Aerospace engineering is a discipline with lots of promises. It focuses on designing missiles, planes, and spacecraft. Manufacturing and enhancing is also part of this profession. It’s a lucrative career with many opportunities from the private and public sectors. Besides, an aerospace engineer salary ranks among the highest in the world. In this article, you find all the useful information about aerospace engineering, so read on.
Do Aerospace Engineers Make Good Money?
Yes! Aerospace engineers earn good money. In the US, records show high rates for new aerospace engineer salaries. For example, a fresh graduate applicant can get a median offer of $40,000 or more. Median being the wage level half of the workers earn in a profession.
The starting salary in this profession is almost equal to what engineers in other disciplines earn. This makes it the highest median salary in the engineering field. Nevertheless, there is a possibility the median wage will reach $100,000 or more. Those who progress with their education earn more. For a master’s degree holder, their starting salary is above $62,000, while those with doctorates receive more than $74,000.
Besides, an established aerospace engineer earns an annual median salary of about $116,000. Those on the lowest end earn not less than $72,450 and are about ten percent. Likewise, those on the highest end take home more than $166,620. On top of it, job security in this profession is so appealing.
Aerospace Engineer Salary in NASA
The only reason an aerospace engineer will not forsake the public sector is NASA. It’s no secret; the private sector offers a better salary package compared to the public. However, the storyline changes once employed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). They can earn an average aerospace engineer salary of $177,782 in the US. Their NASA counterpart in San Francisco receives an average compensation of $267,555 per year.
Is Aerospace Engineering a Good Career?
It’s a promising career judging from the testimonies and prospects.
The best part is that you will gather a wealth of knowledge from all branches of engineering. Thus, it makes you competent enough to work in any other occupation outside the aerospace industry.
Another big plus is that governments control much of the aerospace industry through organs like the military. The US is one perfect example. This means potential jobs will always be available as long as the military is paying.
Apart from NASA, there are other federal government agencies in need of this expertise. They are the National Laboratories, Federal Aviation Administration, and the National Space Science Data Center. Others are the United States Navy and the Department of Defense.
The private sector offers equal or better opportunities depending on your luck. Some of the big companies you can work as an aerospace engineer are United Technologies and Boeing, General Dynamics, SAIC, BAE Systems, among others. Incidentally, Boeing tops the list as the company paying the highest salary in the private sector.
Also, a doctorate holder qualifies for a teaching position in aviation college. But the exciting bit comes from the commercial aviation market. It’s projected within the next decade, the number of people flying around will double. Meaning, every aviation company will want a share of the expanding market.
Is it Hard to Become an Aerospace Engineer?
It’s a yes and a no. Everything about aerospace engineering depends on you. If you can grasp the concept, you are good to go.
For some reason, aerospace is compared to mechanical engineering. Both are considered problematic in the engineering fraternity. But in reality, the coursework is relatively broad and deep. Aspiring students should be more than ready to go through high-level math, physics, and chemistry. And yet, you have not gotten into the coursework.
In aerospace, students have no luxury of choosing concepts. They have to go to the extreme details of the course’s calculations. Math concepts are highly advanced than in most engineering and other majors. After all, any major dealing with advance and applied math is considered harder; at least that’s the perception. So it is no surprise, aerospace is ranked among the most demanding engineering.
Which Country Is Good for Aerospace Engineers?
In terms of education, there are plenty of acceptable universities for studying aerospace engineering in Europe. Russia tops the list on this side of the world. As a country, it is renowned for offering the highest quality education for decades. Some of the schools are Moscow Aerospace Engineering University, Aerospace Engineering University Moscow, Aerospace Engineering Academy Moscow, among others.
For those seeking employment, the United States is the best. The salary levels are high, and the demand for aerospace engineers is high as well. Other countries paying huge wages in this profession are Denmark and Switzerland.
Study Process
To belong in this profession, you need at least a Bachelor’s degree. Most universities offer a five-year program after which successful students earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees, all at the same time. As usual, the aerospace engineering program must have accreditation from ABET.
Most advanced programs demand a professional engineer (PE) license, apart from the entry-level position. Furthermore, you require an accredited engineering degree, work experience, and a pass in the following units: fundamentals of engineering (FE) and the professional engineering exam.
Aerospace Engineer Salary in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia
The average salary of an aerospace engineer includes housing, transport, among other benefits. Salaries vary depending on experience, skill, gender, or location. Now, let’s see their earnings across the above countries.
An individual working in the United States as an aerospace engineer earns about $128,000. However, the salaries vary from $64,100 to $199,000.
In the United Kingdom, the average aerospace engineer salary is 90,500 GBP per year. The lowest earn from 44,400 GBP while the highest gets 141,000 GBP.
In Canada, the same graduate earns an average salary of 154,000 CAD per year. Likewise, the salaries range from 73.900 CAD to 242,000 CAD.
Their colleagues in Australia earn a yearly salary of 114,000 AUD. And like in all three countries, salaries vary as well. The lowest bracket makes 57,000 AUD, and the highest takes home 177,000 AUD.
Conclusion
Those aspiring to join this career must have a knack for mathematics and physics. Apart from being attractive, the occupation is enriching, and the aerospace engineer salary is among the best. The only sad thing about this profession is job hunting. You are likely not to get hired because you lack experience or get a low salary offer. It’s a big challenge for newly graduates.
This career is not for the faint-heated. For anyone to succeed in this profession, you need two virtues, patience and hard work. Know about the ASPCA CEO Salary details.