Aeronautical Engineer vs. Aerospace Engineer

An aeronautical engineer deals with the creation, design, and maintenance of travel machines such as airplanes, missiles, and satellites, while an aerospace engineer works on the broader aspect of engineering for both aircraft and spacecraft.

Is aerospace engineering a good career?

Yes, aerospace engineering is a good career. Whether you want to fly high in thrilling industries, or you're looking for a secure and well-paid career, aerospace engineering can offer fantastic and exciting opportunities for those willing to put the work into it.

What companies hire aerospace engineers?

Companies in aerospace, defense, and commercial aviation hire aerospace engineers. Aerospace engineers are needed in these industries and others for their skills and expertise with planning, designing, constructing, and maintaining aircrafts, rockets, weapons, defense systems, and other relevant technology to the field.

What is a typical day for an aerospace engineer?

A typical day for an aerospace engineer involves designing and conducting tests on prototypes, adjusting aerodynamics to improve flight results, and creating safe and efficient machines for pilots and operators.

What is an aerospace engineer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted Expert

Brian Talbot

An aerospace engineer is an individual who designs, develops, and tests aircraft, spacecraft, and missiles. They use their knowledge of science, technology, and mathematics to create and improve performances. They work with various teams including other engineers, technicians, and project managers to complete complex projects. These professionals must keep up with changing technologies and regulations in the field. Overall, aerospace engineers play a critical role in advancing the capabilities of modern air and space travel.

What general advice would you give to an Aerospace Engineer?

Brian Talbot

Senior Director, AIAA

Entering the aerospace workforce now is different in the COVID environment. It’s important to find more avenues to get connected and expand your knowledge beyond the classroom. AIAA has hosted virtual recruiting events for our student members with companies like SpaceX, Ball Aerospace, and Lockheed Martin. We’ve created an online-based mentor-mentee matching program. We’ve also created new online educational opportunities that can differentiate candidates with both technical and soft skills. There are many opportunities out there, so look for new ways that you can find connections at the companies whose missions excite you. It’s important for graduates to be proactive and take advantage of options available. It’s through these channels that you can actively shape your career journey, even during challenging times.

ScoreAerospace EngineerUS Average

Salary

7.6

Avg. Salary $100,401

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

5.4

Growth Rate 6%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

7.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.30%

Asian 11.04%

Black or African American 4.14%

Hispanic or Latino 10.82%

Unknown 4.42%

White 69.28%

Gender

female 11.25%

male 88.75%

Age - 43

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43

Stress Level

5.4

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

8.0

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

5.7

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being an Aerospace Engineer?

Pros

Opportunity to work on cutting-edge technology
High demand for aerospace engineers
Competitive salary and benefits
Chance to work on projects that have a significant impact on society
Possibility of working on space exploration missions

Cons

High stress due to tight deadlines and high-pressure situations
Long working hours, especially during crunch times
Risk of failure in projects that involve high stakes and large investments
High level of competition for jobs in the industry
Significant amount of paperwork and documentation required for projects

Key steps to become an aerospace engineer

Explore aerospace engineer education requirements

Most common aerospace engineer degrees

Bachelor's

71.9 %

Master's

17.1 %

Associate

4.8 %

Start to develop specific aerospace engineer skills

Skills	Percentages
C++	15.44%
DOD	5.23%
FAA	5.13%
Systems Engineering	4.38%
Solidworks	4.01%

Complete relevant aerospace engineer training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New aerospace engineers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an aerospace engineer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real aerospace engineer resumes.

Research aerospace engineer duties and responsibilities

Lead redesign review for cyclic stick, composite to metal, (CATIA).
Schedule HVAC equipment to keep equipment off as much as possible and still achieve a healthy, comfortable setting for academics.
Manage HVAC retro-commissioning program to optimize facility energy use.
Serve as program focal point for integration of radar onto flight test aircraft.

Get aerospace engineer experience

Generally, it takes 2-4 years to become an aerospace engineer. The most common roles before becoming an aerospace engineer include engineering internship, research assistant team lead and internship.

Prepare your aerospace engineer resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your aerospace engineer resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an aerospace engineer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Aerospace Engineer Resume templates

Build a professional Aerospace Engineer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Aerospace Engineer resume.

Apply for aerospace engineer jobs

Now it's time to start searching for an aerospace engineer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do aerospace engineers rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Aerospace Engineer reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2023

Pros

I’ve always wanted to have a job related to engineering and used Math and Science. I think it is fascinating!!

Cons

Very hard job. Will definitely get home late and you have to be mega smart.

A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2019