Aerospace Engineer Projected Growth In The United States
Research Summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
Salaries have increased 8% for aerospace engineers in the last 5 years
Projected job growth for aerospace engineers is 2% from 2018-2028
There are over 5,292 aerospace engineers currently employed in the United States
There are 42,086 active aerospace engineer job openings in the US based on job postings
The average salary for an aerospace engineer is $100,401
Are Aerospace Engineer Jobs In Demand?
Yes, aerospace engineer jobs are in demand. The job market for analysts is projected to grow 2% from 2018 to 2028.
Aerospace Engineer Job and Salary Trends Over Time
Aerospace Engineer Jobs Over Time
Aerospace Engineer Job Growth Over Time
| Year | # Of Jobs | % Of Population |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 6,734 | 0.00% |
| 2013 | 5,987 | 0.00% |
| 2014 | 5,784 | 0.00% |
| 2015 | 5,608 | 0.00% |
| 2016 | 5,736 | 0.00% |
Average Aerospace Engineer Salary Over Time
Aerospace Engineer Salary By Year
| Year | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | $71,180 | $34.22 | - |
| 2009 | $74,160 | $35.65 | +4.2% |
| 2010 | $76,970 | $37.00 | +3.8% |
| 2011 | $78,316 | $37.65 | +1.7% |
| 2012 | $80,229 | $38.57 | +2.4% |
Number Of Aerospace Engineers By State
Mouse over a state to see the number of active aerospace engineer jobs in each state. The darker areas on the map show where aerospace engineers earn the highest salaries across all 50 states.
Most Common States For Aerospace Engineers
| Rank | State | Population | # of Jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 240 | 35% |
| 2 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1037 | 12% |
| 3 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 584 | 10% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 639 | 9% |
| 5 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 479 | 9% |
| 6 | Delaware | 961,939 | 88 | 9% |
| 7 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 606 | 8% |
| 8 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 337 | 8% |
| 9 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 238 | 8% |
| 10 | California | 39,536,653 | 2951 | 7% |
| 11 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 318 | 7% |
| 12 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 88 | 7% |
| 13 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 395 | 6% |
| 14 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 361 | 6% |
| 15 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 42 | 6% |
| 16 | Alaska | 739,795 | 41 | 6% |
| 17 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 32 | 6% |
| 18 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 557 | 5% |
| 19 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 459 | 5% |
| 20 | Vermont | 623,657 | 34 | 5% |
Most Common Cities For Aerospace Engineers In The US
| Rank | City | # of Jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Herndon | 2 | 8% | $94,404 |
| 2 | Huntsville | 5 | 3% | $90,062 |
| 3 | Charlottesville | 1 | 2% | $93,416 |
| 4 | Arlington | 3 | 1% | $94,565 |
| 5 | Orlando | 2 | 1% | $77,713 |
| 6 | Glen Burnie | 1 | 1% | $99,162 |
| 7 | San Diego | 3 | 0% | $101,705 |
| 8 | Albuquerque | 2 | 0% | $100,802 |
| 9 | Fort Worth | 2 | 0% | $89,492 |
| 10 | Long Beach | 2 | 0% | $105,723 |
| 11 | Washington | 2 | 0% | $107,620 |
| 12 | Chandler | 1 | 0% | $115,536 |
| 13 | Jacksonville | 1 | 0% | $77,152 |
Experts Weigh In On Aerospace Engineer Job Outlook
We spoke to professors and experts from several universities and companies to get their opinions on where the job market for recent graduates is heading, as well as how young graduates entering the industry can be adequately prepared. Here are their thoughts.
Our Panel of Experts
University of Washington
AIAA
Florida Institute of Technology
Prescott Campus
University of Florida
What skills stand out on Aerospace Engineer resumes?
Marco Salviato Ph.D.: I ask and I get asked this question a lot. Of course excellent academic performance goes a long way but it is not enough to be competitive. Most of the industrial partners I collaborate with tell me they are looking for "problem solvers", engineers who have strong fundamentals and who know how to apply them to solve engineering problems. They also look for "soft skills" such as project management experience, excellence in reporting scientific results and outcome of projects, leadership skills, and ability to work in a team.
