Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians: Career Overview
Operate, install, adjust, and maintain integrated computer/communications systems, consoles, simulators, and other data acquisition, test, and measurement instruments and equipment, which are used to launch, track, position, and evaluate air and space vehicles. May record and interpret test data.
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The Daily Work of Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians Take On?
The core tasks performed by aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians include:
- Test aircraft systems under simulated operational conditions, performing systems readiness tests and pre- and post-operational checkouts, to establish design or fabrication parameters.
- Identify required data, data acquisition plans, and test parameters, setting up equipment to conform to these specifications.
- Inspect, diagnose, maintain, and operate test setups and equipment to detect malfunctions.
- Confer with engineering personnel regarding details and implications of test procedures and results.
- Operate and calibrate computer systems and devices to comply with test requirements and to perform data acquisition and analysis.
- Record and interpret test data on parts, assemblies, and mechanisms.
- Adjust, repair, or replace faulty components of test setups and equipment.
- Fabricate and install parts and systems to be tested in test equipment, using hand tools, power tools, and test instruments.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Successful aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
These are the skills that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Aerographer
- Aerospace Assembler
- Aerospace Engineering Technologist
- Aerospace Mechanic
- Aerospace Operations Technologist
- Aerospace Physiological Technician
- Aerospace Technician
- Aircraft Research Mechanic
How Many Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians Are There?
The U.S. employs around 194,160 aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +10.6% over the projection horizon.
Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $77,835 |
| Hourly median | $37.42 |
| 10th percentile | $51,098 |
| 25th percentile | $64,466 |
| 75th percentile | $91,204 |
| 90th percentile | $104,572 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Colorado | $124,290 |
| Washington | $105,910 |
| Alaska | $105,850 |
| Nevada | $98,770 |
| California | $96,370 |
| Maryland | $93,010 |
| Texas | $83,320 |
| North Carolina | $83,280 |
| Connecticut | $81,460 |
| Massachusetts | $81,420 |
| Florida | $80,150 |
| Virginia | $80,120 |
| South Carolina | $78,820 |
| Utah | $78,610 |
| Ohio | $76,750 |
| Kansas | $76,130 |
| Alabama | $69,590 |
| New York | $62,650 |
| Arizona | $62,160 |
| Oklahoma | $59,070 |
| Indiana | $58,810 |
| Oregon | $57,680 |
| Michigan | $46,620 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Earnings for aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians shift depending on where you work. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Mountains | $104,600 | 6.9% | 2.19 |
| Far Western US | $98,001 | 18.7% | 1.32 |
| Middle Atlantic | $81,713 | 5.1% | 1.15 |
| New England | $81,448 | 1.7% | 0.76 |
| Southwest | $77,678 | 10.7% | 0.83 |
| Plains States | $76,130 | 7.8% | 7.75 |
| Great Lakes | $70,841 | 17.4% | 2.70 |
| Southeast | $63,083 | 31.7% | 2.07 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | CO | $131,540 | 200 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $110,120 | 450 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $103,200 | 130 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | TX | $100,930 | 230 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | NV | $98,770 | |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | CA | $98,640 | 60 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | DC | $97,580 | 200 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $96,370 | 410 |
Industry Breakdown
The largest employers of aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 4,730 | $80,390 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 3,330 | $75,390 |
| Educational Services | 520 | $87,360 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 200 | $131,540 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 110 | $123,270 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 90 | $111,350 |
Below are examples of industries where aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians work:
Software Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians Use
- Data base management system software: Apache Hadoop (hot technology)
- Project management software: Atlassian JIRA (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Object or component oriented development software: C++ (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Dassault Systemes SolidWorks (hot technology)
- Enterprise application integration software: Extensible markup language XML (hot technology)
- Web platform development software: JavaScript (hot technology)
- Program testing software: JUnit (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Linux (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The on-the-job environment of aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Telephone Conversations
Education and Training
Most aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians positions require some college, no degree as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Software Developers (Supplemental)
- Aerospace Engineers (Supplemental)
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer (Supplemental)
- Validation Engineers (Supplemental)
- Mechanical Engineers (Supplemental)
- Mechatronics Engineers (Supplemental)
- Robotics Engineers (Supplemental)
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians (Primary-Long)
Where to Study
Aspiring aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians commonly pursue programs in:
Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields
3 programs across 3 majors
Military Technologies and Applied Sciences
2 programs across 1 majors
Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians
1 programs across 1 majors
Engineering
1 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 17-3021.00 (Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians).
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