Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians
Also called: Engineering Technician, Instrumentation Technician, Systems Test Technician, Test TechnicianOperate, install, adjust, and maintain integrated computer/communications systems, consoles, simulators, and other data acquisition, test, and measurement instruments and equipment, which are used to launch, track, position, and evaluate air and space vehicles. May record and interpret test data.
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What the data says: AI could halve the time on 5 of its 11 tasks, and jobs are projected to grow 11.9% by 2035. 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, 2.6% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Other engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters”
- From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 5.4 hires for every 10 job openings in durable goods manufacturing, which employs about 58% 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 | $62,130 | $47,640 to $84,150 | 140 |
| Alaska | $105,780 | $104,240 to $109,390 | 40 |
| Arizona | $75,230 | $64,690 to $79,530 | 380 |
| California | $99,000 | $81,560 to $119,980 | 1,560 |
| Colorado | $98,990 | $97,190 to $131,610 | 660 |
| Connecticut | $79,410 | $77,740 to $132,640 | 70 |
| Florida | $78,560 | $65,290 to $102,380 | 770 |
| Georgia | not published | not published | 400 |
| Indiana | $62,520 | $58,150 to $74,600 | 480 |
| Kansas | $78,350 | $63,090 to $78,580 | 580 |
| Maryland | $91,820 | $69,850 to $103,680 | 200 |
| Massachusetts | $79,420 | $72,890 to $83,930 | 30 |
| Michigan | $69,840 | $46,160 to $87,860 | 70 |
| Minnesota | $71,240 | $71,240 to $78,080 | not published |
| Nevada | $102,980 | $63,300 to $122,080 | 50 |
| New Mexico | $66,460 | $66,420 to $80,040 | not published |
| New York | $64,480 | $60,770 to $76,920 | 330 |
| North Carolina | not published | not published | 190 |
| Ohio | $79,310 | $66,240 to $86,380 | 900 |
| Oklahoma | $45,590 | $41,700 to $81,060 | 30 |
| Oregon | $81,100 | $67,440 to $81,100 | 120 |
| Pennsylvania | $60,770 | $58,590 to $65,340 | 80 |
| South Carolina | not published | not published | 120 |
| Texas | $78,350 | $61,950 to $93,900 | 950 |
| Utah | $76,680 | $64,280 to $94,520 | 400 |
| Virginia | $81,040 | $73,140 to $96,100 | 270 |
| Washington | $125,160 | $121,340 to $125,160 | 1,590 |
Nationally: $82,890. 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 5 of its 11 tasks
| AI rating | Its main tasks | Share of Claude conversations May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| AI + software | Record and interpret test data on parts, assemblies, and mechanisms. | Not published |
| AI + software | Confer with engineering personnel regarding details and implications of test procedures and results. | Not published |
| AI + software | Identify required data, data acquisition plans, and test parameters, setting up equipment to conform to these specifications. | Not published |
| Not much | Inspect, diagnose, maintain, and operate test setups and equipment to detect malfunctions. | Not published |
| Not much | Adjust, repair, or replace faulty components of test setups and equipment. | Not published |
| Not much | Test aircraft systems under simulated operational conditions, performing systems readiness tests and pre- and post-operational checkouts, to establish design or fabrication parameters. | Not published |
See all 11 tasks
| Not much | Fabricate and install parts and systems to be tested in test equipment, using hand tools, power tools, and test instruments. | Not published |
| AI + software | Operate and calibrate computer systems and devices to comply with test requirements and to perform data acquisition and analysis. | Not published |
| Not much | Finish vehicle instrumentation and deinstrumentation. | Not published |
| AI + software | Design electrical and mechanical systems for avionic instrumentation applications. | Not published |
| Not much | Construct and maintain test facilities for aircraft parts and systems, according to specifications. | 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. 0 of the 11 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 11 tasks fall under 14 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.
- #13 Operate computer systems or computerized equipment
- #25 Communicate with others about specifications or project details
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Document technical designs, procedures, or activities | |||
| Maintain electronic, computer, or other technical equipment | |||
| Operate computer systems or computerized equipment | |||
| Communicate with others about specifications or project details | |||
| Adjust equipment to ensure adequate performance | |||
| Analyze performance of systems or equipment | |||
| Test performance of equipment or systems | |||
| Determine resource needs of projects or operations |
Show all 14 activities
| Test characteristics of materials or products | |||
| Assemble equipment or components | |||
| Inspect commercial, industrial, or production systems or equipment | |||
| Fabricate devices or components | |||
| Design electrical or electronic systems or equipment | |||
| Install commercial or production equipment |
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 engineering and operations technologists and technicians 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 3,070 moves out
- 1 Computer Occupations, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 8%
- 2 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 7%
- 3 Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians 5%
- 4 Software Developers, Applications (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 3%
- 5 Engineering Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 3%
Where people moved in from
of 3,205 moves in
- 1 Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians 8%
- 2 Computer Occupations, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 7%
- 3 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 5%
- 4 Maintenance and Repair Workers, General Low +4.2% 4%
- 5 Computer User Support Specialists Very high -3.5% 3%
Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).
Education and training for the occupation
O*NET survey of workers in this occupation
- 20% high school
- 39% postsecondary certificate
- 8% bachelor's
- 33% not published
O*NET marks 33% of the answers as too uncertain to publish, so the parts shown don't add up to 100%.
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers in this occupation · 15 people answered.
Census survey (American Community Survey)
- 4% less than high school
- 25% high school
- 30% some college
- 18% associate's
- 18% bachelor's
- 4% master's
- 1% doctorate
Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Other engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters” · 4,846 people surveyed.
Why the two can differ
O*NET asks about 20 people in each occupation, which makes its shares uncertain, but it reports the exact occupation and counts certificates. The Census survey reaches thousands, but it groups some occupations together and counts degrees only. More in the Guide
Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Other engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters”
7 programs, such as Astronautical Engineering, Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General and Electrical, Electronic, and Communications Engineering Technology/Technician.
See all
- Astronautical Engineering
- Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General
- Electrical, Electronic, and Communications Engineering Technology/Technician
- Aeronautical/Aerospace Engineering Technology/Technician
- Aerospace Ground Equipment Technology
- Air and Space Operations Technology
- Avionics Maintenance Technology/Technician
Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023
BLS publishes no credential figures for this occupation.
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 4 registered apprenticeships in this occupation. Apprenticeship.gov can't be linked to one occupation, so search for “Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians” 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
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