How to Become an Aerospace Engineering Technician

Aerospace engineering technicians average nearly $60,000 per year.

Aerospace engineering technicians earned an average income of $59,990 per year, as of 2010, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The highest earners, those above the 90th percentile, received more than $87,000 per year. The largest employers of aerospace technicians are manufacturers, employing 3,000 technicians, as of 2010, and instrument control manufacturers, employing 1,740. Most technicians qualify for the job by completing two-year educational programs in technical schools or community colleges.

Instructions

1. Prepare for your aerospace technology program while in high school. Take math, physics, electronics and computer classes. In addition to academics, take shop classes to learn to work with your hands.

2. Choose and enroll in an associate degree program in aerospace technology in a community college or technical school. A school with accreditation from the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology will best meet the standards for a successful career.

3. Complete the program to receive your associate degree in aerospace technology. The curriculum usually includes classes in physics, algebra, trigonometry, electrical engineering and chemistry. Although some technicians do not have degrees, employers prefer technicians who have them.

4. Apply for and obtain an entry-level job as an aerospace technician. Possible employers include aircraft and instrument manufacturers, the military, research organizations, testing facilities and government agencies, such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, or NASA.

5. Qualify for advancement by achieving voluntary certification from SpaceTech, sponsored by a branch of the National Science Foundation. SpaceTech certification requires computer, hands-on and oral exams. Employers who rely on this certification include the U.S. military, major aerospace manufacturers and NASA.

Tips & Warnings

• Find accredited programs with the program search webpage of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology.

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics; Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technicians; May 2010
• Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook; EngineeringTechnicians; 2010-11
• DegreeDirectory.org: Aerospace Technology
• OnlineDegrees.org: Aerospace Technicians

Resources

• Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology: Program Search
• Calhoun Community College: Aerospace Technology
• SpaceTEC: About Space TEC
• National Aeronautics and Space Administration