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The differences between stress analysts 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 stress analyst and a flight test engineer. Additionally, a flight test engineer has an average salary of $90,538, which is higher than the $85,194 average annual salary of a stress analyst.
The top three skills for a stress analyst include abaqus, airframe and structural integrity. The most important skills for a flight test engineer are control room, data analysis, and test procedures.
| Stress Analyst | Flight Test Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $85,194 | $90,538 |
| Hourly rate | $40.96 | $43.53 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 8,437 | 26,384 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A stress analyst is a type of aerospace engineer; they design, construct, and test aircraft. They may also work on missiles or spacecraft. They primarily study design requirements for the overall strength of a craft. They analyze the stress data of structural components and prepare mathematical models of issues.
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.
Stress analysts and flight test engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Stress Analyst | Flight Test Engineer | |
| Average salary | $85,194 | $90,538 |
| Salary range | Between $63,000 And $114,000 | Between $66,000 And $123,000 |
| Highest paying City | Auburn, WA | Palo Alto, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Illinois |
| Best paying company | Morgan Stanley | Amazon |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a stress analyst and a flight test engineer in terms of educational background:
| Stress Analyst | Flight Test Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Aerospace Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Georgia Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between stress analysts' and flight test engineers' demographics:
| Stress Analyst | Flight Test Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.9% Female, 10.1% | Male, 89.6% Female, 10.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.0% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 9.9% Asian, 16.9% White, 64.5% 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% |