Career comparison
Aerospace Engineer vs. Mechanical Engineer
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. $104,110), while aerospace engineers usually get to work faster (4-year engineering degree of training). Aerospace engineers design aircraft, spacecraft, satellites and missiles. Mechanical engineers design machines, engines, tools and products that move and work.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Aerospace Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $134,960 ($64.89/hr) | $104,110 ($50.05/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $86,700 – $205,890 | $73,990 – $164,340 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +8.3% (much faster than average) | +11.2% (much faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 3,800 | 17,800 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 4-year engineering degree | 4 years |
| Key credential | PE license | Engineer in Training (EIT) |
| Work setting | Aerospace engineers work in offices, labs, test sites and factories.. | Mechanical engineers work in offices, labs and plants.. |
What each job does
Aerospace Engineer
- Design aircraft and spacecraft
- Run simulations
- Analyze stresses
- Test prototypes
- Work with manufacturing
Mechanical Engineer
- Design mechanical systems and products
- Create CAD models
- Analyze stress, heat and fluids
- Build and test prototypes
- Develop manufacturing processes
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 mechanical engineer if…
- I love how machines work
- I enjoy math and physics
- I like designing products
Still torn? Take the Aerospace Engineer fit quiz and the Mechanical Engineer fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, aerospace engineer or mechanical engineer?
Aerospace Engineers earn more at the median: $134,960 versus $104,110 for mechanical engineers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Aerospace Engineers typically train faster (4-year engineering degree) than mechanical engineers (4 years).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects mechanical engineers to grow +11.2% from 2025–35, compared with +8.3% for aerospace engineers.