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The differences between aerospace engineers and senior 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 aerospace engineer, becoming a senior engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a senior engineer has an average salary of $108,743, which is higher than the $100,401 average annual salary of an aerospace engineer.
The top three skills for an aerospace engineer include C++, DOD and FAA. The most important skills for a senior engineer are java, python, and architecture.
| Aerospace Engineer | Senior Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $100,401 | $108,743 |
| Hourly rate | $48.27 | $52.28 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 42,086 | 343,200 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
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.
A senior engineer is responsible for overseeing all operations within a designated area. With years of experience and expertise, a senior engineer may take charge of establishing goals, deadlines, and budgets for a particular project. They must devise and implement strategies that would improve the quality of workflow and deliver significant results. Furthermore, a senior manager must also supervise a team of skilled engineers, leading them in the joint effort to reach the company's vision and mission, all while adhering to the safety standards and regulations.
Aerospace engineers and senior engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Aerospace Engineer | Senior Engineer | |
| Average salary | $100,401 | $108,743 |
| Salary range | Between $71,000 And $140,000 | Between $82,000 And $144,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Mateo, CA |
| Highest paying state | Arizona | California |
| Best paying company | Thrush Aircraft | Roku |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Start-up |
There are a few differences between an aerospace engineer and a senior engineer in terms of educational background:
| Aerospace Engineer | Senior Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Aerospace Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between aerospace engineers' and senior engineers' demographics:
| Aerospace Engineer | Senior Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.8% Female, 11.2% | Male, 89.1% Female, 10.9% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 17.1% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 5% |