Education

You can find both bachelor's and master's degree programs in aerospace engineering. Associate's degree programs are also available in aerospace or aeronautical engineering technology, but these are usually designed to prepare you for a bachelor's degree program. A bachelor's degree is necessary for most entry-level engineering and technician positions, while a graduate degree is needed for managerial or consulting jobs. Coursework that you can expect to take during an aerospace program includes physics, thermodynamics, flight dynamics, propulsion, and aerodynamics.

Career Opportunities

There are two major careers in the aerospace design. The first is as an aerospace engineering technician. These workers help clean, maintain, and test aircraft materials and equipment. You might use wind tunnels to actively test aerospace devices or use computer equipment to create simulations that test new designs in a safe environment. After a test is performed, you'll need to report the results to the engineers above you.

A more advanced career choice is to become an aerospace engineer. These workers oversee and manage aerospace engineering and operations technicians. As an engineer, you would carry out the more complicated designs for aircraft, missiles, and spacecraft. Typically, you'll work on one particular project for an extended period of time before taking on a new one. Specializations are possible in this career and usually allow you to focus on producing specific machines like jets, spacecraft, or commercial aircraft.

Aerospace engineering jobs in India

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the employment of aerospace engineering and operations technicians was projected to grow 4% from 2014-2024, slower than the national average, due to advances in computer simulations that have made some technician jobs unnecessary (www.bls.gov). Aerospace engineering technicians made a median yearly salary of $63,780 in 2014, per the BLS.

Aerospace engineer jobs were expected to experience a two percent decline from 2014-2024, which was clearly below the predicted average for other job sectors. The BLS reported that these types of engineers will remain in demand since new flight technologies are constantly evolving. The median annual salary for aerospace engineers was $105,380 as of May 2014.

To continue researching, browse degree options below for course curriculum, prerequisites, and financial aid information. Or, learn more about the subject by reading the related articles below