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Aerospace engineers design and create airplanes and other aircraft used in both commercial and military settings. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were over 78,000 aerospace engineers employed in the United States in 2010. The salary information provided by the bureau indicates a wide range of pay that includes salaries earned by those with both undergraduate and graduate degrees. The salary for aerospace engineers with a doctorate degree will typically be near the top of the engineering pay scale.
Pay Scale
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for aerospace engineers is $116,500. That is to say, aerospace engineers earn $56.01 per hour.
| Quick Facts: Aerospace Engineers | |
|---|---|
| 2020 Median Pay | $118,610 per year $57.02 per hour |
| Typical Entry-Level Education | Bachelor’s degree |
| Work Experience in a Related Occupation | None |
| On-the-job Training | None |
| Number of Jobs, 2020 | 61,400 |
| Job Outlook, 2020-30 | 8% (As fast as average) |
| Employment Change, 2020-30 | 5,100 |
Although the average salary for those working in the aerospace engineering field was $99,000 per year in 2010, the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that the salary range goes much higher. The median salary for those working in this field was $97,480, but the upper 25 percent of the pay scale made salaries of $120,290 or more per year. The upper 10 percent made even more. These aerospace engineers made salaries of $143,360 or higher. Although doctorate-holding aerospace engineers tend to fall into these two upper salary ranges, other factors like experience and employer may also propel an aerospace engineer into the upper echelons of the pay scale.
Industry
Graduates of the program are intended to have earned more than $100,000 by the time they are earning their Ph.D., but this does not mean that all of them will. For instance, for some years, aerospace engineering was one of lowest-paying engineering disciplines. Graduates of the Ph.D. degree program, however, have earned on average more than $150,000 by the time they earn their doctorate degree. The AOPA Foundation has created a salary scale that includes reasonable estimates of what salaries might look like for graduates of the Ph.D. program at some point after they earn their degrees
The amount that aerospace engineers are paid also depends upon other factors, such as the specific industry in which they are employed. For instance, the BLS indicates that the highest-paying industry for aerospace engineers was the wholesale equipment field. These aerospace engineers made average salaries of more than $118,000 per year. Those working in non-scheduled air transportation made a little less at $114,000 per year, while those employed by the federal government made $111,000 on an annual basis.
Location
Location also provides an indicator of the salaries earned by those in the aerospace engineering field. According to the BLS, aerospace engineers made salaries of $108,750 or more working the states of California, Alabama, Virginia and Maryland. Those working in the District of Columbia also earned salaries higher than this figure and were among the highest paying locations in which to work as an aerospace engineer. In other states like Texas and Washington offered average salaries that dipped just below $100,000 per year.
Job Outlook
The aerospace engineering industry should continue to grow through 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics projections. The bureau indicates the number of jobs in this field should grow by somewhere in the neighborhood of about 10 percent, over and above its reported total for 2008. This means that the number of jobs in this industry should grow from about 71,600 to 79,100 during this decade.
Employment of aerospace engineers is projected to grow 8 percent from 2020 to 2030, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
About 4,000 openings for aerospace engineers 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
| Occupational Title | Aerospace engineers |
|---|---|
| SOC Code | 17-2011 |
| Employment, 2020 | 61,400 |
| Projected Employment, 2030 | 66,500 |
| Percent Change, 2020-30 | 8 |
| Numeric Change, 2020-30 | 5,100 |
| Employment by Industry | Get data |
| SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program |
Aircraft are being redesigned for less noise pollution and better fuel efficiency, particularly with the introduction of electric and hybrid-electric aircraft, which should help sustain demand for aerospace engineers in research and development.
Technological advancements have reduced the cost of launching satellites. As space becomes more accessible, especially with developments in small satellites that have greater commercial viability, demand for aerospace engineers among businesses and government entities is expected to increase. In addition, continued interest in drones will help to drive employment growth for these engineers.
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