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The differences between flight test engineers and aircraft 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 aircraft engineer. Additionally, a flight test engineer has an average salary of $90,538, which is higher than the $72,867 average annual salary of an aircraft engineer.
The top three skills for a flight test engineer include control room, data analysis and test procedures. The most important skills for an aircraft engineer are DOD, aircraft systems, and CAD.
| Flight Test Engineer | Aircraft Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $90,538 | $72,867 |
| Hourly rate | $43.53 | $35.03 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 26,384 | 5,718 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| 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 aircraft engineer oversees the design and assembly of an aircraft. Broadly, they are responsible for developing aircraft designs, testing and fine-tuning them, and ensuring safe practices during the assembly process. Specifically, this involves providing design drafts, meeting with executives to get feedback, and working in an engineering team to improve designs. They must consider aerodynamic principles, air safety, passenger comfort, and customer. This position requires an advanced degree and strong experience in the aviation field.
Flight test engineers and aircraft engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Flight Test Engineer | Aircraft Engineer | |
| Average salary | $90,538 | $72,867 |
| Salary range | Between $66,000 And $123,000 | Between $53,000 And $99,000 |
| Highest paying City | Palo Alto, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Illinois | California |
| Best paying company | Amazon | Joby Aviation |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a flight test engineer and an aircraft engineer in terms of educational background:
| Flight Test Engineer | Aircraft Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Aerospace Engineering | Aerospace Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between flight test engineers' and aircraft engineers' demographics:
| Flight Test Engineer | Aircraft Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.6% Female, 10.4% | Male, 91.1% Female, 8.9% |
| 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, 4.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 11.4% Asian, 10.8% White, 68.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |