Aerospace Engineers

AUTOMATION RISK
CALCULATED
19%
risk level
POLLING
24%
Based on 806 votes
LABOR DEMAND
GROWTH
6.3%
by year 2032
WAGES
$126,880
or $61.00 per hour
Volume
61,580
as of 2022
SUMMARY
JOB SCORE
7.7/10

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Automation risk

19% (Minimal Risk)

Minimal Risk (0-20%): Occupations in this category have a low probability of being automated, as they typically demand complex problem-solving, creativity, strong interpersonal skills, and a high degree of manual dexterity. These jobs often involve intricate hand movements and precise coordination, making it difficult for machines to replicate the required tasks.

More information on what this score is, and how it is calculated is available here.

Some quite important qualities of the job are difficult to automate:

  • Originality

  • Persuasion

  • Negotiation

  • Social Perceptiveness

User poll

24% chance of full automation within the next two decades

Our visitors have voted there's a low chance this occupation will be automated. This assessment is further supported by the calculated automation risk level, which estimates 19% chance of automation.

What do you think the risk of automation is?

What is the likelihood that Aerospace Engineers will be replaced by robots or artificial intelligence within the next 20 years?






Sentiment

The following graph(s) are included wherever there is a substantial amount of votes to render meaningful data. These visual representations display user poll results over time, providing a significant indication of sentiment trends.

Sentiment over time (yearly)

Growth

Fast growth relative to other professions

The number of 'Aerospace Engineers' job openings is expected to rise 6.3% by 2032

Total employment, and estimated job openings

* Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the period between 2021 and 2031
Updated projections are due 09-2023.

Wages

Very high paid relative to other professions

In 2022, the median annual wage for 'Aerospace Engineers' was $126,880, or $60 per hour

'Aerospace Engineers' were paid 174.0% higher than the national median wage, which stood at $46,310

Wages over time

* Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Volume

Moderate range of job opportunities compared to other professions

As of 2022 there were 61,580 people employed as 'Aerospace Engineers' within the United States.

This represents around < 0.001% of the employed workforce across the country

Put another way, around 1 in 2 thousand people are employed as 'Aerospace Engineers'.

Job description

Perform engineering duties in designing, constructing, and testing aircraft, missiles, and spacecraft. May conduct basic and applied research to evaluate adaptability of materials and equipment to aircraft design and manufacture. May recommend improvements in testing equipment and techniques.

SOC Code: 17-2011.00

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Comments

Leave a comment

Nirmal Teja (No chance) says
It's almost impossible to any type of artificial intelligence to think out of the box as a human thoughts go there is no limit to human creativity but the artificial intelligence is limited even after decades..
Mar 30, 2024 at 05:05 PM
James (No chance) says
Needs innovation and creativity
Jun 25, 2023 at 10:03 AM
Aero (Low) says
Required novel application of physics
Jun 12, 2023 at 09:57 PM
L.M. (No chance) says
the risk of even a slight failure could prevent an ai that could replace this job from ever leaving development
Apr 15, 2023 at 06:46 PM
duck (Uncertain) says
Engineering is a difficult job and with the precision of present machines, they could make things more accurate than human hands. The only downside is a machine/robot can't make full decisions, Humans are able to go through options and choose the best one based on circumstance. Robots can't do that... yet
Apr 10, 2023 at 06:38 PM
Kauã (No chance) says
No way people trust building ROCKETS to A.I.S
Mar 17, 2023 at 04:55 AM
Sawle (Uncertain) says
It really depends on how we see it, if we as engineers use AI to our advantage and adapt it's positives we can easily stay in the field, but if we step aside then you know what will happen eventually.
World now is not waiting for us to improve it WILL improve.
Feb 23, 2023 at 01:47 PM
BibirMengkeroet (Low) says
Applying for a position as an Aerospace Engineer is already challenging. It's also a job where, if something goes wrong even in the slightest, the financial losses could be enormous.

Take a look at the 2013 Proton rocket crash. It occurred because the engineer installed the rotation sensors upside down, causing it to plummet to the ground. Such a small mistake resulted in $65 million dollars in losses.

However, it could be possible that AI will create more efficient propulsion designs in the future.
Sep 13, 2022 at 02:35 PM
A (Moderate) says
Because we could use robots to design and build the aircraft and do the calculations for us.
Aug 03, 2022 at 08:07 PM
Rick says
Robots currently lack the creative ability and proccessing power to do complex designing, so as of the near future its not likely it will be taken over.
Sep 24, 2023 at 03:43 AM
Saltine (Uncertain) says
Some aspects like assembly could be covered by robots but idk if the design and testing process can
May 10, 2022 at 03:57 AM
Bret (Low) says
It's a complex job. Many constraints need to be accounted for. A computer just may not be as good at it.
Jul 28, 2021 at 02:53 AM
N (Small Chance) says
I personally do not believe that rocket scientists/aerospace engineers will be overthrown by AI/robots because it requires complex math, complex designing, and building. I do understand that AI will improve over the years, but I don't see robots doing a job like this. Though I do see them helping around. This scares me as they could probably move up a position.
May 28, 2021 at 02:17 PM
G (No chance) says
This job designs vehicles that are specifically made for aeronautical and astronautical transportation. It is a highly creative job that requires thinking outside the box.
May 23, 2021 at 07:53 PM
Nicolas (No chance) says
aerospace engineering is an area that needs innovation and creativity, always discovering new things and not always doing the same task, testing new materials and things that have never been used are constant tasks, etc.
Apr 29, 2021 at 10:06 PM
Apoorva says
As it is a very risk taking job, the one working in this sector has to have a clear mindset of what is right and what is wrong. Whereas robots take decisions according to the way they are programmed. Adding to this, robots are machines so even if they can impress yet they cannot express. Flying or operating a spacecraft or a missile or a rover needs some emotional attachments with hard work, dedication and dreams. Just completing a task within a short span of time won't give happiness 🙂
Apr 13, 2021 at 04:55 AM
katie says
Clever minds. Aerospace engineers need to come up with clever solutions, which robots cannot (at least with today foreseen technology). Think about all different trade studies which were sometimes counter intuitive and required completely surprising and innovative solutions. This would drive robots crazy, right?

Teamwork. Aerospace engineers are required to help each other during product creations, which robots can not do properly. Either you guided someone younger, or you gave a hand on CAD or FEA software tips to a bloke close to retirement. Most of the time you did not care if this person is different skin colour, religion, gender or beliefs. Well this pays off in the end.

No tight space requirement. Unless you are working in a design or manufacturing sweat shop, aerospace engineers do not require squeezing into small spaces which is strong point of robotics.

Negotiation. Aerospace design requires negotiation skills, robots cannot do this properly. Think about all interface and supplier and customer meetings you have ever been to. Or even meetings with different functions like manufacturing and maybe stress analysis.
Jan 04, 2021 at 05:02 PM
Cody T. (Low) says
I just don't think it is realistic to replace this job within the next 20 years. It seems it take at least a little longer, as this job requires extremely difficult math, and hands on experience engineering. It also requires the capable human mind. Therefore it is unlikely that this job is replaced soon.
Sep 09, 2020 at 07:27 PM
Julien says
The occupation will not be replaced any time soon because it requires critical and creative thinking, which AI or robots do not possess currently.
Sep 09, 2020 at 06:44 PM
Julien (Low) says
Aerospace Engineers will not be replaced any time soon because robots and AI are not technologically advanced yet.
Sep 09, 2020 at 06:41 PM
Bobby (Low) says
I know this can be said about most jobs, but I think Artificial Intelligence will be used as a tool instead of a replacement.
Apr 26, 2020 at 07:17 PM

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