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Aircraft designer vs propulsion engineer

The differences between aircraft designers and propulsion 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 a propulsion engineer. Additionally, a propulsion engineer has an average salary of $98,475, 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 a propulsion engineer are propulsion system, CAD, and MATLAB.

Aircraft designer vs propulsion engineer overview

Aircraft DesignerPropulsion Engineer
Yearly salary$91,919$98,475
Hourly rate$44.19$47.34
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs46,74745,629
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Average age4444
Years of experience44

Aircraft designer vs propulsion engineer salary

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

Aircraft DesignerPropulsion Engineer
Average salary$91,919$98,475
Salary rangeBetween $61,000 And $137,000Between $70,000 And $138,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between aircraft designer and propulsion engineer education

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

Aircraft DesignerPropulsion Engineer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Most common majorAerospace EngineeringMechanical Engineering
Most common collegeGeorgia Institute of TechnologyGeorgia Institute of Technology

Aircraft designer vs propulsion engineer demographics

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

Aircraft DesignerPropulsion Engineer
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 86.7% Female, 13.3%Male, 96.0% Female, 4.0%
Race ratioBlack 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, 4.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 11.4% Asian, 10.9% White, 68.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between aircraft designer and propulsion 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.
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Propulsion engineer example responsibilities.

  • Manage Jenkins security by providing specific access to authorize developers/testers using project base matrix authorization strategy.
  • Conduct FEA of design components.
  • Derive equations that are input to MATLAB for results.
  • Lead RF design/test engineer for structurally integrate AESA prototype.
  • Support customer usage duty cycle group with calculation of suspension loads.
  • Flight test and prepare paper works and document for aircraft engine flight certification with FAA.
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Aircraft designer vs propulsion engineer skills

Common aircraft designer skills
  • MATLAB, 29%
  • Installation Drawings, 25%
  • CATIA, 24%
  • CAD, 12%
  • FAA, 10%
Common propulsion engineer skills
  • Propulsion System, 15%
  • CAD, 10%
  • MATLAB, 10%
  • Test Data, 6%
  • NASA, 5%
  • CFD, 4%

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