Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians
Architecture and Engineering · SOC 17-3021
AI exposure from the Anthropic Economic Index (2025); salary from BLS; skills from O*NET. See /sources.
Decision card
Career Evidence Passport
SOC 17-3021 evidence across exposure, wages, projections, postings, certified LCAs, skills, and transitions.
- SOC exposure
- 0.0%
- Low · Anthropic AEI
- Automation friction
- 47/100
- Moderate friction; broad SOC seed ORS job-requirements coverage.
- Wages
- $82,890
- H-1B offered wage $97,365; LCAs are filings.
- Projected openings
- 1,100
- BLS EP 2024–2034; employment change +8.1%.
- Observed/proxy demand
- 11
- FY2025 certified LCAs; 1,458 postings in 2025.
Skill evidence
Transition context
- H-1B values are certified Labor Condition Applications, not visa approvals.
- Job postings are seed-static / seed-derived; treat as provider-ready proxy coverage until observed provider data is wired in.
- Transition matches are directional skill-overlap context, not placement guarantees.
- This release is a FutureGrid broad-SOC seed derived from public BLS ORS requirement concepts and categories, not direct occupation-level ORS survey estimates. It describes job requirements, not worker ability, AI capability, or displacement probability. Automation friction is a FutureGrid derived score and should be read alongside exposure, demand, wage, and projection signals.
AI Exposure Analysis
Across AI measures
Multiple exposure lenses for this occupation.
AI could do ~32.5% of this role but only ~0% is currently done with AI — a large capability-vs-adoption gap.
Top Skills
H-1B Visa Sponsorship Demand
View full H-1B trends →Certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications naming this occupation, FY2016–FY2025. A descriptive high-skill labor-demand signal — employer filings, not visa approvals or individual outcomes. Note: one LCA can cover multiple worker positions.
O*NET occupation profile
What this work involves
Operate, install, adjust, and maintain integrated computer/communications systems, consoles, simulators, and other data acquisition, test, and measurement instruments and equipment, which are used to launch, track, position, and evaluate air and space vehicles. May record and interpret test data.
Common titles: Avionics Installation Technician, Avionics Test Technician, Engineering Technician, Engineering Test Technician, Flight Test Instrument Technician, Instrumentation Technician
Representative Tasks
- •Test aircraft systems under simulated operational conditions, performing systems readiness tests and pre- and post-operational checkouts, to establish design or fabrication parameters.
- •Identify required data, data acquisition plans, and test parameters, setting up equipment to conform to these specifications.
- •Inspect, diagnose, maintain, and operate test setups and equipment to detect malfunctions.
- •Confer with engineering personnel regarding details and implications of test procedures and results.
- •Operate and calibrate computer systems and devices to comply with test requirements and to perform data acquisition and analysis.
Detailed Work Activities
- •Test performance of electrical, electronic, mechanical, or integrated systems or equipment.
- •Estimate technical or resource requirements for development or production projects.
- •Inspect equipment or systems.
- •Confer with technical personnel to prepare designs or operational plans.
- •Document design or operational test results.
Tools & Technologies
Related Occupations
Employment Projections & AI Exposure
Employment & Wage Trend
BLS OEWS, 2019–2025
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). See /sources.
Sector Comparison
| Metric | This Career | Sector Average |
|---|---|---|
| AI Exposure | 0.0% | 4.5% |
| Outlook | Average | 15% Bright |
| Median Salary | $82,890 | N/A |
| AI Resiliency | 100/100 | N/A |