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THE SKY: Your Future Workplace?

SPACE: Your Career Horizon?

Have you considered a career in aviation/aerospace?

Ready to explore a constellation of career opportunities?

Aerospace is full of possibilities

Ready to Become More?

Explore a constellation of careers in aerospace:

Open Career Mindmap

Dream Big

Aerospace Engineer

SALARY: Entry: £25-34K, Professional: £48-135K
EDUCATION: BEng/MEng Aerospace Engineering
TRAINING: £9,535/year tuition, 3-4 years
MUST HAVE: Strong maths/physics, security clearance

Space Systems Engineer

SALARY: Entry: £28-38K, Professional: £45-100K
EDUCATION: MEng Aerospace/Space Engineering
TRAINING: £9,535/year + specialised courses, 4-5 years
MUST HAVE: Security clearance (may be required)

Astronaut

SALARY: £40K – 100K+ (ESA pay grade)
EDUCATION: Master’s degree (min) in STEM
TRAINING: Years of intensive ESA-funded training before mission
MUST HAVE: ESA State Citizen, <50 yr, +3 yrs XP, Excellent Fitness

Take Flight

Commercial Airline Pilot

SALARY: Entry FO: £35-65K, Professional: £80-195K+
EDUCATION: 5 GCSEs (A*-C)
TRAINING: £80-130K, 18-24 months
MUST HAVE: ATPL, 1,500 flight hours, CAA Class 1 Medical

Royal Air Force Pilot

SALARY: Entry: £34,600, Professional: £64,600-100K+
EDUCATION: 2 A-levels (UCAS 64 pts min), Officer training
TRAINING: Paid training, 2-3 years
REQUIRED: `From UK/Commonwealth, Fitness tests, SEC. clearance

Helicopter Pilot

SALARY: Entry: £35-45K, Professional: £50-80K
EDUCATION: PPL(H) or CPL(H)
TRAINING: £40-70K, 40+ hours minimum
MUST HAVE: CAA medical, type ratings

Flight Instructor

SALARY: Entry: £28-38K, Professional: £45-65K+
EDUCATION: PPL(A) + CPL theory exams (or full CPL)
TRAINING: £8K-12K (FI course), 4-6 weeks + prior flight hours
MUST HAVE: 200 hrs (150 PIC), good flying and teaching skills

Build & Fix

Avionics Engineer

SALARY: Entry: £28-35K, Professional: £42-65K+
EDUCATION: Maths + Physics A-Levels, BEng/MEng
TRAINING: £9,535/year tuition, 3-4 years
MUST HAVE: Strong maths, physics, electronics; Sec. Clearance

Aircraft Maintenance Technician

SALARY: Entry: £22-30K, Professional: £35-45K
EDUCATION: Level 3 qualifications
TRAINING: £0-15K (apprenticeships often funded), 2-3 years
MUST HAVE: CAA Part-66 licensing

Aircraft Licensed Engineer

SALARY: Entry: £35-55K, Professional: £55-92K+
EDUCATION: Part-66 licensing
TRAINING: £20-40K, 3-5 years experience
MUST HAVE: Part-66 licence, type ratings, extensive logbook

Propulsion Engineer

SALARY: Entry: £32-42K, Professional: £48-70K+
EDUCATION: Maths + Physics A-Levels, BEng/MEng
TRAINING: £9K-10K/year tuition, 3-4 years
MUST HAVE: Strong maths & physics, thermodynamics/fluid dynamics, engineering software (MATLAB/CFD); Sec. Clearance

Tech & Innovation

Satellite Comms Engineer

SALARY: Entry: £28-38K, Professional: £45-75K+
EDUCATION: Maths + Physics A-Levels, BEng/BSc, (useful) MSc
TRAINING: £9,535/year tuition, 3-4 years
MUST HAVE: RF systems knowledge, CCSDS prot., Sec. clearance.

