Aerospace engineering is a subspecialty of the engineering field that involves the design, production and enhancement of aircraft, spacecraft and missiles. This rewarding career requires the study and practical application of mathematics and physics. Aerospace engineering is an exciting field with varied job opportunities both in the private and public sectors. It is also a lucrative career; the median annual aerospace engineer salary is the highest mean salary for all engineer subspecialties.
All aerospace jobs require at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university. These degrees take at least four years of study to attain. Students often require five years to receive their bachelor’s degrees. Starting salaries for engineers are some of the highest in the United States for job applicants just graduating from college. There is also good job security for engineers. Aerospace engineer starting salaries are near the median starting salary for all engineers. However, the aerospace engineer salary quickly becomes the highest median salary among all engineers. The median annual aerospace engineer salary is about $100,000. The annual minimum starting salary for an aerospace engineer who just graduated from college is $40,000 per year. The median starting annual aerospace engineer salary is $60,000 per year. This figure can increase up to $100,000 for the highest paid starting aerospace engineers.
The starting salaries for aerospace engineers increase with the level of education. The median annual starting aerospace engineer salary for a master’s level engineer is $62,000. The median annual starting salary for a doctorate level aerospace engineer is $74,000.
On average, private sector aerospace engineering jobs pay more than public sector aerospace engineering jobs. The exception to this rule is employment with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). NASA aerospace engineer jobs are very lucrative with an average annual salary of about $108,000. The Department of Defense, the United States Navy, the Federal Aviation Administration, the National Space Science Data Center and the National Laboratories are all examples of agencies of the federal government who employ aerospace engineers. The average annual salary for aerospace engineers in the private sector is about $88,000. The main employers of aerospace engineers in the private sector are Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, United Technologies, SAIC, BAE Systems and General Dynamics. Of these companies, Boeing has traditionally paid the highest salaries for aerospace engineers.
Another job opportunity for aerospace engineers is teaching at the college level. In order to be considered for these positions, the candidate must have a doctorate degree.
A good way for the aerospace engineer graduate to obtain a high-paying starting job is to participate in an internship program while still in college. A successful internship will lead to contacts, potential references for a resume and perhaps a job offer. Many colleges have internship programs to help students find work during college in both the public and private sectors. NASA also has an internship program for college aerospace engineer students.
Aerospace engineering is the highest paid engineering subspecialty in the United States. This fact, along with the interesting and varied nature of the work involved, makes aerospace engineering an attractive choice for the qualified candidate.
