Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians salary by state
Long-term incentive is not shown for this role. Equity awards are only disclosed publicly for the named executive officers of public companies, so no market figure exists for most jobs. See executive pay disclosures.
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About this role
Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians is a professional role within the function in the Architecture and Engineering job family.
Typical entry preparation: Post-Secondary Certificate and up to 1 year of related work experience, per O*NET occupational data. Advancement typically requires additional years in role.
What Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicianss do
Typical education: Post-Secondary Certificate
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.
Top skills:Critical ThinkingReading ComprehensionQuality Control AnalysisOperations MonitoringSpeakingActive Listening
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians pay by experience level
Entry level$61,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$70,000
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$86,000
Mid-career median pay
Senior$115,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$129,500
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+8.1%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
900
projected openings per year
Growing faster than average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians salary by industry
Transportation Equipment Manufacturing
5,100 workers
$99,000
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing
5,090 workers
$99,000
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
4,030 workers
$87,000
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services
1,900 workers
$85,000
Scientific Research and Development Services
1,350 workers
$92,000
Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing
1,050 workers
$86,000
Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing
810 workers
$90,000
Computer Systems Design and Related Services
670 workers
$84,000
Educational Services
440 workers
$119,500
Educational Services, State Government Owned
250 workers
$151,000
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
Pay trend
National median annual wage, 2020 to 2025: $68,570 to $82,890.
+20.9% over this period
Medians as published each May in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics national estimates. Nominal dollars, not adjusted for inflation. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS.
Pay by experience level
How annual pay for this occupation spreads from newcomers to the highest paid, aged to 2026.
Entry10th percentile
$61,000
Early career25th percentile
$70,000
Median50th percentile
$86,000
Experienced75th percentile
$115,000
Top earners90th percentile
$129,500
Bands are the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages for this occupation nationally. Percentiles reflect the full mix of tenure, employer, and location, so they approximate but do not equal years of experience. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS national estimates.
Where this job pays most
Top-paying states for this occupation, average annual wage aged to 2026.
State averages for this occupation from the BLS OEWS state estimates. Cost of living differs by state; a higher wage does not always mean more buying power.
The abilities employers and analysts most associate with this occupation.
Critical ThinkingReading ComprehensionQuality Control AnalysisOperations MonitoringSpeakingActive Listening
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, O*NET occupational database.
Typical duties and FLSA status
Core duties
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.
FLSA classification (typical)
Typically Exempt · Professional, Administrative, or Executive exemption
Occupations in this SOC group are typically classified as Exempt when paid above the salary threshold, provided they satisfy the duties test for one of the FLSA exemption categories. Actual classification depends on the specific job duties, salary basis, and any applicable state or local rules. The current federal salary threshold for exemption is $684 per week ($35,568 per year), per the 2020 Department of Labor rule; the 2024 rule that would have raised the threshold was struck down by federal court in November 2024.
Pay outlook
Five-year pay outlook for this title
2026$94,500
2027$98,000
2028$101,000
2029$105,000
2030$108,500
2031$112,000
Projection assumes market wages keep rising about 3.5% a year, consistent with recent wage growth measured by the BLS Employment Cost Index. It reflects market movement for the title, not individual raises or promotions, which vary.
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Sources and assumptions
Modeled market estimate, aged to 2026. Underlying source families are BLS OEWS May 2025 for BLS-mapped occupations and the 2018–19 collection for corporate titles. Annual aging is compounded at approximately 3–4%; geographic, industry and company-size repricing are modeled. See the role details and methodology for the applicable source and assumptions.
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How much does a Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians make?
The median market pay for a Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians in the United States is about $94,500 per year in 2026, based on WePayFairly's market model.
What is the salary range for a Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians?
Most Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians pay falls between about $70,000 (25th percentile) and $115,000 (75th percentile), with top earners above $129,500.
What does a Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians do?
Core responsibilities include: test aircraft systems under simulated operational conditions, performing systems readiness tests and pre- and post-operational checkouts, to establish design or fabrication parameters; and identify required data, data acquisition plans, and test parameters, setting up equipment to conform to these specifications.
Is pay for Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians roles growing?
Yes. The national median wage for this occupation moved from $68,570 in 2020 to $82,890 in 2025, a change of +20.9% in nominal dollars.
How this role compares
Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians pays 13% below the average across 59 roles in the Architecture and Engineering job family (family average $108,000).
Similar-paying roles in Architecture and Engineering
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians make?
The average base salary for a Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians in the United States is $94,500 per year, or about $45.43 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $70,000 and $115,000 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Architecture and Engineering roles?
The Architecture and Engineering job family averages $108,000 across 59 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role? WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
Need Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.
