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The differences between aerospace technicians 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 technician, 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 $38,579 average annual salary of an aerospace technician.
The top three skills for an aerospace technician include safety procedures, calipers and hand tools. The most important skills for an aerospace engineer are C++, DOD, and FAA.
| Aerospace Technician | Aerospace Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $38,579 | $100,401 |
| Hourly rate | $18.55 | $48.27 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 25,348 | 42,086 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 34% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 45 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
Aerospace technicians and aerospace engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Aerospace Technician | Aerospace Engineer | |
| Average salary | $38,579 | $100,401 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $54,000 | Between $71,000 And $140,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | Arizona |
| Best paying company | - | Thrush Aircraft |
| Best paying industry | - | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between an aerospace technician and an aerospace engineer in terms of educational background:
| Aerospace Technician | Aerospace Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 34% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Aviation | Aerospace Engineering |
| Most common college | Purdue University | Georgia Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between aerospace technicians' and aerospace engineers' demographics:
| Aerospace Technician | Aerospace Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 84.9% Female, 15.1% | Male, 88.8% Female, 11.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 7.5% White, 60.5% 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 Percentage | 6% | 8% |