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Job outlook for propulsion engineers in the United States
Are propulsion engineer jobs in demand?
Propulsion engineer job and salary trends over time
Propulsion engineer jobs over time
Propulsion engineer job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,350 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 1,445 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 1,506 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 1,524 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 1,567 | 0.00% |
Average propulsion engineer salary over time
Propulsion engineer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $98,475 | $47.34 | +1.8% |
| 2025 | $96,724 | $46.50 | +1.1% |
| 2024 | $95,661 | $45.99 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | $93,843 | $45.12 | +3.1% |
| 2022 | $91,036 | $43.77 | +1.7% |
Propulsion engineer jobs by state
Most common states for propulsion engineers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 201 | 29% |
| 2 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 668 | 8% |
| 3 | Delaware | 961,939 | 68 | 7% |
| 4 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 430 | 6% |
| 5 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 351 | 6% |
| 6 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 330 | 6% |
| 7 | California | 39,536,653 | 1,822 | 5% |
| 8 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 352 | 5% |
| 9 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 151 | 5% |
| 10 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 184 | 4% |
| 11 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 175 | 4% |
| 12 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 22 | 4% |
| 13 | Vermont | 623,657 | 22 | 4% |
| 14 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 344 | 3% |
| 15 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 280 | 3% |
| 16 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 222 | 3% |
| 17 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 147 | 3% |
| 18 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 91 | 3% |
| 19 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 52 | 3% |
| 20 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 37 | 3% |
Most common cities for propulsion engineers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Englewood | 3 | 9% | $106,852 |
| 2 | Hawthorne | 4 | 5% | $111,984 |
| 3 | Poway | 2 | 4% | $109,249 |
| 4 | Adelanto | 1 | 3% | $112,838 |
| 5 | Littleton | 1 | 2% | $106,926 |
| 6 | Long Beach | 5 | 1% | $111,560 |
| 7 | Wichita | 3 | 1% | $83,937 |
| 8 | Cambridge | 1 | 1% | $97,832 |
| 9 | Huntsville | 1 | 1% | $98,002 |
| 10 | Washington | 2 | 0% | $109,267 |
| 11 | Huntington Beach | 1 | 0% | $111,213 |
| 12 | Los Angeles | 1 | 0% | $112,261 |
| 13 | San Bernardino | 1 | 0% | $111,683 |
Propulsion Engineer job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of propulsion engineer experts
University of Nevada - Las Vegas
University of Cincinnati
University of Wisconsin - Green Bay
Cincinnati State Technical & Community College
New Mexico Tech
University of Washington
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Prescott Campus
University of Florida
What general advice would you give to a Propulsion Engineer?
Ms. Tracee Friess A.V.P.: You can get on a flight with a bunch of other people and with a high degree of confidence tell yourself it is not just magic pixie dust that makes the plane fly.
What Propulsion Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Ms. Tracee Friess A.V.P.: Aerospace Engineers use knowledge of physics, mathematics, chemistry and other science and non-science disciplines to design flight and space vehicles for specific applications.
What will help Propulsion Engineers increase their earning potential?
Ms. Tracee Friess A.V.P.: An exciting thing about the discipline of aerospace engineering is the small margins of error. The only thing smaller than the safety margins are the profit margins.
Jiayue Shen
Mechanical Engineering Technology Program CoordinatorWhat general advice would you give to a Propulsion Engineer?
Jiayue Shen: To maximize your salary potential when starting your career in Mechanical Engineering Technology, contemplate acquiring certifications like the FE or PE license, or additional training in high-demand specialized areas such as semiconductors. Moreover, gaining practical experience through academic clubs, undergraduate research, internships, or co-op programs can increase your appeal to employers, potentially resulting in higher salary offers.
What Propulsion Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Jiayue Shen: It's essential to stay curious and eager to learn, as the field is continually evolving. Keeping abreast of the latest technologies and trends through seeking out learning opportunities and maintaining a curiosity about new developments is crucial. Additionally, building a robust professional network and seeking mentorship can offer valuable insights and guidance. Embracing interdisciplinary projects is also key, as the field is expanding beyond purely mechanical aspects. Being dynamic and proactive in interacting with individuals from diverse backgrounds will be beneficial, as collaboration across disciplines is increasingly important in this field.
What will help Propulsion Engineers increase their earning potential?
Jiayue Shen: In the next 3-5 years, skills such as electronic control, basic programming, and critical thinking will become increasingly important in the field of Mechanical Engineering Technology. As industries like robotics, automation, and semiconductors continue to grow, professionals will need to be well-versed in these areas to stay competitive. Additionally, skills such as collaboration and effective oral and written communication will be crucial for advancing in one's career.
What general advice would you give to a Propulsion Engineer?