My advice to students to nurture these skills is to engage as early as possible with student clubs such as UW Design Build Fly (DBF) or SARP (Society for Advanced Rocket Propulsion). Another good idea is to get involved as soon as possible in research activities conducted by faculty in the Department. Finally, I cannot stress enough the importance of participating in summer internships at aerospace companies. For all these activities to be relevant, it is important to make sure there are tangible outcomes and the contribution of the student is evident. A sentence such as, "I worked in a team of twenty people to design a new concept of bracket for an aerospace hydraulic fuel system. I was the leader of a team of five people in charge of the structural design. Leveraging Finite Element Analysis we were able to reduce the weight of the bracket of more than 50 percent compared to legacy design. In addition to the FEM simulations, my responsibilities included organizing weekly meetings with the team to discuss progress, deliverables, and timeline, presenting the results to the company, and writing monthly scientific reports" really stands out in a resume. All the industrial partners I work with told me that having these experiences with tangible outcomes in the resume is one of the key deciding factors for a new hire.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Aerospace Engineer job market given the pandemic?
Marco Salviato Ph.D.: The pandemic has hit some sectors hard while other industrial sectors have been basically unaffected. For instance, the demand for engineers in the commercial aviation industry has seen a slowdown due to the pandemic that will probably last a few years. On the other hand, the aerospace industry is thriving and it is growing at an unprecedented pace. If I can give some advice to young students deciding on their major, I would say they should follow their passion. If they are passionate about Aerospace Engineering, they should follow their dream. Aerospace Engineering will always be strong and aerospace engineers will be always in high demand thanks to their multidisciplinary preparation across structural mechanics, control theory, fluid mechanics, and system engineering.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Aerospace Engineers to find work opportunities?
Marco Salviato Ph.D.: I am a little biased here but, honestly, I cannot think of a better place than the Greater Seattle area and Washington State. We have the best aerospace companies in the world and the aerospace industry is an integral part of the economy and history of the State.
What general advice would you give to an Aerospace Engineer?
Brian Talbot: Entering the aerospace workforce now is different in the COVID environment. It's important to find more avenues to get connected and expand your knowledge beyond the classroom. AIAA has hosted virtual recruiting events for our student members with companies like SpaceX, Ball Aerospace, and Lockheed Martin. We've created an online-based mentor-mentee matching program. We've also created new online educational opportunities that can differentiate candidates with both technical and soft skills. There are many opportunities out there, so look for new ways that you can find connections at the companies whose missions excite you. It's important for graduates to be proactive and take advantage of options available. It's through these channels that you can actively shape your career journey, even during challenging times.
What are the best companies to work for an Aerospace Engineer?
Shem Malmquist: The freight operators are the best choice as they are all expanding and hiring-FedEx, UPS, Atlas, Southern Air, etc. Someone who has just graduated will probably not have the flight experience yet to be hired as a pilot (unless they had considerable experience and returned to finish college). Still, there are many opportunities in non-flight positions. There are also job opportunities for the feeder aircraft for the larger operators.
For those who are in non-flight positions, there are also opportunities. Both FedEx and UPS employ many engineers, for example. Also, there are defense industry job positions that graduates should consider.
Will there be an increase or decrease in demand for Aerospace Engineers in the next 5 years?
Shem Malmquist: Outside of the freight operators, most airlines are cutting back due to a loss of demand. I would expect that to last about 2 or 3 years, but retirements and attrition should start to increase demand again after that time.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Aerospace Engineers to find work opportunities?
Shem Malmquist: Aviation is not significantly restricted to geographical areas. That said, FedEx is in Memphis, UPS is in Louisville, and the defense industry jobs tend to be concentrated on the West Coast, and of course, Florida, although there are specific jobs in other areas. Willingness to relocate is essential for any applicant.
Laura Polk
Assistant Director, Career Services & Corporate RelationsPrescott Campus
Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Space Physics, Astronomy, & Cyber Intelligence and Security
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Aerospace Engineers?
