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Sector

Careers in Aerospace & Aviation Manufacturing

Aerospace and aviation manufacturing builds aircraft, spacecraft, and related components. Higher concentration at large employers (12.7% at 250+) than most manufacturing, with union presence (8.5%) and mostly on-site work.

548K
U.S. jobs
In this sector
$78K
Median salary
Across all roles
Aerospace & Aviation Manufacturing jobs by metro area
Bubble size = total employment
Aerospace & Aviation Manufacturing employment by metro ยท ~393 areas
1.Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA8K
2.New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ7K
3.Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX6K
4.Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA6K
5.Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN5K

Jobs per 100K workforce โ€” measures industry density

1.Wichita, KS1,321
2.Huntsville, AL524.7
3.Columbus, IN509.5
4.Savannah, GA416.1
5.Lexington Park, MD413.2
BLS OEWS May 2024
Understanding this Sector
What it's like to work in Aerospace & Aviation Manufacturing

Aerospace and aviation manufacturing builds aircraft and components โ€” there's satisfaction in working on machines that fly, high engineering standards, and contributing to an industry where precision matters. Many find meaning in aerospace culture.

The challenge can come from cyclical demand and exacting requirements. Aerospace is tied to airline profitability and defense budgets; layoffs follow downturns. Quality standards are rigorous for good reason; errors have serious consequences. Security clearances may be required for some work.

The field varies by product and role. Commercial aviation differs from defense, space, or general aviation. Engineering roles differ from manufacturing, quality, or supply chain. Major OEMs operate differently than suppliers or MRO facilities.

For those who thrive here, the rewards are substantial: working on flight, strong compensation, technical challenge, and quality-focused culture. If you're drawn to aviation, can meet exacting standards, and want manufacturing with engineering depth, aerospace offers excellent opportunities.

How people break in

Technical programs and apprenticeships provide entry. Aerospace certification and quality standards require specific training. Engineering requires degrees.

Work environment tends toward
High precisionQuality criticalSecurity clearancesEngineering presenceCyclical demand
Industries it connects to
DefenseTechnologyTransportationResearch
Salary vs. national average
+9%
$78K median vs. $71K national
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0K$17K$38K$150K$239K*387 metro areas across 50 states, sorted by salary level โ†’
Salary range across all aerospace & aviation manufacturing roles
Where your dollar goes furthest
1. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara$93K
2. Boulder$79K
3. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria$75K
4. Trenton-Princeton$71K
5. Durham-Chapel Hill$70K
BLS OEWS May 2024
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.

Median salaries range from ~$71K in mid-market metros to ~$105K in top-tier cities. But cost of living closes a lot of that gap โ€” metros with lower regional price parities often offer the best purchasing power.

Highest paying
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara ยท $105K
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont ยท $89K
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria ยท $82K
Best purchasing power
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara ยท $93K adj.
Boulder ยท $79K adj.
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria ยท $75K adj.
Most jobs
New York ยท 22M
Los Angeles ยท 14.6M
Chicago ยท 10.9M
BLS OEWS May 2024 ยท BEA Regional Price Parities

What the data says about this sector

Beyond salary and job counts โ€” signals that shape the day-to-day experience of working in Aerospace & Aviation Manufacturing.

๐Ÿšช
Annual Quit Rate
Based on all Manufacturing data
18%
People tend to stay in Manufacturing. Lower turnover often indicates better working conditions or higher switching costs.
โ†“ 4%vs. 22% all industries
๐Ÿข
Typical Employer Size
Small-skewed
Small businesses dominate. More variety in roles but less formal structure and benefits.
61%
Small
<50
25%
Mid
50โ€“249
13%
Large
250+
๐Ÿ 
Remote / Hybrid Prevalence
mostly_onsite
Many roles can be done remotely. Location flexibility is a realistic expectation.
Mostly on-siteHybrid commonRemote-first
๐Ÿ“‹
Credential Density
Moderate
Most roles don't require formal credentials. Skills and experience matter more than certificates.
Few credentialsSome requiredMany required
๐Ÿค
Union Presence
Based on all Manufacturing data
~9%
Minimal union coverage means compensation is individually negotiated. Know your market rate going in.
โ†“ 9%vs. 11% all industries
BLS JOLTS 2024 ยท BLS QCEW 2024 ยท O*NET Work Context ยท BLS Union Members Summary 2024
Career Tracks

Career tracks in Aerospace & Aviation Manufacturing

How jobs in this sector break down by function, and what they typically pay.

Engineering
14%
$99K median
Explore โ†’
Business Operations
9%
$89K median
Explore โ†’
Science
8%
$93K median
Explore โ†’
Admin & Office
8%
$75K median
Explore โ†’
Technology
8%
$86K median
Explore โ†’
Maintenance & Repair
8%
$63K median
Explore โ†’
Median salary for occupations employed within Aerospace & Aviation Manufacturing. BLS OEWS May 2024.

Explore careers in Aerospace & Aviation Manufacturing

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) ยท BLS JOLTS 2024 ยท BLS QCEW 2024 ยท O*NET Work Context ยท BLS Employment Projections 2024โ€“2034
Truest editorial: Industry narrative, sector context, career track mapping, working signals analysis.