Aerospace Engineers
Machines can already do 46% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 75%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Aerospace Engineers in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 46% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 8% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2028, and 75% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 67,710 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $134,960 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 71% for contact with people.
- Also called: Aeronautical Engineer, Aerospace Stress Engineer, Avionics Engineer, Design Engineer.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formulate mathematical models or other methods of computer analysis to develop, evaluate, or modify design, according to customer engineering requirements | 17% | 50% to 85% | |
| Plan or conduct experimental, environmental, operational, or stress tests on models or prototypes of aircraft or aerospace systems or equipment | 12% | 25% to 65% | |
| Write technical reports or other documentation, such as handbooks or bulletins, for use by engineering staff, management, or customers | 12% | 77% to 97% | |
| Formulate conceptual design of aeronautical or aerospace products or systems to meet customer requirements or conform to environmental regulations | 10% | 50% to 85% | |
| Evaluate product data or design from inspections or reports for conformance to engineering principles, customer requirements, environmental regulations, or quality standards | 9% | 60% to 90% | |
| Direct or coordinate activities of engineering or technical personnel involved in designing, fabricating, modifying, or testing of aircraft or aerospace products | 9% | 10% to 27% | |
| Analyze project requests, proposals, or engineering data to determine feasibility, productibility, cost, or production time of aerospace or aeronautical products | 6% | 60% to 90% | |
| Develop design criteria for aeronautical or aerospace products or systems, including testing methods, production costs, quality standards, environmental standards, or completion dates | 6% | 50% to 85% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills aerospace engineers use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Fuel Cell Engineers71% of tasks by 2035 · US median $104,110
- Agricultural Engineers68% of tasks by 2035 · US median $98,590
- Materials Scientists71% of tasks by 2035 · US median $117,790
- Mechanical Engineers69% of tasks by 2035 · US median $104,110
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Aerospace Engineers?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2028. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of aerospace engineers?
Machines can do 46% of the tasks of aerospace engineers today and 75% by 2035. Most of the routine work moves to machines, and the people in the job move to oversight, judgement and client work.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 17-2011.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Aerospace Engineers: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/aerospace-engineers/