Aerospace Engineering
Aren Schmidt
What is Aerospace engineering?
Aerospace engineering is the primary field of engineering concerned with the development of aircraft and spacecraft. It is divided into two major and overlapping branches: aeronautical engineering and astronautical engineering. I am interested in this field of engineering because my grandfather was a civil engineer and I have always been fascinated by flight.
The Average Day
Most aerospace engineers spend most of their time doing things that are directly related to their current project. Most time is spent on the computer. It might include things like designing a prototype on a computer and testing a design using a computer simulation, a wind tunnel, or flight test to see how well it performs its intended purpose or getting out the final flaws in a project to prepare it for actual application.
Starting Salary
For the typical aerospace engineer, the entry level salary is about $71,859. As you progress in the field, you could earn upwards of $110,000 dollars. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $65,450, and the top 10 percent earned more than $149,120.
Required Education
Entry-level aerospace engineers usually need a bachelor's degree. High school students interested in studying aerospace engineering should take courses in chemistry, physics, and math, including algebra, trigonometry, and calculus. Bachelor’s degree programs include classroom, laboratory, and field studies in subjects such as general engineering principles, propulsion, stability and control, structures, mechanics, and aerodynamics, which is the study of how air interacts with moving objects.