Scope of Aerospace:
Aerospace engineering and operations technicians enjoy a broad field
of work in which they can apply their skills. These technicians labor in
both the flight science (aeronautics) field and the outer space
sciences (astronautics). For instance, many of these technicians work in
an astronautical environment at companies such as NASA, while others
might work for an air flight company like Boeing. This means that
aerospace engineering and operations technicians have enormous
possibilities which they can explore, leading to a truly interesting and
absorbing environment. This also means that these technicians’ work
will always be needed in some form or another by various employers.
Aerospace engineering and operations technicians work in close
partnership with aerospace engineers. This means that job prospects for
aerospace engineering and operations technicians will reflect the
conditions of their corresponding engineers’ careers. Currently, a large
influx of such engineers and a broadening interest in the aerospace
field is leading to saturation in the aerospace engineering and
operations technician field. However, job growth is still expected to
occur at a modest percent, and those who are interested in such a field
should not hesitate to pursue it.
Nature of Work:
Persons who are involved in the aerospace engineering and operations
technician field spend the bulk of their time building, testing, and
improving the inventions that aerospace engineers have yielded. These
persons use an enormous amount of math in their daily work as new
mechanical theories are tested and implemented. Due to the nature of
this field, many technicians find it very beneficial to be able to do
such calculations in their head.
Aerospace engineering and operations technicians usually are occupied
for the typical forty hour work week. However, these technicians are
constantly presented with deadlines for the completion of a project, and
many technicians work a great deal of overtime in order to ensure that
these deadlines are met. These technicians are also constantly working
in teams. An aerospace engineering and operations technician must
cooperate with an aerospace engineer, various scientists and
researchers, and technological specialists.
Employment :
As of the year 2008, there were roughly 8,700 aerospace engineering
and operations technicians employed across the United States. This
composes about 1.7 percent of the country’s 497,300 general engineering
technicians. As opposed to other types of general engineering
technicians who work primarily for private companies and research
facilities, aerospace engineering and operations technicians will more
often work for government funded programs and projects. These
technicians work in various aeronautical and astronautical facilities
across the country that produce new inventions to better the country’s
aerospace technology.
Aerospace engineering and operations technicians are sometimes hired
to complete individual jobs on a short term basis. This type of
employment is ideal for people with families or for people who tend to
move frequently. However, many people dislike the lack of security and
constant funding that such a career set up presents. The vast majority
of aerospace engineering and operations technicians prefer to work on a
more stable basis.
Job Outlook:
As times change, the number of engineers that are needed in the
technological field will vary. This will in turn affect the number of
aerospace engineering and operations technicians that are required in
order to carry out the engineers’ designs and plans. Currently, the
growth rate for aerospace engineers is expected to continue at an
average pace of about 11 percent through the year 2018. This relatively
small growth rate is reflected in the available jobs for technicians;
the growth rate for aerospace engineering and operations technicians is
expected to occur at a rate of 2 percent through 2018, a pace that is
well below the national average.
This growth rate is a reflection of technology’s increasing role in
the aerospace field. The number of technical jobs and tasks that are
required for completion continues to grow at a very healthy rate, but
computer operated programs have taken over the role of human beings in
many of these tasks. This leaves a relatively small percentage of jobs
open to engineering technicians, especially those who do not possess an
ample amount of experience. Generally, human technicians will be needed
for more complex jobs that require very advanced operations.
Competition for the available jobs as an aerospace engineering and
operations technician will be fierce. Many people are attracted to this
field, as it presents such an important aspect of our world’s future
growth. The new inventions that are continually created by aerospace
engineers are considered to be fascinating by a number of different
people throughout the entire country. Furthermore, the relatively low
amount of education required to receive the average pay of an aerospace
engineering and operations technician is seen to be very attractive by
many people.
Projections:
As opposed to the 8,700 jobs open to aerospace engineering and
operations technicians in 2008, 8,900 total aerospace engineering and
operations technician jobs are expected to be available by the year
2018.
Unfortunately, technicians involved in the manufacturing of various
machines will suffer a loss of job opportunities. Technicians involved
in the production of computer parts, electrical equipment, and
specialized aerospace parts can expect about a 1 to 5 percent decrease
in available jobs. Those who labor in the manufacturing of aircraft
motoring components and navigational equipment can expect a decrease of
33 percent and 17 percent, respectively.
Projections for other specializations of this field are a bit more
positive. Technicians who are involved in air transportation procedures
can expect a healthy increase in available jobs of about 8 to 9 percent.
Those who provide aerospace technical education services will enjoy a
job growth of about 21 percent, and workers involved in the waste
management of various industrial aerospace parts will see a growth of
roughly 29 percent. Aerospace engineering and operations technicians who
provide professional scientific assistance in the production of various
machines will see a job growth of about 14 percent through 2018.
Earnings:
Considering the fact that many aerospace engineering and operations
technicians can become eligible for their job with only an associate’s
degree, the relative pay for this career is quite high. However, this
does not mean that such a job will be easy. Aerospace engineering and
operations technicians work hard to earn their relatively high pay.
Considering the strenuous physical and mental components that are
involved in these technicians’ work, it is no wonder that their earnings
are relatively generous.
Earnings generally vary based on the specific industry that the
aerospace engineering and operations technician is involved in. The
following is a summary of the different industries involved in this
field and their relative hourly earnings.
•Manufacturing of Navigational Equipment: $28.92 •Manufacturing of
Aerospace Product and Parts: $26.14 •Scientific Research and Development
Services: $29.44 •Architectural and Engineering Services: $34.28 •Air
Transportation Services: $33.83 •Employment Services: $27.99 •Delivery
Services: $41.89…
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