Laura Polk: This is the million-dollar question. This global pandemic is a continually evolving situation, so my answer to this question was very different today than six months ago. I expect it to be different in another six months. But, my simple answer is, yes. The coronavirus pandemic will have an enduring impact on all of our lives, and no one will come out of this untouched. The good news is that mechanical engineering is still a very in-demand degree program.
Most graduates will find employment after graduation, as long as they are willing to keep their options open. The job outlook will look different for a mechanical engineering student wanting to work at an innovative startup versus a mechanical engineering student wishing to work for a large defense company. While many startups have to make more conservative financial decisions and may not be hiring, some defense companies have increased hiring during the pandemic. For example, Lockheed Martin added 5,000 new job postings over the summer.
My hope for this year's graduates is to graduate with a newfound appreciation for the positive change they can impart on the world. There is a lot in our world that needs to be fixed, and we need intelligence young people with innovative ideas to help improve some of our nation's most pressing obstacles.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Aerospace Engineers to find work opportunities?
Laura Polk: It depends on what area of Mechanical Engineering the student is interested in. Here at Embry-Riddle alone, we offer concentrations in Robotics, Energy, and Propulsion. The job opportunities will depend on what particular area of Mechanical Engineering the student has chosen to specialize in. In general, there are great Mechanical Engineering opportunities all across the United States. But, if the student decided to specialize in Propulsion and wants to work on rockets, I would encourage them to start looking at opportunities in Washington, Arizona, California, Texas, New Mexico, and Alabama, since that's where many rocket companies have settled.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Aerospace Engineers?
Bruce Carroll Ph.D.: The pandemic has a near term impact in terms of how classes are taught and in how companies are recruiting. Internships have become difficult during the pandemic. But so far, most major companies are continuing to actively recruit new aerospace engineers for permanent positions. The format of interviews has shifted to virtual methods. Career fairs are being held in virtual formats, and companies are making recruiting presentations to student organizations and holding open houses again in a virtual format. In some sense, the aerospace industries have been living in a virtual world for many years due to a large number of international projects. Practicing aerospace engineers are very comfortable with working remotely.
The longer-term impact of the coronavirus pandemic is unclear. Universities are preparing for budget cuts due to reductions in state revenues resulting from decreased spending during the pandemic. The federal government is better able to weather this economic storm, and we will simply have to wait and see the impact on federally funded programs related to spacecraft and military aircraft. The airline companies are struggling due to reduced travel demand. But these should be short-term disruptions and will resolve relatively quickly after the impact of the pandemic resolves. The long-term outlook for the current batch of aerospace engineering graduates remains positive.
How do you envision technology impacting Aerospace Engineers in the next 5 years?
Bruce Carroll Ph.D.: Aerospace engineering is a very dynamic discipline that has always incorporated new and emerging technologies. We see growth related to autonomous systems for aircraft and spacecraft. Control systems are evolving and incorporating concepts from artificial intelligence and machine learning. Manufacturing technologies, in particular additive manufacturing, is having a huge impact on the aerospace industries. Specialized components are easier to produce. Manufacturing in space reduces the need to carry spare parts and makes long-duration space travel a closer reality. The incorporation of composite materials in aircraft and spacecraft systems is continuing to expand.
Active flow control and improved sensor technologies are resulting in various performance improvements, including higher efficiency in propulsion systems and reductions in acoustics signatures. Computational technologies and improvements to experimental techniques are reducing design cycles. Technology related to drones in urban settings for delivery and surveillance is becoming viable. Increased use of low altitude space vehicles is already expanding for communication networks. Over the next five years, aerospace systems will continue to evolve and incorporate the latest technology innovations.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Aerospace Engineers to find work opportunities?
Bruce Carroll Ph.D.: Aerospace jobs are available all across the US. Some pockets are well known, e.g. the locations of the large aerospace companies. There are also many startup companies in fields related to unmanned vehicles, drones, and personal urban aircraft. Companies in Florida and Georgia have been actively hiring graduates from our programs in recent years, and I think this will continue.
There is a strong demand in these two states related to military aircraft and armaments. This includes the maintenance of existing airframes and the development and production of new platforms. The commercial space industry is coming on strong with a large presence in Florida. There is also strong demand from both spacecraft and aircraft propulsion companies. The overall employment market continues to be strong for our region.