Exploring jobs and career paths in the aerospace industry
The aerospace industry offers career opportunities for people with a wide range of interests, skills and educational backgrounds. Whether you're a student exploring options, an experienced professional considering a career change or someone interested in the future of aviation and space, aerospace can provide opportunities to work on complex challenges and products that help connect and protect people around the world.
Is aerospace a stable industry for a long-term career?
Many professionals build long-term careers in aerospace because the industry offers opportunities to develop specialized expertise, move across functions and continue learning throughout their career.
According to the most recent findings from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employees in manufacturing and architecture and engineering occupations have a median tenure of 4.9 years, compared with 3.9 years across all U.S. workers. Additionally, many aerospace employers are preparing for a wave of retirements as experienced workers leave the workforce, creating opportunities for the next generation of talent.
Demand for new aircraft also continues to support long-term workforce needs across the industry. For example, Boeing reported a commercial airplane backlog of more than 6,100 airplanes valued at $576 billion, representing years of future production and ongoing demand for aerospace talent.
Hear from employees who have developed long-term careers at Boeing.
Is aerospace talent in demand?
Aerospace talent continues to be in demand across engineering, manufacturing and technical career fields. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, aerospace engineer employment is projected to grow 6% from 2024 to 2034, while aircraft and avionics equipment mechanics and technicians are projected to see approximately 13,100 job openings annually during the same period.
As aerospace technologies continue to evolve, areas such as software development, digital engineering, data analytics, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing are becoming increasingly important across the industry.
At the same time, organizations continue to rely on skilled manufacturing and production teams to help design, build and support aerospace products and services.
Explore open roles in engineering, manufacturing and more across aerospace at Boeing.
How do aerospace careers progress?
One reason many professionals are drawn to aerospace careers is the opportunity to pursue multiple career paths within the same industry.
A career journey might look like:
