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The differences between aerodynamics engineers 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 aerodynamics engineer and an aerospace engineer. Additionally, an aerospace engineer has an average salary of $100,401, which is higher than the $99,629 average annual salary of an aerodynamics engineer.
The top three skills for an aerodynamics engineer include aerospace, MATLAB and computational fluid dynamics. The most important skills for an aerospace engineer are C++, DOD, and FAA.
| Aerodynamics Engineer | Aerospace Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $99,629 | $100,401 |
| Hourly rate | $47.90 | $48.27 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 20,152 | 42,086 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
An aerodynamics engineer is an aerodynamics expert who specializes in designing and developing aircraft components and systems, ensuring quality and efficiency. Among their responsibilities include conducting extensive research and analysis, developing prototypes and test structures, coordinating with experts, obtaining certifications, and complying with all the aviation laws and regulations. They may also gather and analyze data of existing systems and equipment to identify its strengths and weaknesses, implementing solutions against problem areas. Moreover, an aerodynamics engineer must perform regular maintenance checks and assessments while maintaining an active communication line with staff.
An aerospace engineer specializes in designing, maintaining, and repairing aircraft and spacecraft. Their responsibilities revolve around conducting tests and procedures to identify faults and inconsistencies, lead production processes, performing repairs and improvements, designing systems, and ensuring that all equipment complies with the safety regulations and standards. They are also responsible for producing technical materials such as reports, proposals, and manuals. Furthermore, there are instances where they must set the policies and standards on the equipment they are developing while utilizing their expertise in mathematics, engineering, and sciences.
Aerodynamics engineers and aerospace engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Aerodynamics Engineer | Aerospace Engineer | |
| Average salary | $99,629 | $100,401 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $142,000 | Between $71,000 And $140,000 |
| Highest paying City | Mountain View, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Arizona |
| Best paying company | Gulfstream Aerospace | Thrush Aircraft |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between an aerodynamics engineer and an aerospace engineer in terms of educational background:
| Aerodynamics Engineer | Aerospace Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Aerospace Engineering | Aerospace Engineering |
| Most common college | Johns Hopkins University | Georgia Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between aerodynamics engineers' and aerospace engineers' demographics:
| Aerodynamics Engineer | Aerospace Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 86.2% Female, 13.8% | Male, 88.8% Female, 11.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.1% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 10.7% Asian, 13.5% White, 67.0% 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% |