Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $59,050 | $28.39 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $82,890 | $39.85 |
| Mean (average) | $91,310 | $43.90 |
| 90th percentile | $125,160 | $60.18 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 27 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $62,130 | $43,390 | $110,250 | 140 | 0.93 |
| Alaska | $105,780 | $104,240 | $113,500 | 40 | 1.74 |
| Arizona | $75,230 | $61,530 | $94,390 | 380 | 1.6 |
| California | $99,000 | $71,990 | $161,650 | 1,560 | 1.18 |
| Colorado | $98,990 | $84,150 | $131,670 | 660 | 3.17 |
| Connecticut | $79,410 | $68,840 | $132,640 | 70 | 0.53 |
| Florida | $78,560 | $57,200 | $122,870 | 770 | 1.06 |
| Georgia | Data unavailable | 400 | 1.13 | ||
| Indiana | $62,520 | $48,710 | $77,550 | 480 | 2.06 |
| Kansas | $78,350 | $51,200 | $100,170 | 580 | 5.59 |
| Maryland | $91,820 | $62,200 | $124,430 | 200 | 1 |
| Massachusetts | $79,420 | $72,890 | $99,740 | 30 | 0.13 |
| Michigan | $69,840 | $42,700 | $98,610 | 70 | 0.21 |
| Minnesota | $71,240 | $64,930 | $78,080 | ||
| Nevada | $102,980 | $62,700 | $125,010 | 50 | 0.46 |
| New Mexico | $66,460 | $64,320 | $92,220 | ||
| New York | $64,480 | $53,000 | $88,650 | 330 | 0.47 |
| North Carolina | Data unavailable | 190 | 0.53 | ||
| Ohio | $79,310 | $60,010 | $105,030 | 900 | 2.24 |
| Oklahoma | $45,590 | $37,120 | $104,420 | 30 | 0.26 |
| Oregon | $81,100 | $54,400 | $81,310 | 120 | 0.81 |
| Pennsylvania | $60,770 | $54,380 | $91,620 | 80 | 0.18 |
| South Carolina | Data unavailable | 120 | 0.7 | ||
| Texas | $78,350 | $56,000 | $119,840 | 950 | 0.93 |
| Utah | $76,680 | $64,170 | $112,740 | 400 | 3.18 |
| Virginia | $81,040 | $58,910 | $100,610 | 270 | 0.91 |
| Washington | $125,160 | $108,200 | $125,160 | 1,590 | 6.18 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 1,100. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 1.2%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians
- Typical entry education
- Associate's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Astronautical Engineering CIP 14.0202
- Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General CIP 15.0000
- Electrical, Electronic, and Communications Engineering Technology/Technician CIP 15.0303
- Aeronautical/Aerospace Engineering Technology/Technician CIP 15.0801
- Aerospace Ground Equipment Technology CIP 29.0401
- Air and Space Operations Technology CIP 29.0402
- Avionics Maintenance Technology/Technician CIP 47.0609
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Test aircraft systems under simulated operational conditions, performing systems readiness tests and pre- and post-operational checkouts, to establish design or fabrication parameters.
- Identify required data, data acquisition plans, and test parameters, setting up equipment to conform to these specifications.
- Inspect, diagnose, maintain, and operate test setups and equipment to detect malfunctions.
- Confer with engineering personnel regarding details and implications of test procedures and results.
- Operate and calibrate computer systems and devices to comply with test requirements and to perform data acquisition and analysis.
- Record and interpret test data on parts, assemblies, and mechanisms.
- Adjust, repair, or replace faulty components of test setups and equipment.
- Fabricate and install parts and systems to be tested in test equipment, using hand tools, power tools, and test instruments.
Technology skills
- Apache Hadoop (hot technology)
- Atlassian JIRA (hot technology)
- Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- C++ (hot technology)
- Dassault Systemes SolidWorks (hot technology)
- Extensible markup language XML (hot technology)
- JUnit (hot technology)
- JavaScript (hot technology)
- Linux (hot technology)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Project (hot technology)
- Microsoft SQL Server (hot technology)
Transferable skills for career changers: Operations Monitoring, Quality Control Analysis, Complex Problem Solving, Troubleshooting, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management.
Common job titles: Avionics Installation Technician, Avionics Test Technician, Engineering Technician, Engineering Test Technician, Flight Test Instrument Technician, Instrumentation Technician, Systems Test Technician, Test Technician.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians make?
The national median annual wage for aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians was $82,890 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $59,050 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $125,160. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians need?
BLS lists associate's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians a growing career?
BLS projects employment of aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians to change +11.9% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 1,100 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Washington ($125,160), Alaska ($105,780), Nevada ($102,980). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.