Urban Air Mobility Specialist

SALARY: Entry: £30-40K, Professional: £50-80K
EDUCATION: Engineering degree + specialised training
TRAINING: £9,535/year + specialisation, 3-4 years
MUST HAVE: Continuous learning, tech adaptation

Drone/UAV Pilot

SALARY: Entry: Project-based, Professional: £30-55K+
EDUCATION: CAA-approved training
TRAINING: £1-5K, 2-4 days + 40 hours operational
MUST HAVE: Flyer ID, Operator ID, insurance, CAA authorisation

Aviation Data Analyst

SALARY: Entry: £28-36K, Professional: £55-70K
EDUCATION: 2 GCSEs (Grade 4/C or similar) English + Math
TRAINING: £500 – £5K, 6-12 months
MUST HAVE: Data analysis skills, Aviation domain knowledge

Manage & Protect

Airport Manager

SALARY: Entry: £30-38K, Professional: £45-70K+
EDUCATION: Bachelor’s in Aviation Management/Business
TRAINING: £9,535/year, 3-4 years
MUST HAVE: Leadership experience, business acumen

Air Traffic Controller

SALARY: Entry: £31K (training salary), Professional: £52-120K+
EDUCATION: 5 GCSEs (A*-C) inc. Maths & English
TRAINING: NATS paid training, 12-18 months
MUST HAVE: CAA medical, selection process

Aviation Manager

SALARY: Entry: £30-40K, Professional: £50-100K
EDUCATION: Relevant degree + industry experience
TRAINING: £9,535/yr + optional MBA £20K+, 3-4 yrs + EXP
MUST HAVE: Management experience, industry knowledge

Flight Dispatcher

SALARY: Entry: £25-29K, Professional: £40-48K
EDUCATION: Dispatch certification
TRAINING: £10-20K, 6-12 months
MUST HAVE: Weather knowledge, decision-making

Quick Start

Aviation Security Officer

SALARY: Entry: £22-26K, Professional: £28-38K
EDUCATION: No formal requirements
TRAINING: Employer-provided, 2-4 weeks
MUST HAVE: 5-year employment history, CRC/DBS, fitness

Human Factors / Sustainable Aviation Specialist

SALARY: Entry: £30K, Professional: £60K
EDUCATION: 2-3 A levels, dedicated degree
TRAINING: £9K-12K, 1 yr MSc
MUST HAVE: Customer service skills, medical clearance

Cabin Crew

SALARY: Entry: £16-25K, Professional: £28-45K
EDUCATION: 5 GCSEs inc. English & Maths
TRAINING: £0-5K (often airline-provided), 4-8 weeks
MUST HAVE: Customer service skills, medical clearance

Important Disclaimer: Salary ranges, training costs, entry requirements, and career information shown on this page are approximate and based on publicly available UK data as of 2025/26. They may vary by employer, region, and individual circumstances. This page does not constitute professional career advice or financial advice. Always verify information directly with official bodies (CAA, NATS, RAF, UCAS, ESA, etc.) and consult a qualified careers adviser or financial professional before making any career or financial decisions. Based in Space Ltd and all persons featured on this webiste accept no liability for decisions made based on the information provided here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any free courses?

Several options exist for free or heavily subsidised flight training in England. The Air Cadets offer free flying experiences and scholarships, while airlines like British Airways and Jet2 offer subsidised or cadet pilot training programmes. Additionally, some online courses like the Pathway to Pilot Competence course are free.

If I get an education in aerospace, am I stuck in the sector?

Simple answer: No

Many people with experience in aviation and aerospace gain valuable skills that are highly transferable to other fields. These skills can open opportunities in multiple sectors: Automotive, Software and hardware development, Leadership and management roles, Entrepreneurship.

Aerospace education and experience often equip individuals with technical expertise, problem-solving abilities, and project leadership skills that are in demand across various industries. As a result, you are not limited to the aerospace sector and can successfully transition into many other domains.

Check the Career Mindmap

Who can help guiding me in aerospace?

There are multiple initiatives in England supported by the Reach of the Sky Programme, including Ascend2Space where you can find a curated network of mentors.