Work Environment

Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians held about 11,900 jobs in 2020. The largest employers of aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians were as follows:

• Aerospace product and parts manufacturing - 35%
• Engineering services - 22%
• Scientific research and development services - 12%
• Computer and electronic product manufacturing - 8%

Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians who work in manufacturing or industrial plants are frequently involved in assembly.

Work Schedules

Most aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians work full time. Depending on the employer or project, they may work in shifts or be required to work overtime.

Job Outlook

Employment of aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians is projected to grow 9 percent from 2020 to 2030, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

About 1,200 openings for aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Employment

Most employment growth for these workers will be in the professional, scientific, and technical services industry.

Earnings

The median annual wage for aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians was $73,580 in May 2021. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $47,040, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $103,260.

In May 2021, the median annual wages for aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

• Aerospace product and parts manufacturing - $77,800
• Computer and electronic product manufacturing - $74,410
• Engineering services - $62,730
• Scientific research and development services - $62,410

Most aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians work full time. Depending on the employer or project, they may work in shifts or be required to work overtime.