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Aviation & Aerospace

Aerospace Engineer

Design aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles. Strong defense and commercial-space (SpaceX, Blue Origin) demand.

high-payoffice-work
30
ROI · Moderate
Investment vs return
Cost · time · demand normalized 0–100
20
Expected value
ROI × Attainability ÷ 100
See full ranking →
Compare this career
Salary progression

What you'll earn over your career

$78k
$125k
$175k
Entry
Mid-career
Senior
10-yr outlook
+6%
+6% (Faster than avg)
Open positions
5,800
Estimated nationwide
Entry paths

How to get here

Multiple paths lead to this career. Compare time, cost, online vs in-person delivery, and program links.

Fastest ROI
Degree In Person
BS Aerospace / Mechanical Engineering
Time
4 years
Cost
$40,000 – $200,000
Top programs
Georgia Tech AEIn PersonMIT AeroAstroIn PersonPurdue AeroIn PersonEmbry-Riddle EngineeringIn Person
ABET-accredited program required for PE licensure.
Affiliate disclosure: Some of the program links above may be affiliate partnerships. If you enroll, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only link to programs we have actually reviewed against our methodology. See our methodology for how we evaluate schools.
Attainability breakdown

What are the odds
you actually get there?

Six factors weighted to estimate the realistic probability a motivated person reaches this outcome. Higher = more attainable.

66
Composite
Attainability Score
Editorial estimate
Editorial estimate — based on best-available qualitative info. We're upgrading individual factors to published statistics where available.
  • Educational difficulty
    How hard the required schooling is to complete
    45
    20%
  • Licensing & exams
    Pass rates and difficulty of required exams
    100
    15%
  • Entry-job competition
    How many applicants per open entry-level role
    60
    20%
  • Career stay-rate
    Inverse of early-career attrition / industry exit
    75
    15%
  • Market demand
    Openings vs available workforce
    75
    15%
  • Alternative paths
    How many viable ways exist to enter the field
    50
    15%
Recommended schools

Schools known for this path

Verified high-ROI programs aligned with Aerospace Engineer. Direct, transparent links to each school's official program page. See the full ROI shortlist →

Georgia Tech
On-campus, elite public R1
Tuition
$10,512 in-state / $33,596 out
Elite engineering brand. In-state ROI is exceptional.
Programs for Aerospace Engineer
Cost vs. Salary
Estimated cost
4 yrs × $10.5K (in-state); out-of-state ~$134K
Total cost
$42,000
Starting pay
$85,000
Aerospace Engineer
Break-even
10 mo
Time for surplus earnings (above $35,000 living costs) to pay tuition back.
10-yr net (median pay)
+$1,265,200
Salary data: BLS Occupational Outlook. Living-cost floor ($35K) is a national approximation. Your numbers will vary by state, employer, and aid.
Share this break-even
CC → State U
Hybrid: 2 years CC + 2 years 4-year transfer
Tuition
~$4,000/yr at CC + state tuition
The lowest-debt path for most 18-year-olds.
Programs for Aerospace Engineer
  • Engineering technology transfer
Cost vs. Salary
Estimated cost
2 yrs CC (~$8K) + 2 yrs in-state univ (~$17K)
Total cost
$25,000
Starting pay
$85,000
Aerospace Engineer
Break-even
6 mo
Time for surplus earnings (above $35,000 living costs) to pay tuition back.
10-yr net (median pay)
+$1,282,200
Salary data: BLS Occupational Outlook. Living-cost floor ($35K) is a national approximation. Your numbers will vary by state, employer, and aid.
Share this break-even
Quick math

If you took the fastest path…

You'd train for
4 years
You'd spend (avg)
$120,000
Starting salary
$78,000
Mid-career
$125,000
Read more

Articles & resources

Aerospace Engineers – BLS
BLS
Sources: BLS OOH 2024 · AIAA

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