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What is an aerodynamicist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being an aerodynamicist. For example, did you know that they make an average of $38.02 an hour? That's $79,081 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 6% and produce 3,700 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreAerodynamicistUS Average
Salary
6.2

Avg. Salary $79,081

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 12.08%

Black or African American 3.56%

Hispanic or Latino 7.57%

Unknown 4.18%

White 72.31%

Gender

female 6.06%

male 93.94%

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

Key steps to become an aerodynamicist

  1. Explore aerodynamicist education requirements

    Most common aerodynamicist degrees

    Bachelor's

    75.0 %

    Master's

    25.0 %
  2. Start to develop specific aerodynamicist skills

    SkillsPercentages
    CAD33.55%
    Computational Fluid Dynamics21.43%
    Analysis Tools12.10%
    Aided Design11.72%
    Tecplot7.13%
  3. Complete relevant aerodynamicist training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New aerodynamicists 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 aerodynamicist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real aerodynamicist resumes.
  4. Research aerodynamicist duties and responsibilities

    • Visualize results via Tecplot, to confirm data with other sub-teams and achieve maximum performance.
    • Manage hardware and software development, integration, and support of the HIL simulation laboratory.
    • Fabricate parts for test pod using Haas CNC machines.
    • Provide design system development and maintenance services for a turbine OEM.
  5. Apply for aerodynamicist jobs

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

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

How did you land your first aerodynamicist job

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Average aerodynamicist salary

The average aerodynamicist salary in the United States is $79,081 per year or $38 per hour. Aerodynamicist salaries range between $43,000 and $145,000 per year.

Average aerodynamicist salary
$79,081 Yearly
$38.02 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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