What Can You Do With an Aerospace Engineering Degree? Careers in Air, Space and Beyond

Aerospace engineering is the major for kids who watched every rocket launch and built paper airplanes until they flew straight. It is also one of the more demanding engineering degrees, heavy on calculus, physics and fluid dynamics.

The good news for families: the degree leads to well-paid, in-demand work, and it isn't only about rockets. Graduates also move into mechanical design, materials, software and project management. Below are the main paths, what they pay, and how to tell whether the major is a fit. For the broader view, see what you can do with an engineering degree.

What jobs can you get with an aerospace engineering degree?

Most graduates become aerospace engineers designing and testing aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, drones or missiles. Others work as mechanical, materials, test or systems engineers, in software, or as project managers. BLS reports aerospace engineers earned a median $134,960 in May 2025, with a bachelor's as the typical entry degree.

Pay below is the national median (the middle wage) from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, the newest release. Our calculator and Continuum use a different series, so their numbers won't match exactly.

1. Aerospace Engineer (Aeronautical)

Designs and tests aircraft and propulsion systems that fly in Earth's atmosphere. BLS aerospace engineers: median $134,960 (middle half $106,110–$169,690).

2. Astronautical or Spacecraft Engineer

Works on launch vehicles and satellites, including small satellites like cubesats. BLS counts these within aerospace engineers and expects demand to rise as launches get cheaper.

3. Mechanical Engineer

Designs mechanical systems in many industries; a common landing spot for aerospace grads. BLS: median $104,110.

4. Materials Engineer

Develops and tests the metals, composites and ceramics that aircraft and spacecraft depend on. BLS: median $112,860.

5. Electronics or Avionics Engineer

Works on navigation, communication and control electronics. BLS electronics engineers (except computer): median $130,220.

6. Flight Software Engineer

Writes the code that guides aircraft and spacecraft. BLS software developers: median $135,980. Coding classes make this path much easier.

7. Project Management Specialist

Coordinates budgets, schedules and teams on aerospace programs. BLS: median $102,320.

8. Aerospace Engineering Technician

Runs and maintains test and production equipment, often with an associate degree. BLS: median $82,890.

9. Engineering Manager

Leads engineering teams after years of experience. BLS architectural and engineering managers: median $171,270.

How much do aerospace engineers make?

BLS reports a median of $134,960 for aerospace engineers in May 2025, with the middle half earning $106,110–$169,690. The lowest 10% earned under $86,700 and the top 10% over $205,890. Engineering managers, often former engineers, earned a median $171,270, and BLS projects 8% job growth through 2035.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 national estimates. The middle 50% is the 25th to 75th percentile. Pay varies by state, employer and experience.

Aerospace vs. mechanical engineering: which should you choose?

Choose aerospace if your student is sure about aircraft or space; choose mechanical for more flexibility. BLS lists 'aerospace engineering or a related field' as the entry requirement, and many aerospace engineers hold mechanical degrees. Aerospace pays more at the median, but mechanical engineering has far more jobs nationally.

BLS counted about 67,710 aerospace engineers in May 2025 versus about 296,810 mechanical engineers. Mechanical engineers earned a median $104,110, lower than aerospace, but the bigger job market means more options in more cities. A common middle path: major in mechanical engineering and join an aerospace design team, rocketry club or co-op. Our mechanical engineering guide and a day in the life of a mechanical engineer show that side.

BLS also notes where aerospace engineers work: 38% in aerospace product and parts manufacturing, 16% in engineering services and 15% in the federal government. That concentration means jobs cluster around aerospace hubs, which is worth knowing if your student wants to stay close to home.

Is aerospace engineering a good major?

For students who can handle the math, yes. BLS projects 8% growth through 2035, pay is high, and New York Fed data show recent aerospace grads had 2.2% unemployment and only 14.7% underemployment. The main risks are the difficulty of the coursework and job concentration in certain regions and industries.

The New York Fed tracks how aerospace engineering graduates actually fare, using Census survey data. Recent graduates (ages 22–27) had an unemployment rate of 2.2% and an underemployment rate of 14.7%, meaning that share worked in jobs that don't usually require a degree. Median pay was $85,000 early in their careers and $130,000 at mid-career (ages 35–45), and 46% of aerospace engineering bachelor's holders also have a graduate degree.

MajorMatch's Aerospace Engineering Loan vs Upside calculator starts from Continuum wages of about $104,000 early-career and $144,000 mid-career. At its default $50,000 loan (6.5% for 10 years), total repayment is about $68,129, against an estimated lifetime earnings gain of about $2,660,143 over a high-school-only path, roughly 39.0 times the loan cost. It is an illustration you can adjust with your real net price, not a quote.

BLS says growth is coming from more fuel-efficient, quieter aircraft, cheaper satellite launches and small satellites, and drones for uses like wildfire detection. NACE's Winter 2026 survey projected an average starting salary of $81,198 for engineering bachelor's grads overall. If you're worried about how hard the coursework is, read our honest look at the hardest college majors.

Will AI affect aerospace engineering jobs?

AI will change the tools more than replace the engineers. MajorMatch's AI-Proof Career Check rates aerospace engineers at 54% task exposure. Simulation and design software keep getting smarter, but safety sign-off, testing, certification and judgment on complex systems stay with people.

MajorMatch's AI-Proof Career Check (part of the assessment results) estimates what share of a job's tasks AI tools could significantly speed up or automate. It measures exposure, not a forecast of job loss. Aerospace Engineering scores 43% overall. Hands-on aerospace engineering technicians score lower, at 28%. Students who learn simulation, coding and data skills alongside the core physics will be better positioned as design tools change. For the bigger picture, see our guide to AI-proof college majors.

Is aerospace engineering the right major for your teen?

It fits students who love physics and math, enjoy building and testing things, and can stay patient through long, detail-heavy projects. A rocketry, robotics or drone club is a great test. Students who want quick results, or who dislike calculus, may be happier in a related technical field.

The free assessment compares your student's strengths and interests with all 100 majors, including Aerospace Engineering, and shows how it stacks up against nearby options like electrical engineering.

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