Engineering and Architecture · Career brief

Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians

Is it a good career to pursue?

The 30-second read

Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians at a glance

Six signals to look at before you spend time on the full guide.

1Pay

$82,890

Above the middle on pay

2025 national median. Top quarter for pay among careers on ChooseField.

2Demand

11.9%

Strong projected growth

Projected employment growth for 2025–2035. Top 10% for growth among careers on ChooseField.

3Openings

1,100

Low national opening volume

Average openings per year in 2025–2035, including replacement hiring. Bottom quarter for openings among careers on ChooseField.

4Route in

Associate degree

Usually a two-year-level credential or equivalent route

Associate's degree. Prior related work is not typically required.

5The work

Hands-on

Practical work with tools, systems, or physical environments

Test aircraft systems under simulated operational conditions, performing systems readiness tests and pre- and post-operational checkouts, to establish design or fabrication…

6The catch

Know this first

What could make this a poor fit

This is a small national occupation (11,600 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median suggests.

ChooseField take

The standout national signal is growth; it ranks in the top quarter of ChooseField careers. It makes the most sense if hands-on work appeals to you and you are comfortable with an associate-degree path. Main tradeoff: This is a small national occupation (11,600 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median…

Before choosing, compare:Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians

National labor-market measures: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. Work-profile signals: O*NET. See sources and caveats.

Compare Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians with another field Explore rankings in Engineering and Architecture Open shareable infographic

Want the evidence behind the snapshot?

Market and path

Pay, outlook, and the route in

National median pay (2025)

$82,890

A midpoint for workers nationwide, not a starting salary.

2025–2035 outlook

11.9%employment growth1,100openings per year

Openings include replacement hiring, not only newly created jobs.

Typical entry route

Associate's degree

BLS reports the usual education, related experience, and on-the-job training, not a guaranteed minimum for every employer.

2025 employment

11,600

A small national occupation; local availability may be uneven.

Source: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 occupational projections ↗ · Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians (17-3021).

Actual responsibilities

What you would be trusted to own

Selected O*NET task statements, not a list of traits that applies to almost every career.

Test aircraft systems under simulated operational conditions, performing systems readiness tests and pre- and post-operational checkouts, to establish design or fabrication parameters.
Operate and calibrate computer systems and devices to comply with test requirements and to perform data acquisition and analysis.
Finish vehicle instrumentation and deinstrumentation.
Identify required data, data acquisition plans, and test parameters, setting up equipment to conform to these specifications.

Decision-changing realities

What could make this a poor fit

This is a small national occupation (11,600 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median suggests.
Deadline pressure is a recurring condition rather than an occasional emergency.

Work profile

What the work emphasizes

O*NET importance scores. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Getting Information4.6
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings4.5
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events4.5
Working with Computers4.4
Documenting/Recording Information4.4

Interest profile

Career interests

O*NET interest scores describe work someone may enjoy, not personality requirements. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Relative mix of the interest scores below, not percentages of your workday.

Realistic6.5
Conventional5.3
Investigative5.1
Enterprising1.4
Artistic1.0
Social1.0

Preparation

What the training must make you competent at

Subject matter

Mechanical Engineering and Technology Mathematics Production and Processing

Before choosing the major or training

Run a cheaper test first

Complete a small design-build-test project with real constraints: measure, model, build or simulate, test, and revise after the first failure.
Ask an early-career worker which beginner task consumes the most time, what makes new hires quit, and what school or training failed to simulate.

The fuller career guide

How the evidence fits together

Pay and demand: reading the benchmark

The pay and outlook figures describe Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians nationally. They do not establish the salary or number of vacancies available in your area.

Median pay is the middle wage across workers, not a starting offer. Projected openings include replacements as well as growth; neither measure predicts an individual worker's job security.

Before choosing a program

O*NET lists Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening among this occupation's skills. Ask a program to show the assignments, supervised practice, and assessment that develop these skills. Compare those examples with local job descriptions.

Common questions

Questions people ask about this career

Can I enter this occupation without related work experience?

BLS does not assign a related-experience requirement to the occupation. Employers may still ask for placements, supervised practice, a portfolio, or experience with particular tools. Check entry-level vacancies separately from experienced roles.

What should I check before paying for training?

Get the full prerequisite and completion timeline, total cost, placement arrangements, and any licensing eligibility in writing. Ask local employers whether they hire graduates from the route you are considering and whether paid training is available.

Adjacent options