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The differences between spacecraft systems engineers and aeronautical 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 spacecraft systems engineer and an aeronautical engineer. Additionally, a spacecraft systems engineer has an average salary of $96,404, which is higher than the $80,442 average annual salary of an aeronautical engineer.
The top three skills for a spacecraft systems engineer include systems engineering, MATLAB and spacecraft systems. The most important skills for an aeronautical engineer are MATLAB, airframe, and CAD.
| Spacecraft Systems Engineer | Aeronautical Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $96,404 | $80,442 |
| Hourly rate | $46.35 | $38.67 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 78,004 | 28,911 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A spacecraft system engineer develops simulations and performs analysis. They create design documents and work with teams to carry out projects. They must also maintain amicable relationships with customers.
Aeronautical engineers are responsible for designing and testing products for aircraft, spacecraft, missiles, and satellites. Their tasks involve creating and examining blueprints, starting the criteria for a design system, scanning proposals, and correlating teams from design to manufacturing. They work full-time and often require extra hours to work on larger projects, keep track of progress, and make sure that the designs match the mandatory requirements. Individuals who preferred for the job are those who can communicate well, can control their time effectively and perform on diverse projects at once, and who love working as a part of a team towards common goals.
Spacecraft systems engineers and aeronautical engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Spacecraft Systems Engineer | Aeronautical Engineer | |
| Average salary | $96,404 | $80,442 |
| Salary range | Between $72,000 And $128,000 | Between $59,000 And $109,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Palo Alto, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | - | Terrafugia |
| Best paying industry | - | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a spacecraft systems engineer and an aeronautical engineer in terms of educational background:
| Spacecraft Systems Engineer | Aeronautical Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Most common major | Aerospace Engineering | Aerospace Engineering |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Georgia Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between spacecraft systems engineers' and aeronautical engineers' demographics:
| Spacecraft Systems Engineer | Aeronautical Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.3% Female, 9.7% | Male, 89.4% Female, 10.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 10.9% White, 68.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 4.1% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 10.5% Asian, 15.1% White, 65.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |