Jobs Similar to Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians
Also called: Aerospace Engineering Technicians
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Automotive Engineering Technicians, Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians and Photonics Technicians.
Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians: $82,890 median pay · usual preparation: Training or associate.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Automotive Engineering TechniciansSame group | 80% | $74,510Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 2 | Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansSame group | 79% | $74,510−10% | Training or associate |
| 3 | Photonics TechniciansSame group | 78% | $78,350Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 4 | Non-Destructive Testing SpecialistsSame group | 78% | $78,350Broader BLS group · not compared | High school |
| 5 | Aviation Inspectors | 78% | $92,100Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 6 | Avionics Technicians | 77% | $82,280−1% | Training or associate |
| 7 | Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment | 77% | $74,090−11% | Training or associate |
| 8 | Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 76% | $47,180−43% | High school |
| 9 | Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and TechniciansSame group | 76% | $66,120Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Gas Plant Operators | 76% | $87,820+6% | High school |
| 11 | Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators | 76% | $50,690−39% | High school |
| 12 | Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and TechniciansSame group | 76% | $73,900−11% | Training or associate |
| 13 | Nuclear Technicians | 75% | $110,240+33% | Training or associate |
| 14 | Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | 75% | $48,570−41% | High school |
| 15 | Chemical Technicians | 75% | $60,390−27% | Training or associate |
| 16 | Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 75% | $49,080−41% | High school |
| 17 | Chemical Plant and System Operators | 75% | $78,120−6% | High school |
| 18 | Quality Control Analysts | 74% | $62,280Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 19 | Robotics TechniciansSame group | 74% | $73,900Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 20 | Machinists | 74% | $58,750−29% | Training or associate |
- 1Automotive Engineering Technicians
80% similar · $74,510 (broader group) · Training or associate · Same group
- 2Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians
79% similar · $74,510 (−10%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 3Photonics Technicians
78% similar · $78,350 (broader group) · Training or associate · Same group
- 4Non-Destructive Testing Specialists
78% similar · $78,350 (broader group) · High school · Same group
- 5Aviation Inspectors
78% similar · $92,100 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 6Avionics Technicians
77% similar · $82,280 (−1%) · Training or associate
- 7Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment
77% similar · $74,090 (−11%) · Training or associate
- 8Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
76% similar · $47,180 (−43%) · High school
- 9Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and Technicians
76% similar · $66,120 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 10Gas Plant Operators
76% similar · $87,820 (+6%) · High school
- 11Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators
76% similar · $50,690 (−39%) · High school
- 12Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians
76% similar · $73,900 (−11%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 13Nuclear Technicians
75% similar · $110,240 (+33%) · Training or associate
- 14Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
75% similar · $48,570 (−41%) · High school
- 15Chemical Technicians
75% similar · $60,390 (−27%) · Training or associate
- 16Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
75% similar · $49,080 (−41%) · High school
- 17Chemical Plant and System Operators
75% similar · $78,120 (−6%) · High school
- 18Quality Control Analysts
74% similar · $62,280 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 19Robotics Technicians
74% similar · $73,900 (broader group) · Training or associate · Same group
- 20Machinists
74% similar · $58,750 (−29%) · Training or associate
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians.
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Non-Destructive Testing Specialists78% similar · High school
- Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic76% similar · High school
- Gas Plant Operators76% similar · High school
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators76% similar · High school
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers75% similar · High school
- Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic75% similar · High school
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs for former aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians →
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Aviation Inspectors (88)
- Avionics Technicians (87)
- Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment (87)
- Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians (83)
- Medical Equipment Repairers (81)
- Chemical Technicians (79)
- Quality Control Analysts (78)
- Broadcast Technicians (74)
- Robotics Engineers (74)
- Nuclear Technicians (73)
Questions about jobs like aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians
What jobs are most similar to aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Automotive Engineering Technicians (80% similar), Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians (79% similar), Photonics Technicians (78% similar), Non-Destructive Testing Specialists (78% similar) and Aviation Inspectors (78% similar).
Which jobs like aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Nuclear Technicians ($110,240, +33%; usually training or an associate degree) and Gas Plant Operators ($87,820, +6%; usually a high school diploma) have the highest BLS median pay compared with aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians ($82,890). Without more preparation than aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians usually need: Nuclear Technicians and Gas Plant Operators.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.