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The differences between flight test engineers and aerodynamics engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a flight test engineer and an aerodynamics engineer. Additionally, an aerodynamics engineer has an average salary of $99,629, which is higher than the $90,538 average annual salary of a flight test engineer.
The top three skills for a flight test engineer include control room, data analysis and test procedures. The most important skills for an aerodynamics engineer are aerospace, MATLAB, and computational fluid dynamics.
| Flight Test Engineer | Aerodynamics Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $90,538 | $99,629 |
| Hourly rate | $43.53 | $47.90 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 26,384 | 20,152 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A flight test engineer is primarily in charge of testing and overseeing aircraft performances, ensuring every aspect aligns with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other governing agencies' policies and regulations. Their responsibilities revolve around planning and developing efficient test structures and criteria, examining mechanical and electrical systems, coordinating with other staff to gather necessary documentation, assessing risks, and identifying an aircraft's strengths and weaknesses. Furthermore, as a flight test engineer, it is essential to analyze data and produce extensive reports that explain all test procedures and observations in detail.
An aerodynamics engineer is an aerodynamics expert who specializes in designing and developing aircraft components and systems, ensuring quality and efficiency. Among their responsibilities include conducting extensive research and analysis, developing prototypes and test structures, coordinating with experts, obtaining certifications, and complying with all the aviation laws and regulations. They may also gather and analyze data of existing systems and equipment to identify its strengths and weaknesses, implementing solutions against problem areas. Moreover, an aerodynamics engineer must perform regular maintenance checks and assessments while maintaining an active communication line with staff.
Flight test engineers and aerodynamics engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Flight Test Engineer | Aerodynamics Engineer | |
| Average salary | $90,538 | $99,629 |
| Salary range | Between $66,000 And $123,000 | Between $69,000 And $142,000 |
| Highest paying City | Palo Alto, CA | Mountain View, CA |
| Highest paying state | Illinois | California |
| Best paying company | Amazon | Gulfstream Aerospace |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a flight test engineer and an aerodynamics engineer in terms of educational background:
| Flight Test Engineer | Aerodynamics Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| Most common major | Aerospace Engineering | Aerospace Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Johns Hopkins University |
Here are the differences between flight test engineers' and aerodynamics engineers' demographics:
| Flight Test Engineer | Aerodynamics Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.6% Female, 10.4% | Male, 86.2% Female, 13.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 11.4% Asian, 10.9% White, 68.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 4.1% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 10.7% Asian, 13.5% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |