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Aerospace ground equipment mechanic vs aerospace engineer

The differences between aerospace ground equipment mechanics and aerospace engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become an aerospace ground equipment mechanic, becoming an aerospace engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an aerospace engineer has an average salary of $100,401, which is higher than the $53,136 average annual salary of an aerospace ground equipment mechanic.

The top three skills for an aerospace ground equipment mechanic include troubleshoot, air conditioners and diesel engines. The most important skills for an aerospace engineer are C++, DOD, and FAA.

Aerospace ground equipment mechanic vs aerospace engineer overview

Aerospace Ground Equipment MechanicAerospace Engineer
Yearly salary$53,136$100,401
Hourly rate$25.55$48.27
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs48,09342,086
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 39%Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Average age4544
Years of experience24

Aerospace ground equipment mechanic vs aerospace engineer salary

Aerospace ground equipment mechanics and aerospace engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Aerospace Ground Equipment MechanicAerospace Engineer
Average salary$53,136$100,401
Salary rangeBetween $35,000 And $79,000Between $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 aerospace ground equipment mechanic and aerospace engineer education

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

Aerospace Ground Equipment MechanicAerospace Engineer
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 39%Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Most common majorAerospace EngineeringAerospace Engineering
Most common collegePurdue UniversityGeorgia Institute of Technology

Aerospace ground equipment mechanic vs aerospace engineer demographics

Here are the differences between aerospace ground equipment mechanics' and aerospace engineers' demographics:

Aerospace Ground Equipment MechanicAerospace Engineer
Average age4544
Gender ratioMale, 88.3% Female, 11.7%Male, 88.8% Female, 11.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 7.5% White, 61.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%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 Percentage6%8%

Differences between aerospace ground equipment mechanic and aerospace engineer duties and responsibilities

Aerospace ground equipment mechanic example responsibilities.

  • Lead team of airmen on inspections of nuclear-certify bomb lifts.
  • Apply safety procedures and policies as outlined in USAF technical orders and using proper equipment.
  • Work diesel, turbine, hydraulic, hvac, electric generation systems.
  • Install, maintain, inspect, troubleshot, repair, and modify mechanical systems.
  • Used rivet tools including compression riveters, metal bucking bars, recoilless, rivet hammers.
  • Maintain generators, HVAC units, hydraulic lifts and other equipment used for grind support of aircraft.
  • Show more

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.
  • Show more

Aerospace ground equipment mechanic vs aerospace engineer skills

Common aerospace ground equipment mechanic skills
  • Troubleshoot, 10%
  • Air Conditioners, 8%
  • Diesel Engines, 7%
  • Hand Tools, 6%
  • Ground Support Equipment, 6%
  • Loaders, 6%
Common aerospace engineer skills
  • C++, 15%
  • DOD, 5%
  • FAA, 5%
  • Systems Engineering, 4%
  • Solidworks, 4%
  • NASA, 4%

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