Jobs Similar to Aerospace Engineers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to aerospace engineers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Materials Engineers, Automotive Engineers and Chemical Engineers.
Aerospace Engineers: $134,960 median pay · usual preparation: Bachelor's degree.
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 Engineers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Materials EngineersSame group | 84% | $112,860−16% | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Automotive EngineersSame group | 84% | $104,110Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Chemical EngineersSame group | 84% | $125,040−7% | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Mechanical EngineersSame group | 83% | $104,110−23% | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Wind Energy EngineersSame group | 82% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Mechanical Drafters | 82% | $71,550−47% | Training or associate |
| 7 | Materials Scientists | 82% | $117,790−13% | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Mechatronics EngineersSame group | 82% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Nuclear EngineersSame group | 81% | $133,970−1% | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Electrical EngineersSame group | 81% | $120,630−11% | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Validation EngineersSame group | 81% | $102,440Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | Microsystems EngineersSame group | 80% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 13 | Industrial EngineersSame group | 80% | $102,440−24% | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Energy Engineers, Except Wind and SolarSame group | 80% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 15 | Nanosystems EngineersSame group | 79% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 16 | Water/Wastewater EngineersSame group | 79% | $100,840Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 17 | Fire-Prevention and Protection EngineersSame group | 79% | $115,160Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 78% | $66,120−51% | Training or associate |
| 19 | Agricultural EngineersSame group | 78% | $98,590−27% | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Solar Energy Systems EngineersSame group | 78% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Materials Engineers
84% similar · $112,860 (−16%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 2Automotive Engineers
84% similar · $104,110 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 3Chemical Engineers
84% similar · $125,040 (−7%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 4Mechanical Engineers
83% similar · $104,110 (−23%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 5Wind Energy Engineers
82% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 6Mechanical Drafters
82% similar · $71,550 (−47%) · Training or associate
- 7Materials Scientists
82% similar · $117,790 (−13%) · Bachelor's degree
- 8Mechatronics Engineers
82% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 9Nuclear Engineers
81% similar · $133,970 (−1%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 10Electrical Engineers
81% similar · $120,630 (−11%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 11Validation Engineers
81% similar · $102,440 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 12Microsystems Engineers
80% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 13Industrial Engineers
80% similar · $102,440 (−24%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 14Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar
80% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 15Nanosystems Engineers
79% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 16Water/Wastewater Engineers
79% similar · $100,840 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 17Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers
79% similar · $115,160 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 18Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians
78% similar · $66,120 (−51%) · Training or associate
- 19Agricultural Engineers
78% similar · $98,590 (−27%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 20Solar Energy Systems Engineers
78% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
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 need less preparation
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for aerospace engineers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where aerospace engineers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Materials Scientists (82)
- Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists (80)
- Mechanical Drafters (77)
- Commercial and Industrial Designers (75)
- Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians (73)
- Blockchain Engineers (72)
- Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians (72)
- Electrical and Electronics Drafters (72)
- Remote Sensing Technicians (72)
- Computer and Information Research Scientists (71)
Questions about jobs like aerospace engineers
What jobs are most similar to aerospace engineers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Materials Engineers (84% similar), Automotive Engineers (84% similar), Chemical Engineers (84% similar), Mechanical Engineers (83% similar) and Wind Energy Engineers (82% similar).
Do jobs like aerospace engineers pay more?
None of the 20 most similar careers has a higher BLS median pay than aerospace engineers where a direct comparison is possible.
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.