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The differences between flight test engineers and stress 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 a stress engineer. Additionally, a stress engineer has an average salary of $107,036, 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 a stress engineer are finite element analysis, structural analysis, and autocad.
| Flight Test Engineer | Stress Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $90,538 | $107,036 |
| Hourly rate | $43.53 | $51.46 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 26,384 | 36,117 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| 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.
A stress engineer specializes in conducting analysis and assessments on structures and components, mainly using stress to test its structural integrity. They may work in various industries such as automotive, aerospace, manufacturing, and even medical. Although their duties may vary upon the industry, they are typically in charge of performing extensive research and analysis, coordinating with architects and engineers, designing and building prototypes, and maintaining records of all procedures. Furthermore, a stress engineer must produce detailed progress and findings reports in adherence to project deadlines and company policies.
Flight test engineers and stress engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Flight Test Engineer | Stress Engineer | |
| Average salary | $90,538 | $107,036 |
| Salary range | Between $66,000 And $123,000 | Between $73,000 And $156,000 |
| Highest paying City | Palo Alto, CA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Illinois | Washington |
| Best paying company | Amazon | CTS |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Professional |
There are a few differences between a flight test engineer and a stress engineer in terms of educational background:
| Flight Test Engineer | Stress Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Most common major | Aerospace Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Georgia Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between flight test engineers' and stress engineers' demographics:
| Flight Test Engineer | Stress Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.6% Female, 10.4% | Male, 89.7% Female, 10.3% |
| 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, 3.8% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 19.8% White, 63.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |