How much aerospace engineers make a year

Aerospace engineering programs often include internships or cooperative initiatives that allow aspiring engineers to gain work experience with local companies. Aeronautical science: With this degree, students can learn how to fly, the fundamentals of risk management and the science of flight. How much does an aerospace engineer make? Is the entry-level salary different for aerospace engineers? What experience do you need to get a job as an aerospace engineer?

A summer internship or co-op program. Working as an aerospace engineer technician. Where do aerospace engineers make the most money in the U. Are there any additional benefits in this position? Opportunity to innovate. Flexible working style. High demand. Opportunity to join several organizations. What is the job outlook for aerospace engineers? What Is a Non-Exempt Salary? What You Should Know. Related View More arrow right. How To Negotiate Salary for Federal Job Offers in 6 Steps With Tips Read this article to learn more about types of federal jobs, how to negotiate salary for federal job offers and additional tips to help with negotiation.

Whether you look for opportunities within the same aerospace engineering firm or change employers to seek new roles, gaining more experience is the most effective way to increase your salary as an aerospace engineer. Gaining a Professional Engineering PE license can lead to higher levels of leadership and salary earnings, as professional engineers can oversee team members and approve projects. You can earn a state-issued PE license at any point in your career, which usually includes the following:.

Check your local state requirements, as some expect continuous education to maintain the license. Most states accept licenses issued by other states as long as the original requirements meet or exceed their own. Many aerospace engineers become technical specialists or team supervisors, and advancing your skill set in this way can lead to a higher salary with the more responsibility you take on.

Consider focusing on systems engineering, engineering design or technical analysis to grow your career and your salary. Become an expert in a certain aerospace field, such as aerodynamics, thermodynamics, celestial mechanics, flight mechanics, materials, propulsion, acoustics or guidance and control systems to expand your career path and salary aspirations.

Other common specializations within aerospace engineering include:. These groups publish trade publications, hold industry events and provide mentorship opportunities, helping you achieve your professional and financial goals as an aerospace engineer.

Top levels of aerospace engineers work in strategic project management, program management or in director and executive positions. Besides technical engineering skills and experience, these roles often require strong leadership, communication and time management skills to drive projects and teams to success. Read more: Project Engineer vs.

Project Manager: What's the Difference? Bureau of Labor Statistics , and matches growth rates for other occupations. Aeronautical engineers work with aircraft.

They are involved primarily in designing aircraft and propulsion systems and in studying the aerodynamic performance of aircraft and construction materials. This includes work on small satellites such as cubesats, and traditional large satellites.

Aeronautical and astronautical engineers face different environmental and operational issues in designing aircraft and spacecraft. However, the two fields overlap a great deal because they both depend on the basic principles of physics.

Aerospace engineers held about 61, jobs in The largest employers of aerospace engineers were as follows:. Aerospace engineers are employed in industries in which workers design or build aircraft, missiles, systems for national defense, or spacecraft.

They work primarily for firms that engage in manufacturing, analysis and design, research and development, and for the federal government. Aerospace engineers now spend more of their time in an office environment than they have in the past, because modern aircraft design requires the use of sophisticated computer equipment and software design tools, modeling, and simulations for tests, evaluation, and training.

Aerospace engineers work with other professionals involved in designing and building aircraft, spacecraft, and their components. Therefore, they must be able to communicate well, divide work into manageable tasks, and work with others toward a common goal. Aerospace engineers typically work full time.

Engineers who direct projects must often work extra hours to monitor progress, to ensure that designs meet requirements, to determine how to measure aircraft performance, to see that production meets design standards, to participate in test flights and first flights, and to ensure that deadlines are met. Aerospace engineers typically need a bachelor's degree in engineering or a related field.

High school students interested in studying aerospace engineering should take courses in chemistry, physics, advanced math, and computer programming and computer languages.

Some colleges and universities offer cooperative programs in partnership with regional businesses, which give students practical experience while they complete their education.

Cooperative programs and internships enable students to gain valuable experience and to finance part of their education. A graduate degree will allow an engineer to work as an instructor at a university or to do research and development. Programs in aerospace engineering are accredited by ABET. Analytical skills. Aerospace engineers must be able to identify design elements that may not meet requirements and then must formulate alternatives to improve the performance of those elements.

Business skills. Much of the work done by aerospace engineers involves meeting federal government standards. Meeting these standards often requires knowledge of standard business practices, as well as knowledge of commercial law. Additionally, project management or systems engineering skills can be useful. Critical-thinking skills. Aerospace engineers must be able to produce designs that meet governmental standards, and to figure out why a particular design does not work.

They must be able to ask the right question, then find an acceptable answer. Math skills. Aerospace engineers use the principles of calculus, trigonometry, and other advanced topics in math for analysis, design, and troubleshooting in their work. Problem-solving skills. Aerospace engineers use their education and experience to upgrade designs and troubleshoot problems when meeting new demands for aircraft, such as increased fuel efficiency or improved safety.

Writing skills. Aerospace engineers must be able both to write papers that explain their designs clearly and to create documentation for future reference. Licensure for aerospace engineers is not as common as it is for other engineering occupations, nor it is required for entry-level positions.

Licensed engineers are called professional engineers PEs. In addition, they test prototypes to make sure that they function according to design. Find more career information. The aerospace engineer will be responsible for researching, designing and managing various elements of the overall systems development and potentially leading the sub-system development efforts.