How to become an Aerospace Engineer
Official title: Aerospace Engineers
Also called: Aeronautical Engineer, Aerospace Stress Engineer, Avionics Engineer, Design Engineer, Flight Controls Engineer, Flight Systems Test Engineer, Flight Test Engineer, Special Mission Engineer, Structural Analysis Engineer, Structural Test Engineer
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.
Main tasks
- Formulate conceptual design of aeronautical or aerospace products or systems to meet customer requirements or conform to environmental regulations.
- Evaluate product data or design from inspections or reports for conformance to engineering principles, customer requirements, environmental regulations, or quality standards.
- Direct or coordinate activities of engineering or technical personnel involved in designing, fabricating, modifying, or testing of aircraft or aerospace products.
- Plan or conduct experimental, environmental, operational, or stress tests on models or prototypes of aircraft or aerospace systems or equipment.
- Diagnose performance problems by reviewing reports or documentation from customers or field engineers or by inspecting malfunctioning or damaged products.
- Formulate mathematical models or other methods of computer analysis to develop, evaluate, or modify design, according to customer engineering requirements.
- Write technical reports or other documentation, such as handbooks or bulletins, for use by engineering staff, management, or customers.
- Maintain records of performance reports for future reference.
How to become one
Aerospace engineers must have a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering or a related field to enter the occupation. Aerospace engineers who work on projects that are related to national defense may need a security clearance.
Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree
Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Ways in
- Apprenticeship: Aerospace Engineer.
- College: Engineering degrees, Offered by 36 universities in the US
- Licence: A licence is required in 47 states.
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Median pay: $134,960 a year The middle half earn $106,110 to $169,690.
- About 68,700 people work in this job now, and about 74,400 are projected by 2035. (+8.3%)
- People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.
Related jobs
- Transportation Engineers
- Water/Wastewater Engineers
- Environmental Engineers
- Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors
- Agricultural Engineers
- Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers
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Questions people ask
How do I become an Aerospace Engineer?
Aerospace engineers must have a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering or a related field to enter the occupation. Aerospace engineers who work on projects that are related to national defense may need a security clearance.
How much does an Aerospace Engineer earn in the US?
Median full-time pay is $134,960 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $106,110 to $169,690.
Is an Aerospace Engineer a growing career in the US?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 8% by 2035, from about 68,700 to about 74,400 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Do you need a degree to become an Aerospace Engineer?
Usually. 90% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Will AI change the work of an Aerospace Engineer?
People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.
Sources
- Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03
This page includes information from the 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. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.