Aerospace Engineers
SOC Code: 17-2011 Job Zone 4: Considerable Preparation Needed
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.
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Prevailing Wage Levels (National)
DOL/OFLC prevailing wage thresholds for Aerospace Engineers. Hourly rates x 2,080 = annual.
FY2027 Weighted Lottery Impact
| Level | Lottery Entries | Est. Selection Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 1 entry | ~16% |
| Level II (Qualified) | 2 entries | ~31% |
| Level III (Experienced) | 3 entries | ~45% |
| Level IV (Expert) | 4 entries | ~61% |
Prevailing Wages by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE-IA | $154,128 | $167,253 | $180,357 | $193,482 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $104,499 | $133,307 | $162,115 | $190,923 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $111,322 | $137,758 | $164,174 | $190,611 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $117,146 | $141,398 | $165,630 | $189,883 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $111,342 | $137,280 | $163,218 | $189,155 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $108,202 | $134,909 | $161,595 | $188,302 |
| Lincoln, NE | $126,693 | $147,202 | $167,731 | $188,240 |
| South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $126,194 | $146,848 | $167,502 | $188,157 |
| Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $126,194 | $146,848 | $167,502 | $188,157 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $117,374 | $140,837 | $164,320 | $187,782 |
H-1B Filing Data
Top H-1B Employers
| Employer | Filings | Avg Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Hi-Tek Professionals, Inc. | 6 | $141,322 |
| University of Michigan | 2 | $78,589 |
| CTS Technical Services, Inc. | 1 | $105,123 |
| AgustaWestland Philadelphia Corporation | 1 | $165,000 |
| Precision Personnel, Inc. | 1 | $145,600 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University | 1 | $72,000 |
| Air Wisconsin Airlines LLC | 1 | $63,965 |
Filing Trend
| Year | Filings | Avg Wage |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2 | $109,762 |
| 2022 | 1 | $143,520 |
| 2023 | 1 | $72,000 |
| 2024 | 7 | $122,995 |
| 2025 | 2 | $130,395 |
Key Skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 4.1 | |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 | |
| Science | 4.0 | |
| Operations Analysis | 3.9 | |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.9 | |
| Mathematics | 3.9 | |
| Speaking | 3.9 | |
| Active Listening | 3.9 | |
| Writing | 3.9 | |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.8 |
Knowledge Areas
| Knowledge | Importance |
|---|---|
| Engineering and Technology | 4.8 |
| Mathematics | 4.2 |
| Design | 4.1 |
| Physics | 4.0 |
| Computers and Electronics | 3.9 |
| English Language | 3.8 |
| Mechanical | 3.4 |
| Production and Processing | 3.3 |
Education Requirements
| Education Level | % of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree | 59.0% |
| Doctoral degree | 33.3% |
| Associate's degree | 7.6% |
Typical Tasks
- Direct or coordinate activities of engineering or technical personnel involved in designing, fabricating, modifying, or testing of aircraft or aerospace products.
- Plan or conduct experimental, environmental, operational, or stress tests on models or prototypes of aircraft or aerospace systems or equipment.
- Formulate mathematical models or other methods of computer analysis to develop, evaluate, or modify design, according to customer engineering requirements.
- Write technical reports or other documentation, such as handbooks or bulletins, for use by engineering staff, management, or customers.
- Analyze project requests, proposals, or engineering data to determine feasibility, productibility, cost, or production time of aerospace or aeronautical products.
- Plan or coordinate investigation and resolution of customers' reports of technical problems with aircraft or aerospace vehicles.
- Maintain records of performance reports for future reference.
- Formulate conceptual design of aeronautical or aerospace products or systems to meet customer requirements or conform to environmental regulations.
Technology Skills
Green = Hot Technology in demand
Autodesk AutoCAD C C# C++ Dassault Systemes SolidWorks Extensible markup language XML Linux Microsoft Access Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Project Microsoft Visio Microsoft Visual Basic
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