Aerodynamicist vs aerospace engineer

The differences between aerodynamicists and aerospace 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 aerospace engineer. Additionally, an aerospace engineer has an average salary of $100,401, 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 aerospace engineer are C++, DOD, and FAA.

Aerodynamicist vs aerospace engineer overview

	Aerodynamicist	Aerospace Engineer
Yearly salary	$79,081	$100,401
Hourly rate	$38.02	$48.27
Growth rate	6%	6%
Number of jobs	1,320	42,086
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 75%	Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Average age	44	44
Years of experience	4	4

Aerodynamicist vs aerospace engineer salary

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

	Aerodynamicist	Aerospace Engineer
Average salary	$79,081	$100,401
Salary range	Between $43,000 And $145,000	Between $71,000 And $140,000
Highest paying City	-	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	-	Arizona
Best paying company	-	Thrush Aircraft
Best paying industry	-	Manufacturing

Differences between aerodynamicist and aerospace engineer education

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

	Aerodynamicist	Aerospace Engineer
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 75%	Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Most common major	Aerospace Engineering	Aerospace Engineering
Most common college	Georgia Institute of Technology	Georgia Institute of Technology

Aerodynamicist vs aerospace engineer demographics

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

	Aerodynamicist	Aerospace Engineer
Average age	44	44
Gender ratio	Male, 93.9% Female, 6.1%	Male, 88.8% Female, 11.2%
Race ratio	Black 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, 10.8% Asian, 11.0% White, 69.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage	8%	8%

Differences between aerodynamicist and aerospace 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.

Aerospace engineer example 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.
Perform design reviews, operations procedural reviews, and failure mode investigations of concept NASA launch vehicles/propulsion systems.
Debug and run regression tests.

Aerodynamicist vs aerospace engineer skills

Common aerodynamicist skills

CAD, 34%
Computational Fluid Dynamics, 21%
Analysis Tools, 12%
Aided Design, 12%
Tecplot, 7%
Ansa, 4%

Common aerospace engineer skills

C++, 15%
DOD, 5%
FAA, 5%
Systems Engineering, 4%
Solidworks, 4%
NASA, 4%