Post job

Structural test engineer vs aerospace engineer

The differences between structural test engineers and aerospace 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 structural test engineer and an aerospace engineer. Additionally, an aerospace engineer has an average salary of $100,401, which is higher than the $86,757 average annual salary of a structural test engineer.

The top three skills for a structural test engineer include CAD, aerospace and test data. The most important skills for an aerospace engineer are C++, DOD, and FAA.

Structural test engineer vs aerospace engineer overview

Structural Test EngineerAerospace Engineer
Yearly salary$86,757$100,401
Hourly rate$41.71$48.27
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs29,66242,086
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 83%Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Average age4444
Years of experience44

Structural test engineer vs aerospace engineer salary

Structural test engineers and aerospace engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Structural Test EngineerAerospace Engineer
Average salary$86,757$100,401
Salary rangeBetween $58,000 And $129,000Between $71,000 And $140,000
Highest paying City-San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state-Arizona
Best paying company-Thrush Aircraft
Best paying industry-Manufacturing

Differences between structural test engineer and aerospace engineer education

There are a few differences between a structural test engineer and an aerospace engineer in terms of educational background:

Structural Test EngineerAerospace Engineer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 83%Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Most common majorMechanical EngineeringAerospace Engineering
Most common collegeGeorgia Institute of TechnologyGeorgia Institute of Technology

Structural test engineer vs aerospace engineer demographics

Here are the differences between structural test engineers' and aerospace engineers' demographics:

Structural Test EngineerAerospace Engineer
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 91.5% Female, 8.5%Male, 88.8% Female, 11.2%
Race ratioBlack 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, 10.8% Asian, 11.0% White, 69.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between structural test engineer and aerospace engineer duties and responsibilities

Structural test engineer example responsibilities.

  • Manage Jenkins security by providing specific access to authorize developers/testers using project base matrix authorization strategy.
  • Collaborate with frequency managers, FCC, FAA, and local spectrum authorities to plan frequency assignments.
  • Import the model to perform simulation in ANSYS to procure the optimum design of a typical high mach air-frame structure.
  • Formulate conceptual design of aeronautical, aerospace products or systems to meet customer requirements and communicate feed back to design engineers.
  • Utilize rapid prototyping as proof of concepts for multiple new designs.
  • Create PERL scripts to generate flying probe test programs from FabMaster outputs, saving licensing fees for commercial test development products.
  • Show more

Aerospace engineer example responsibilities.

  • Lead redesign review for cyclic stick, composite to metal, (CATIA).
  • Schedule HVAC equipment to keep equipment off as much as possible and still achieve a healthy, comfortable setting for academics.
  • Manage HVAC retro-commissioning program to optimize facility energy use.
  • Serve as program focal point for integration of radar onto flight test aircraft.
  • Perform design reviews, operations procedural reviews, and failure mode investigations of concept NASA launch vehicles/propulsion systems.
  • Debug and run regression tests.
  • Show more

Structural test engineer vs aerospace engineer skills

Common structural test engineer skills
  • CAD, 14%
  • Aerospace, 13%
  • Test Data, 9%
  • CATIA, 8%
  • Data Acquisition Systems, 7%
  • Test Procedures, 6%
Common aerospace engineer skills
  • C++, 15%
  • DOD, 5%
  • FAA, 5%
  • Systems Engineering, 4%
  • Solidworks, 4%
  • NASA, 4%

Browse architecture and engineering jobs