St. Louis Region’s Aero Careers Roadmap Post High School
If you’re interested in an aerospace career but not four years of college, these are the programs and initiatives you should focus on after high school to secure one of the high-paying jobs below.
Aircraft | Avionics Equipment Mechanics | Technicians
Install, test, adjust, and repair equipment and systems in aircraft. Sample positions:
- Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) mechanics
- Avionics Technicians
- Designated Airworthiness Representatives (DARs)
- Inspection Authorized (IA) Mechanics & Repairmen
Requires: Certificate from an FAA-approved program. Some enter with an associate’s degree; others have a high school diploma and train on the job or in the military. Typically certified by the FAA.
Outlook: 5% job growth expected in the U.S., about 13,400 openings annually. STL MSA had 60% more jobs than similarly sized markets.
Electrical | Electronics Installers | Repairers
Install or repair a variety of electrical equipment. Sample positions:
- Commercial & Industrial Electrical and Electronics Equipment Repairers and Installers
- Powerhouse, Substation & Relay Electrical and Electronics Repairers
Requires: High school education plus most specializations require advanced education and/or work experience.
Outlook: 1% job growth expected in the U.S., about 10,100 openings annually.
Mechanical Engineering Technologists | Technicians
Help mechanical engineers design, develop, test and manufacture machines and other devices.
Requires: Associate’s degree OR postsecondary training.
Outlook: 2% job growth expected in the U.S., about 3,500 openings annually.
Aerospace Engineering | Operations Technologists | Technicians
Run and maintain equipment used to develop, test, produce and sustain aircraft and spacecraft.
Requires: Associate’s degree OR high school diploma plus completed certificate program.*
Outlook: 8% job growth expected in the U.S., about 1,100 openings annually. STL MSA had 2.13x more openings than other similarly sized metros.
Electro-Mechanical | Mechatronics Technologists | Technicians
Operate, test, and maintain electromechanical or robotic equipment.
Requires: Associate’s degree or postsecondary certificate.
Outlook: About 1,300 openings annually.
Calibration Technologists | Technicians
Inspect, adjust, and test measurement devices against standards, such as those used in manufacturing, healthcare and other industries.
Requires: Associate’s degree or other postsecondary training in a technical or scientific field OR high school diploma plus on-the-job training.
Outlook: 6% job growth expected in U.S., about 1,300 annually.
Metal | Plastic Machine Workers
Set up and operate equipment that cuts, shapes, and forms metal and plastic materials or pieces. Sample positions:
- Machine Setters
- Operators
- Tenders
Requires: High school diploma plus 1 year on-the-job training. CNC tool programmers often need postsecondary education.
Outlook: About 91,800 openings expected annually in the U.S.