Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians
Operate, install, adjust, and maintain integrated computer/communications systems, consoles, simulators, and other data acquisition, test, and measurement instruments and equipment, which are used to launch, track, position, and evaluate air and space vehicles. May record and interpret test data.
Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians operate, install, adjust, and maintain integrated computer/communications systems, consoles, simulators, and other data acquisition, test, and measurement instruments and equipment, which are used to launch, track, position, and evaluate air and space vehicles. The role reports a median annual salary of $79,830 in the US and is projected to grow 8% over the next decade (faster than average). Entry typically requires a Associate's degree, and shows moderate AI exposure (0.49 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Quality Control Analysis, Operations Monitoring, Active Listening.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £44,843 a year for Engineering technicians (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
Middle half of full-time jobs: £35,086 to £55,963 a year
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 3113). ONS rates this estimate precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Technicians and associate professionals” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 3. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Mechanical
- Engineering and Technology
- Mathematics
- Production and Processing
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Administrative
- Physics
What you'd actually do
- Test aircraft systems under simulated operational conditions, performing systems readiness tests and pre- and post-operational checkouts, to establish design or fabrication parameters.
- Identify required data, data acquisition plans, and test parameters, setting up equipment to conform to these specifications.
- Inspect, diagnose, maintain, and operate test setups and equipment to detect malfunctions.
- Confer with engineering personnel regarding details and implications of test procedures and results.
- Operate and calibrate computer systems and devices to comply with test requirements and to perform data acquisition and analysis.
- Record and interpret test data on parts, assemblies, and mechanisms.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians do?
Operate, install, adjust, and maintain integrated computer/communications systems, consoles, simulators, and other data acquisition, test, and measurement instruments and equipment, which are used to launch, track, position, and evaluate air and space vehicles. May record and interpret test data.
How much does Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians earn?
The median annual salary for Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians in the US is $79,830.
What is the job outlook for Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians?
The role is projected to grow 8% over the next decade (faster than average). Current US employment is approximately 9,300 workers.
How do I become aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians?
The typical entry education is a Associate's degree. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Quality Control Analysis, Operations Monitoring, Active Listening, Speaking. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians?
Our AI-durability model gives Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians a score of 0.49 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians has moderate barrier to entry — moderately gated — a bachelor's degree or equivalent training is typically required.