Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between aerodynamics engineers and research and development engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become an aerodynamics engineer, becoming a research and development engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a research and development engineer has an average salary of $100,169, 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 a research and development engineer are python, R, and solidworks.
| Aerodynamics Engineer | Research And Development Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $99,629 | $100,169 |
| Hourly rate | $47.90 | $48.16 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 20,152 | 187,910 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
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.
Research and development engineers generally execute research and tests on product ideas, develop new products, and perform redesigns. They are employed in many industries, including manufacturing, electrical, and science-based companies. Their duties vary and depend on the industries they work in. Responsibilities of these engineers include developing new technologies, designing products, and managing the projects until they are completed. Additionally, they lead the project team members to manage their schedules, design the project plans, and collaborate with key departments in developing new products.
Aerodynamics engineers and research and development engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Aerodynamics Engineer | Research And Development Engineer | |
| Average salary | $99,629 | $100,169 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $142,000 | Between $74,000 And $135,000 |
| Highest paying City | Mountain View, CA | Santa Rosa, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Gulfstream Aerospace | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Technology |
There are a few differences between an aerodynamics engineer and a research and development engineer in terms of educational background:
| Aerodynamics Engineer | Research And Development Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Aerospace Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Johns Hopkins University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between aerodynamics engineers' and research and development engineers' demographics:
| Aerodynamics Engineer | Research And Development Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 86.2% Female, 13.8% | Male, 85.2% Female, 14.8% |
| 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, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.7% White, 67.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 5% |