Also called: Aerospace Engineering Technicians
Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians build quality control analysis, operations monitoring and complex problem solving skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is Avionics Technicians (87%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Avionics Technicians | 87% | $82,280 | −1% | None |
| 2 | Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment | 84% | $74,090 | −11% | None |
| 3 | Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians | 80% | $79,870 | −4% | None |
| 4 | Aviation Inspectors | 78% | $92,100Pay for the broader BLS group “Transportation Inspectors” | Not compared | None |
| 5 | Nuclear Technicians | 75% | $110,240 | +33% | None |
| 6 | Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay | 73% | $103,020 | +24% | None |
| 7 | Gas Plant Operators | 73% | $87,820 | +6% | None |
| 8 | Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | 72% | $78,620 | −5% | None |
| 9 | Robotics Engineers | 72% | $122,930Pay for the broader BLS group “Engineers, All Other” | Not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment | 72% | $84,890 | +2% | None |
Compared with Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians, median $82,890. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in work as aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
87% skill match · $82,280 · −1% pay
Equipment Maintenance · Repairing · Installation
84% skill match · $74,090 · −11% pay
Repairing · Equipment Maintenance · Installation
80% skill match · $79,870 · −4% pay
Equipment Maintenance · Repairing · Troubleshooting
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Avionics Technicians (87% skill match, median $82,280), Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment (84% skill match, median $74,090) and Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians (80% skill match, median $79,870), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
Among the 25 matches, 11 pay more than aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians at the median. The biggest increases: Electronics Engineers, Except Computer (+57%, $130,220), Nuclear Power Reactor Operators (+48%, $122,890) and Marine Engineers and Naval Architects (+35%, $112,230).
20 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones.
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.