Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Median Salary
$79,830
~$38/hr · ~$6,653/mo
US Jobs
9K
Much faster than average
AI & Automation Risk
5/10
Moderate
AI & Automation Risk
Moderate 5/10
This occupation involves a significant amount of physical labor, such as building test facilities, installing instruments, and maintaining hardware, which provides a buffer against AI automation. However, the role also includes substantial digital tasks like recording data, running computer simulations, and calibrating systems—areas where AI is rapidly improving and can significantly enhance productivity or automate data analysis.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, COBEST VALUE | $131,540 | Above avg (105.8) | $124,367 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $98,770 | Average (98.3) | $100,492 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $100,930 | Average (102.5) | $98,478 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $110,120 | Above avg (112.7) | $97,684 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $93,010 | Average (98.3) | $94,642 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $103,200 | Above avg (113.1) | $91,280 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $93,010 | Above avg (103.2) | $90,140 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $97,580 | Above avg (109.5) | $89,079 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $87,550 | Average (99.7) | $87,784 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $98,640 | Above avg (113.7) | $86,734 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $85,520 | Average (99.6) | $85,825 |
| Wichita, KS | $76,130 | Below avg (89.4) | $85,137 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $96,370 | Above avg (114.7) | $83,983 |
| Ogden, UT | $78,730 | Below avg (96.1) | $81,900 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $79,410 | Average (97.1) | $81,744 |
Cost of Living Index: 100 = US national average. Below 100 = cheaper. Above 100 = more expensive.
Education & Requirements
Education Required
Associate's degree
10-Year Growth
+8% (Much faster than average)
Hourly Rate
~$38/hr
Monthly Income
~$6,653/mo
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Search Jobs →Data: Bureau of Labor Statistics OOH (2024)