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Growing Federal Jobs: Aerospace

Hundreds of government-funded American companies, along with NASA and other federal agencies, are in serious need of quality Aerospace and Defense Sector workers. Government aerospace workers often work collaboratively with major sectors of the aerospace industry, including commercial air, space exploration, national defense, and research and development.

U.S. aerospace employment currently totals over a million professionals working in good-paying jobs. With about a quarter of all current aerospace workers reaching retirement age in the next few years, there will be many new high wage career opportunities.

In Demand Occupations

Industrial Engineers
Projected Salary: $68,000
Employees Needed: 89,000
Projected Growth: 18% – 26%
Average Education Level: College or Higher
Who’s Hiring: Air Force, Army, Navy

Logisticians
Projected Salary: $67,000
Employees Needed: 27,000
Projected Growth: 9% – 17%
Average Education Level: Some College or Higher
Who’s Hiring: Air Force, NASA, Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
Projected Salary: $52,000
Employees Needed: 33,000
Projected Growth: 9% – 17%
Average Education Level: College or Higher
Who’s Hiring: Air Force, Air National Guard NASA

Aerospace Engineers
Projected Salary: $80,000
Employees Needed: 27,000
Projected Growth: 9% – 17%
Average Education Level: College or Higher
Who’s Hiring: Army, Air Force, Department of Transportation, Department of Treasury

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians
Projected Salary: $43,000
Employees Needed: 25,000
Projected Growth: 9% – 17%
Average Education Level: Some College or Higher
Who’s Hiring: Air Force

How to Prepare

In order to work with the complex, high-tech equipment, such as that found in the aerospace industry, participation in a formal training program is required. Community colleges and 4-year universities often provide such advanced manufacturing training programs. While some jobs may require short training programs of only a few days or weeks, other jobs require a two-year Associates Degree or even a four-year Bachelor’s Degree. These programs may focus on engineering, electrical and mechanical systems, hydraulics, pneumatics, or other technologies, depending on the specific program.

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Information Compiled from CareerVoyages.gov and 2006-16 BLS Projections.