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The differences between loads engineers and flight test 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 loads engineer and a flight test engineer. Additionally, a loads engineer has an average salary of $98,255, which is higher than the $90,538 average annual salary of a flight test engineer.
The top three skills for a loads engineer include MATLAB, loads analysis and dynamic analysis. The most important skills for a flight test engineer are control room, data analysis, and test procedures.
| Loads Engineer | Flight Test Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $98,255 | $90,538 |
| Hourly rate | $47.24 | $43.53 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 5,786 | 26,384 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A loads engineer is a person who oversees and supervises different loads. They are responsible for designing and analyzing a load and how certain structures resist a load. This career requires someone who is physically fit as they are responsible for some of the labor involved with designing a building or a structure. Loads engineers are the ones who determine the possible problems that may be encountered mainly on the gravitational support and force resistance of structures such as bridges, buildings, and other establishments.
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.
Loads engineers and flight test engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Loads Engineer | Flight Test Engineer | |
| Average salary | $98,255 | $90,538 |
| Salary range | Between $68,000 And $140,000 | Between $66,000 And $123,000 |
| Highest paying City | Folsom, CA | Palo Alto, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Illinois |
| Best paying company | Amazon | Amazon |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a loads engineer and a flight test engineer in terms of educational background:
| Loads Engineer | Flight Test Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Most common major | Aerospace Engineering | Aerospace Engineering |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Georgia Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between loads engineers' and flight test engineers' demographics:
| Loads Engineer | Flight Test Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.7% Female, 8.3% | Male, 89.6% Female, 10.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.1% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 10.9% Asian, 11.0% White, 69.2% 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, 68.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |