Aircraft designer vs avionics engineer

The differences between aircraft designers and avionics engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an aircraft designer and an avionics engineer. Additionally, an avionics engineer has an average salary of $95,470, which is higher than the $91,919 average annual salary of an aircraft designer.

The top three skills for an aircraft designer include MATLAB, installation drawings and CATIA. The most important skills for an avionics engineer are FAA, avionics systems, and electrical systems.

Aircraft designer vs avionics engineer overview

	Aircraft Designer	Avionics Engineer
Yearly salary	$91,919	$95,470
Hourly rate	$44.19	$45.90
Growth rate	6%	6%
Number of jobs	46,747	30,744
Job satisfaction	5	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 73%	Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Average age	44	44
Years of experience	4	4

Aircraft designer vs avionics engineer salary

Aircraft designers and avionics engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Aircraft Designer	Avionics Engineer
Average salary	$91,919	$95,470
Salary range	Between $61,000 And $137,000	Between $67,000 And $135,000
Highest paying City	-	Englewood, CO
Highest paying state	-	Colorado
Best paying company	-	Allegiant International
Best paying industry	-	Transportation

Differences between aircraft designer and avionics engineer education

There are a few differences between an aircraft designer and an avionics engineer in terms of educational background:

	Aircraft Designer	Avionics Engineer
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 73%	Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Most common major	Aerospace Engineering	Electrical Engineering
Most common college	Georgia Institute of Technology	Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Aircraft designer vs avionics engineer demographics

Here are the differences between aircraft designers' and avionics engineers' demographics:

	Aircraft Designer	Avionics Engineer
Average age	44	44
Gender ratio	Male, 86.7% Female, 13.3%	Male, 92.4% Female, 7.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 19.8% White, 63.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%	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	8%	8%

Differences between aircraft designer and avionics engineer duties and responsibilities

Aircraft designer example responsibilities.

Manage documentation of existing projects, perform ECN resolutions.
Upgrade models from Catia V4 to Catia V5.
Perform shipchecks including off site and on board sketch work.
Analyze and resolve deficiencies on composite parts and assemblies report from MRB.
Create new composite FOD shield to attach to forward fuselage for composite prop conformity.
Research airframe and engine log books on multiple types of aircraft to verify all necessary maintenance guidelines have been comply with.

Avionics engineer example responsibilities.

Manage the fuel supply and aircraft electrical distribution system on board ship, including radar tank gauging and filtration systems.
Manage Jenkins security by providing specific access to authorize developers/testers using project base matrix authorization strategy.
Test and integrate DSP and RF ASIC and FPGA interface into designs.
Serve as consultant and technical expert on a multitude of RF and electrical systems.
Maintain communications systems, radar, autopilot, TCAS, weapon targeting, navigation and CVR.
Develop long term MATLAB programs that are able to model flight data of current and future programs for analysis and decision-making.

Aircraft designer vs avionics engineer skills

Common aircraft designer skills

MATLAB, 29%
Installation Drawings, 25%
CATIA, 24%
CAD, 12%
FAA, 10%

Common avionics engineer skills

FAA, 8%
Avionics Systems, 7%
Electrical Systems, 5%
DOD, 5%
System Integration, 5%
Troubleshoot, 5%