Brendan O'Toole Ph.D.: Maximizing salary potential may depend on what type of job or field the new graduate enters. Studies have shown that certifications and advanced degrees can lead to higher earning potential. Depending on the job and field an advanced degree in engineering, business, or project management may be required in order to advance. New ME graduates working in certain mechanical design and HVAC fields may need to get a Professional Engineering license in order to maximize their earning potential.
What general advice would you give to a Propulsion Engineer?
Mohammed Daqaq: This is a difficult question to answer and is very much dependent on how satisfied an individual is about their job. I can comment on what I hear from students with regards to their ME education. Most engineers choose ME because of its breadth and that it allows them more freedom to maneuver the job market once they graduate. They can clearly see that, despite being one of the most traditional engineering disciplines, it is still very trendy with employers. They also like the hands-on nature of the discipline where they get to design, optimize, and build physical components that work and move together to achieve a desired task. As for the dislikes, some students complain about the fact that ME requires an in-depth understanding of many mathematical concepts which many students find to be challenging.
What Propulsion Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Mohammed Daqaq: Given its breadth, I feel that ME is the most versatile engineering degree. It covers many different fundamental fields including thermofluidic sciences, dynamical systems, controls, design, mechatronics, robotics, etc. With minor additional training, ME graduates can also easily adapt to work in the aerospace industry, nuclear, and bioengineering domains. Thus, an ME degree is always trendy and companies seek to hire ME graduates regardless of how the market changes.
What will help Propulsion Engineers increase their earning potential?
Mohammed Daqaq: It depends on what aspect of the job they are hired to do. Some graduating MEs work in industrial plants where they are expected to deal with and fix engineering related problems, or work on the design and testing of innovative industrial solutions. Many MEs end up in the sales and maintenance departments of companies that manufacture specialized machinery and equipment. Some ME graduates are hired by the research departments of companies and federal labs where they participate in the research and development of new technologies, etc. A recent trend that we have been observing with our graduates is that they are being sought after by major consulting companies especially in business development and finance. Such companies like the versatility of the engineering education, and the logical/structured way of thinking that engineers are trained to follow during their studies.
Paul Orkwis
DrUniversity of Cincinnati
Aerospace, Aeronautical, And Astronautical/Space Engineering
What Propulsion Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Paul Orkwis: My first advice for a graduate is to continue to think like a student, that is, continue to learn. Aerospace Engineering is a highly dynamic field that is truly on the cutting edge. Skills that are valuable now may not be valuable in 5-10 years. The successful engineer will look for opportunities to learn new things and improve their skillset.
What will help Propulsion Engineers increase their earning potential?
Paul Orkwis: Have skills and be willing to do things that might at first appear to be uninteresting. Engineers are paid for what they know, and sometimes that means you need to do some of the less pleasant tasks in order to learn the basics is extremely important. When opportunities for learning present themselves, open that door, it will pay dividends in the end.
What general advice would you give to a Propulsion Engineer?
Saeed Khan: First of all, find a position that corresponds to their technical interests for the long run. Carefully seek out what the expectations of their chosen position are and identify the gaps in skills and knowledge required. Work ceaselessly to gain proficiencies that allow them to excel using every resource at hand.
What Propulsion Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Saeed Khan: Keeping up with the latest technology in materials, control systems, airframes, and communication systems as it relates to their responsibility is essential alongside development of people skills and communication facilities that help them market their ideas to their team.
What will help Propulsion Engineers increase their earning potential?
Saeed Khan: Engineering Technology graduates are valued for their ability to implement and breadboard better than engineers by companies that hire from both majors based on survey data. Employers more familiar with these attributes and who value these skills will be pre-disposed to offering good salary and benefits to new graduates.
Uises Gonzalez-Valle
Assistant ProfessorUniversity of Wisconsin - Green Bay
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians
What will help Propulsion Engineers increase their earning potential?
Uises Gonzalez-Valle: The beginning of professional life is not simple independent of the career path that you follow and ME and MET can have their own complications. However, some good advice would be to develop independence and adaptability which are key traits of an engineer, and always keep yourself updated with the most recent technological developments. If you are independent and adaptable, you have all the skills to learn and further your professional development. In addition, I would say it is essential to start building a network, including peers and mentors. Having a strong network of peers and mentors helps you significantly to progress in your professional line. From day-to-day to daily changing decisions, having a strong network to support would significantly help in building your professional path. Lastly, I would say that having a good Work-life balance is vital too, since our personal life is as important as our professional life. Remember, we should work to live instead of live to work.
Mike DeVore Ph.D.
Professor & Program ChairCincinnati State Technical & Community College
Mechanical Engineering Technology
What hard/technical skills are most important for Propulsion Engineers?
Mike DeVore Ph.D.: -Computer-Aided Design
-Knowledge of manufacturing processes
-A good mathematics foundation
-Technical communication
-Problem solving
What experience really stands out on Propulsion Engineer resumes?
