedom to Make Decisions4.3/5

Related Careers

• Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians
• Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians
• Avionics Technicians
• Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians
• Mechanical Engineers
• Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians
• Electronics Engineers, Except Computer
• Engineers, All Other

Careers With Similar Skills

Occupations whose Transferable Skills profile most closely matches this one — a mathematical comparison, not observed data about people actually moving between these careers.

• Mechanical Drafters97% skill match
• Software Developers97% skill match
• Computer Programmers96% skill match
• Nuclear Engineers94% skill match
• Mechanical Engineers93% skill match
• Electrical and Electronics Drafters93% skill match
• Web Developers93% skill match
• Database Architects92% skill match

Transferable Skills

Cross-functional skills this occupation draws on most, per O*NET — the kind that carry over to other careers.

• Complex Problem Solvingimportance 3.9/5
• Operations Analysisimportance 3.9/5
• Judgment and Decision Makingimportance 3.8/5
• Systems Evaluationimportance 3.5/5
• Systems Analysisimportance 3.4/5
• Coordinationimportance 3.3/5
• Technology Designimportance 3.3/5
• Quality Control Analysisimportance 3.3/5

Software & Technologies

Tools and software used in this occupation, per O*NET.

Work Style

Personal work characteristics that matter most for this occupation, per O*NET.

• Attention to Detail
• Dependability
• Innovation
• Cautiousness
• Intellectual Curiosity
• Achievement Orientation
• Integrity

Career Interests

This occupation’s RIASEC interest profile, per O*NET — how strongly it fits each of the six Holland interest types.

• InvestigativeHigh
• RealisticHigh
• ConventionalMedium
• EnterprisingLow
• ArtisticLow
• SocialLow

Where This Career Is Most Concentrated

Metro areas where aerospace engineers make up the largest share of local employment, relative to the national average (BLS location quotient).

1. 1Huntsville, AL42.03× national avg
2. 2Lexington Park, MD31.18× national avg
3. 3Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL12.71× national avg
4. 4Wichita, KS10.66× national avg
5. 5Tucson, AZ10.14× national avg

Possible Career Moves

A computed starting point, not observed job-change data — see the full list for why each one might fit.

• Mechanical EngineersLateral Move
• Software DevelopersCareer Change
• Information Security AnalystsCareer Change
• Database ArchitectsCareer Change

See the full career path from Aerospace Engineers →

Related Education Programs

Schools that offer related fields of study, based on the NCES CIP-SOC crosswalk — not a guarantee that graduates enter this specific career.