Aerospace Engineers
Also called: Avionics Engineer, Design Engineer, Flight Test Engineer, Special Mission EngineerPerform engineering duties in designing, constructing, and testing aircraft, missiles, and spacecraft. May conduct basic and applied research to evaluate adaptability of materials and equipment to aircraft design and manufacture. May recommend improvements in testing equipment and techniques.
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What the data says: AI could halve the time on 13 of its 14 tasks, yet jobs are projected to grow 8.3% by 2035. In the most exposed occupations, the squeeze shows up first among early-career workers. How to think about this →
About this projection
BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”
It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”
On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”
Recent conditions
- In 2024, 0.9% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024
- From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 5.4 hires for every 10 job openings in durable goods manufacturing, which employs about 48% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS
One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.5.4 this industry7.3 all industries
Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates
Tap a state for its figures.
Median pay in every state
| State | Median | Middle half earn | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $127,540 | $98,190 to $165,410 | 5,820 |
| Alaska | $101,710 | $98,330 to $114,310 | 100 |
| Arizona | $123,170 | $96,700 to $161,220 | 3,110 |
| Arkansas | $102,040 | $78,810 to $124,500 | 180 |
| California | $157,620 | $129,010 to $193,060 | 9,170 |
| Colorado | $156,190 | $128,440 to $180,310 | 4,070 |
| Connecticut | $129,500 | $104,560 to $142,970 | 1,160 |
| District of Columbia | $157,600 | $105,870 to $195,190 | 290 |
| Florida | $129,280 | $104,790 to $156,370 | 3,250 |
| Georgia | $140,460 | $106,510 to $162,060 | 2,230 |
| Hawaii | $137,240 | $134,070 to $163,880 | 40 |
| Idaho | $95,700 | $76,970 to $120,000 | 190 |
| Illinois | $108,940 | $98,300 to $153,800 | 200 |
| Indiana | $107,400 | $85,080 to $135,450 | 440 |
| Iowa | not published | not published | 40 |
| Kansas | $130,330 | $97,950 to $166,900 | 1,730 |
| Kentucky | $126,130 | $105,000 to $166,300 | 290 |
| Louisiana | $136,970 | $118,370 to $160,930 | 90 |
| Maryland | $156,750 | $119,540 to $195,190 | 3,180 |
| Massachusetts | $149,470 | $98,850 to $182,370 | 990 |
| Michigan | $128,960 | $97,070 to $147,330 | not published |
| Minnesota | $159,060 | $100,300 to $180,350 | 140 |
| Mississippi | $109,200 | $92,190 to $141,130 | 90 |
| Missouri | $130,680 | $96,790 to $179,260 | 650 |
| Nebraska | $135,670 | $104,140 to $171,380 | 130 |
| Nevada | $96,730 | $86,690 to $136,570 | 270 |
| New Hampshire | not published | not published | 40 |
| New Jersey | $126,430 | $103,980 to $159,710 | 3,400 |
| New Mexico | $132,850 | $104,830 to $161,420 | 570 |
| New York | $130,330 | $101,970 to $162,210 | 560 |
| North Carolina | $122,930 | $94,210 to $149,990 | 650 |
| Ohio | $138,440 | $100,440 to $170,540 | 3,710 |
| Oklahoma | $125,470 | $97,900 to $136,990 | 1,090 |
| Oregon | $124,630 | $99,250 to $162,550 | 250 |
| Pennsylvania | $133,940 | $111,500 to $162,420 | 990 |
| South Carolina | $137,030 | $102,280 to $160,620 | 650 |
| Tennessee | $128,510 | $99,080 to $136,990 | 610 |
| Texas | $130,270 | $103,810 to $166,980 | 6,750 |
| Utah | $135,840 | $116,800 to $161,060 | 1,010 |
| Vermont | $144,400 | $110,470 to $164,590 | 100 |
| Virginia | $143,210 | $119,830 to $184,590 | 2,540 |
| Washington | $158,370 | $130,560 to $181,460 | 5,760 |
| Wisconsin | $88,400 | $73,940 to $131,400 | 120 |
Nationally: $134,960. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this
How AI touches the work
What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.