Dr. Seokbin Lim Ph.D.: The education curriculum in the New Mexico Tech Mechanical Engineering department is routinely evaluated by both the faculty and an advisory board that consists of external members from nearby national laboratories, alumni, and regional universities. Our department takes this process seriously because this process provides real-world feedback and improves our program by applying their feedback into our curriculum.
Time and time again, comments from those reviewers directly relate to hands-on training and communication skills, and we have applied this feedback in our program for many years. This element in our program has brought significantly positive responses from various sectors outside the university where our students eventually will spend their time in their careers.
From this example, we believe the hand-on and communication skills would stand out among other pools of students, and the addition of these components in their resume would be beneficial.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Propulsion Engineers to find work opportunities?
Marco Salviato Ph.D.: I am a little biased here but, honestly, I cannot think of a better place than the Greater Seattle area and Washington State. We have the best aerospace companies in the world and the aerospace industry is an integral part of the economy and history of the State.
Charles Jenckes
Assistant ProfessorUniversity of North Carolina at Charlotte
Mechanical Engineering
What skills stand out on Propulsion Engineer resumes?
Charles Jenckes: For new graduates
1.Where the candidate went to school and what was studied
2.GPA
3.Any successful internships
4.Projects completed by the student
How would you rate the starting salaries for Propulsion Engineers, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Daisy Huang: Above average, but you won't be a millionaire easily (you can with some effort, saving, and investing well). It is very unlikely you'll ever be *super* wealthy, but it's also very unlikely you'll ever not find employment in your field. You'll have a solid ticket to a modestly comfortable life, with some luxuries, too.
Laura Polk
Assistant Director, Career Services & Corporate RelationsPrescott Campus
Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Space Physics, Astronomy, & Cyber Intelligence and Security
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Propulsion Engineers to find work opportunities?
Laura Polk: It depends on what area of Mechanical Engineering the student is interested in. Here at Embry-Riddle alone, we offer concentrations in Robotics, Energy, and Propulsion. The job opportunities will depend on what particular area of Mechanical Engineering the student has chosen to specialize in. In general, there are great Mechanical Engineering opportunities all across the United States. But, if the student decided to specialize in Propulsion and wants to work on rockets, I would encourage them to start looking at opportunities in Washington, Arizona, California, Texas, New Mexico, and Alabama, since that's where many rocket companies have settled.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Propulsion Engineers?
Laura Polk: This is the million-dollar question. This global pandemic is a continually evolving situation, so my answer to this question was very different today than six months ago. I expect it to be different in another six months. But, my simple answer is, yes. The coronavirus pandemic will have an enduring impact on all of our lives, and no one will come out of this untouched. The good news is that mechanical engineering is still a very in-demand degree program.
Most graduates will find employment after graduation, as long as they are willing to keep their options open. The job outlook will look different for a mechanical engineering student wanting to work at an innovative startup versus a mechanical engineering student wishing to work for a large defense company. While many startups have to make more conservative financial decisions and may not be hiring, some defense companies have increased hiring during the pandemic. For example, Lockheed Martin added 5,000 new job postings over the summer.
My hope for this year's graduates is to graduate with a newfound appreciation for the positive change they can impart on the world. There is a lot in our world that needs to be fixed, and we need intelligence young people with innovative ideas to help improve some of our nation's most pressing obstacles.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Propulsion Engineers?
Bruce Carroll Ph.D.: The pandemic has a near term impact in terms of how classes are taught and in how companies are recruiting. Internships have become difficult during the pandemic. But so far, most major companies are continuing to actively recruit new aerospace engineers for permanent positions. The format of interviews has shifted to virtual methods. Career fairs are being held in virtual formats, and companies are making recruiting presentations to student organizations and holding open houses again in a virtual format. In some sense, the aerospace industries have been living in a virtual world for many years due to a large number of international projects. Practicing aerospace engineers are very comfortable with working remotely.
The longer-term impact of the coronavirus pandemic is unclear. Universities are preparing for budget cuts due to reductions in state revenues resulting from decreased spending during the pandemic. The federal government is better able to weather this economic storm, and we will simply have to wait and see the impact on federally funded programs related to spacecraft and military aircraft. The airline companies are struggling due to reduced travel demand. But these should be short-term disruptions and will resolve relatively quickly after the impact of the pandemic resolves. The long-term outlook for the current batch of aerospace engineering graduates remains positive.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Propulsion Engineers to find work opportunities?
Bruce Carroll Ph.D.: Aerospace jobs are available all across the US. Some pockets are well known, e.g. the locations of the large aerospace companies. There are also many startup companies in fields related to unmanned vehicles, drones, and personal urban aircraft. Companies in Florida and Georgia have been actively hiring graduates from our programs in recent years, and I think this will continue.
There is a strong demand in these two states related to military aircraft and armaments. This includes the maintenance of existing airframes and the development and production of new platforms. The commercial space industry is coming on strong with a large presence in Florida. There is also strong demand from both spacecraft and aircraft propulsion companies. The overall employment market continues to be strong for our region.