Career comparison
Aerospace Engineer vs. Aerospace Engineering Technician
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Aerospace engineers earn more at the median ($134,960 vs. $82,890), while aerospace engineering technicians usually get to work faster (2-year degree of training). Aerospace engineers design aircraft, spacecraft, satellites and missiles. Aerospace engineering technicians build, test and maintain aircraft and spacecraft systems alongside engineers.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Aerospace Engineer | Aerospace Engineering Technician | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $134,960 ($64.89/hr) | $82,890 ($39.85/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $86,700 – $205,890 | $59,050 – $125,160 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +8.3% (much faster than average) | +11.9% (much faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 3,800 | 1,100 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Associate's degree |
| Training time | 4-year engineering degree | 2-year degree |
| Key credential | PE license | NASA workmanship standards |
| Work setting | Aerospace engineers work in offices, labs, test sites and factories.. | Technicians work in labs, test cells, hangars and launch sites.. |
What each job does
Aerospace Engineer
- Design aircraft and spacecraft
- Run simulations
- Analyze stresses
- Test prototypes
- Work with manufacturing
Aerospace Engineering Technician
- Build test setups
- Install sensors
- Run tests
- Record data
- Maintain test equipment
How they’re similar
Both careers involve high-pay, problem-solving, in-demand, and teamwork. Both are part of the science, engineering & lab field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose aerospace engineer if…
- I love planes and rockets
- I like physics and math
- I like testing
Choose aerospace engineering technician if…
- I love aerospace
- I like hands-on testing
- I’m detail-oriented
Still torn? Take the Aerospace Engineer fit quiz and the Aerospace Engineering Technician fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, aerospace engineer or aerospace engineering technician?
Aerospace Engineers earn more at the median: $134,960 versus $82,890 for aerospace engineering technicians, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Aerospace Engineering Technicians typically train faster (2-year degree) than aerospace engineers (4-year engineering degree).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects aerospace engineering technicians to grow +11.9% from 2025–35, compared with +8.3% for aerospace engineers.