AI could halve the time on 13 of its 14 tasks
| AI rating | Its main tasks | Share of Claude conversations May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| AI + software | Evaluate product data or design from inspections or reports for conformance to engineering principles, customer requirements, environmental regulations, or quality standards. | 0.03% |
| AI + software | Direct or coordinate activities of engineering or technical personnel involved in designing, fabricating, modifying, or testing of aircraft or aerospace products. | Not published |
| AI alone | Write technical reports or other documentation, such as handbooks or bulletins, for use by engineering staff, management, or customers. | 0.03% |
| Not much | Plan or conduct experimental, environmental, operational, or stress tests on models or prototypes of aircraft or aerospace systems or equipment. | Not published |
| AI + software | Formulate conceptual design of aeronautical or aerospace products or systems to meet customer requirements or conform to environmental regulations. | Not published |
| AI + software | Diagnose performance problems by reviewing reports or documentation from customers or field engineers or by inspecting malfunctioning or damaged products. | under 0.01% |
See all 14 tasks
| AI + software | Formulate mathematical models or other methods of computer analysis to develop, evaluate, or modify design, according to customer engineering requirements. | 0.01% |
| AI + software | Maintain records of performance reports for future reference. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Analyze project requests, proposals, or engineering data to determine feasibility, productibility, cost, or production time of aerospace or aeronautical products. | Not published |
| AI + software | Plan or coordinate investigation and resolution of customers' reports of technical problems with aircraft or aerospace vehicles. | Not published |
| AI + software | Develop design criteria for aeronautical or aerospace products or systems, including testing methods, production costs, quality standards, environmental standards, or completion dates. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Direct aerospace research and development programs. | Not published |
| AI + software | Research new materials to determine quality or conformance to environmental standards. | Not published |
| AI + software | Evaluate and approve selection of vendors by studying past performance or new advertisements. | Not published |
Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 6 of the 14 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.
Where people already use AI
The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 14 tasks fall under 16 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.
- #44 Gather data about operational or development activities
- #47 Assess characteristics or impacts of regulations or policies
| Work activity | This occupation's tasks under it | People asked AI for help in 10,000 conversations |
AI did it for them in 10,000 conversations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evaluate designs, specifications, or other technical data | |||
| Direct scientific or technical activities | |||
| Gather data about operational or development activities | |||
| Assess characteristics or impacts of regulations or policies | |||
| Develop models of systems, processes, or products | |||
| Develop technical specifications for products or operations | |||
| Test performance of equipment or systems | |||
| Document technical designs, procedures, or activities |
Show all 16 activities
| Investigate organizational or operational problems | |||
| Monitor operations to ensure adequate performance | |||
| Maintain operational records | |||
| Manage control systems or activities | |||
| Inspect commercial, industrial, or production systems or equipment | |||
| Design electrical or electronic systems or equipment | |||
| Assess compliance with environmental standards or regulations | |||
| Authorize business activities or transactions |
How people in this work use Claude
What people in this work made with Claude % of conversations
- A document or report42%
- An analysis or summary15%
- An explanation or answer8%
- Code fixes or debugging5%
- A chart or visualization4%
How they worked with Claude
73% of these conversations were about work. Anthropic Economic Index, May 2026.
How to read this
Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for aerospace engineers specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.
The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.
More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude
High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs
BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.
Career moves into and out of this occupation
From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.
Where people moved next
of 5,267 moves out
- 1 Computer Occupations, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 15%
- 2 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 8%
- 3 Engineers, All Other Very high +3.7% 8%
- 4 Architectural and Engineering Managers High +5.5% 5%
- 5 Mechanical Engineers Very high +11.2% 4%
Where people moved in from
of 6,106 moves in
- 1 Computer Occupations, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 12%
- 2 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 11%
- 3 Engineers, All Other Very high +3.7% 6%
- 4 Mechanical Engineers Very high +11.2% 4%
- 5 Computer User Support Specialists Very high -3.5% 4%
Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).
Education and training for the occupation
Census survey (American Community Survey)
- 1% less than high school
- 2% high school
- 3% some college
- 3% associate's
- 53% bachelor's
- 32% master's
- 1% professional degree
- 4% doctorate
Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation · 1,933 people surveyed.
Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation
5 programs, such as Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering, General, Astronautical Engineering and Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering, Other.
See all
- Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering, General
- Astronautical Engineering
- Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering, Other
- Electrical and Electronics Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023
<0.5% this occupation
45.3% all occupations
| By kind | This occupation | All occupations |
|---|---|---|
| a license | <0.5% | 19.1% |
| a certification | <0.5% | 5.8% |
| an educational certificate | <0.5% | 2.8% |
Share of jobs whose employer requires it. BLS doesn't say which credential. How to read this
Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor
- Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
- Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
- License Finder ↗ licenses by state
- Apprenticeship Finder ↗ DOL lists 1 registered apprenticeship in this occupation (Aerospace Engineer). Apprenticeship.gov can't be linked to one occupation, so search for “Aerospace Engineers” there.
These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide
BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS · Brynjolfsson, Chandar and Chen, Stanford (Aug 2026)
See it online, and explore any career: https://www.pathmosaic.com/card/17-2011.00