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Aerodynamicist vs aeronautical engineer

The differences between aerodynamicists and aeronautical engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an aerodynamicist and an aeronautical engineer. Additionally, an aeronautical engineer has an average salary of $80,442, which is higher than the $79,081 average annual salary of an aerodynamicist.

The top three skills for an aerodynamicist include CAD, computational fluid dynamics and analysis tools. The most important skills for an aeronautical engineer are MATLAB, airframe, and CAD.

Aerodynamicist vs aeronautical engineer overview

AerodynamicistAeronautical Engineer
Yearly salary$79,081$80,442
Hourly rate$38.02$38.67
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs1,32028,911
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 75%Bachelor's Degree, 75%
Average age4444
Years of experience44

Aerodynamicist vs aeronautical engineer salary

Aerodynamicists and aeronautical engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

AerodynamicistAeronautical Engineer
Average salary$79,081$80,442
Salary rangeBetween $43,000 And $145,000Between $59,000 And $109,000
Highest paying City-Palo Alto, CA
Highest paying state-Rhode Island
Best paying company-Terrafugia
Best paying industry-Transportation

Differences between aerodynamicist and aeronautical engineer education

There are a few differences between an aerodynamicist and an aeronautical engineer in terms of educational background:

AerodynamicistAeronautical Engineer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 75%Bachelor's Degree, 75%
Most common majorAerospace EngineeringAerospace Engineering
Most common collegeGeorgia Institute of TechnologyGeorgia Institute of Technology

Aerodynamicist vs aeronautical engineer demographics

Here are the differences between aerodynamicists' and aeronautical engineers' demographics:

AerodynamicistAeronautical Engineer
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 93.9% Female, 6.1%Male, 89.4% Female, 10.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.6% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 7.6% Asian, 12.1% White, 72.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 4.1% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 10.5% Asian, 15.1% White, 65.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between aerodynamicist and aeronautical engineer duties and responsibilities

Aerodynamicist example 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.
  • Develop a moisture loss model for use in an OEM's turbine design system.
  • Conduct simulations and evaluations of complex, multiphase, compressible flows in the design of turbomachinery.
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Aeronautical engineer example responsibilities.

  • Lead development of MATLAB base software tool for flight and grind handling loads estimation.
  • Manage the fuel supply and aircraft electrical distribution system on board ship, including radar tank gauging and filtration systems.
  • Analyze and compare the requirements to the FAA standards.
  • Incorporate MATLAB algorithms into the model and export simulation results to MATLAB for further analysis.
  • Network multiple flight deck simulators into a Nextgen FAA air traffic control simulator to perform proof of concept human factors experiments.
  • Audit technical documentation relate to launch window and trajectory design to meet NASA contract specifications for safety mission requirement constraints.
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Aerodynamicist vs aeronautical engineer skills

Common aerodynamicist skills
  • CAD, 34%
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics, 21%
  • Analysis Tools, 12%
  • Aided Design, 12%
  • Tecplot, 7%
  • Ansa, 4%
Common aeronautical engineer skills
  • MATLAB, 13%
  • Airframe, 11%
  • CAD, 9%
  • Stress Analysis, 8%
  • Catia V5, 7%
  • Structural Analysis, 6%

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