Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians

Pay and outlook

Median annual wage, May 2025

$82,890

Half earn more, half earn less

Middle half earn

$67,680 – $111,280

25th to 75th percentile

People employed, May 2025

11,280

Wage and salary jobs (OEWS)

Projected change, 2025–35

+11.9%

Growing at twice the all-jobs rate or more (7%+)

Openings a year (projected)

1,100

New jobs plus replacing people who leave

Typical education to enter

Associate's degree

BLS

• All figures are for the United States as a whole. Pay varies a lot by state and city.
• Wages are for everyone working in the occupation in May 2025, at every career stage. They are not starting salaries or figures for new graduates.
• Growth and openings are BLS projections for 2025–35. They are estimates, not promises. Openings include jobs that open up when people retire or change occupation, not just new jobs.

What the work involves

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.

Main tasks

• 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.

Description and tasks from the O*NET® 31.0 Database.

Getting in

Typical education to enter (BLS)

Associate's degree

O*NET Job Zone 3

Medium preparation

Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.

Fields of study that lead here

From the federal CIP–SOC crosswalk, which links 7 programmes to this occupation. A link means the programme prepares people for this kind of work. It doesn't mean the programme is required, or that it's the only route.

Related careers

Related occupations from the O*NET database, in its order.

• Calibration Technologists and Technicians

  $67,820 median · +4.8% projected

• Avionics Technicians

  $82,280 median · +9.4% projected

• Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians

  $73,900 median · +2.6% projected

• Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians

  $74,510 median · +1.3% projected

• Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment

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• Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians

  $78,190 median · +2.4% projected