Skip to content
Alamo Colleges DistrictCareer Explorer

Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians

Part of Manufacturing, in the Manufacturing Production Process Development pathway.

Bright outlookJob zone 3: medium preparationO*NET 17-3021.00

What the work is

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.

On a typical day

  • Inspect, diagnose, maintain, and operate test setups and equipment to detect malfunctions.
  • Record and interpret test data on parts, assemblies, and mechanisms.
  • Confer with engineering personnel regarding details and implications of test procedures and results.
  • Adjust, repair, or replace faulty components of test setups and equipment.
  • Identify required data, data acquisition plans, and test parameters, setting up equipment to conform to these specifications.
  • Operate and calibrate computer systems and devices to comply with test requirements and to perform data acquisition and analysis.

What it pays

$81,820
Median pay per year, San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX metro
New workers start near $56,120
Experienced workers reach $89,990
  1. $56k10th
  2. $75k25th
  3. $82kMedian
  4. $82k75th
  5. $90k90th
Wage percentiles: 10th $56,120, 25th $74,640, Median $81,820, 75th $81,820, 90th $89,990

About 50 people do this job in the San Antonio area.

Job outlook

U.S. projection, 2024 to 2034.

+8%

U.S. employment change

900

openings a year nationwide, from growth and people leaving

9,300

employed nationwide in 2024

Typical entry education: Associate's degree

Skills this career uses

The skills O*NET rates most important for the job, with how much of each the work needs on a 1 to 7 scale.

  1. Critical Thinking4.0
  2. Reading Comprehension3.8
  3. Quality Control Analysis3.6
  4. Operations Monitoring3.5
  5. Active Listening3.9
  6. Speaking3.1
  7. Complex Problem Solving3.4
  8. Judgment and Decision Making3.3

Education people in this job have

Share of workers by highest education, from O*NET surveys. It shows what others did, not what you must do.

  1. High school or less20%
  2. Certificate39%
  3. Associate degree33%
  4. Bachelor's degree8%

Job zone 3, medium preparation: Training, an associate degree, or a few years of related experience.

Alamo programs that lead here

  • Palo Alto
  1. Engineering

    Degree · Transfer pre-major · Science & Technology

Apply to Alamo Colleges

Does this fit you?

Six questions rank every career here by how closely its interest profile follows yours.

Check my interests
  1. Calibration Technologists and Technicians

    Zone 32 Alamo programs Bright outlook

    $60kSan Antonio median
  2. Avionics Technicians

    Zone 3 Bright outlook

    $86kSan Antonio median
  3. $69kSan Antonio median
  4. Robotics Technicians

    Zone 34 Alamo programs

    $54kTexas median
  5. $69kSan Antonio median