Intelligence Brief Technology Sector
Aviation / Aeronautics
Bachelor's · 4 years
C-
Scorecard
- $99,640
- Median salary
- 4%
- Projected growth
- 55/100
- Difficulty
- 4
- Career paths
AI Resilience 48
Overall Score 46
CollegeRanker Degree Outlook Score™
50
out of 100 · C+
Solid Outlook
Composite of earnings, projected growth, demand gap, AI resilience, career breadth, and remote flexibility — CollegeRanker's proprietary degree outlook model.
Supply vs Demand
BalancedMarket Demand48
Graduate Supply52
Supply and demand roughly aligned — projected 4% occupational growth (as fast as average).
Salary Trajectory
~1.8%/yrModeled from BLS median wage and occupational growth. Dashed bars are forecast. Illustrative, not a guarantee.
Where Graduates Work
Common Employers
- Microsoft
- Amazon
- Meta
- Apple
- NVIDIA
- IBM
- Salesforce
Representative employers that commonly hire Technology graduates — illustrative of where graduates concentrate, not a guarantee.
Industry Mix
- Software & Internet 38%
- Cloud & AI Infrastructure 19%
- Finance & Fintech 14%
- Healthcare Tech 11%
- Defense & Aerospace 9%
- Other 9%
Estimated distribution of Technology graduates across hiring industries.
Executive Summary
- Aviation / Aeronautics scores 46/100 (C-), reflecting a challenging profile among bachelor's programs.
- Median salary of $99,640 reflects competitive earning potential.
- Projected growth of 4% is below the national average.
- AI resilience score of 48 signals that many careers this degree leads to face significant automation pressure.
Aviation / Aeronautics scores 46/100 — C-. The strongest dimension is remote potential (85/100), followed by salary (50/100). The biggest challenge: growth (14/100).
Research Insights
- At Risk Future-proof
Aviation / Aeronautics faces headwinds for long-term value (37/100). AI automation risk across the career pathways is elevated. Projected growth of 4% is below average. Graduates should develop skills that complement, not compete with, AI-driven workflows.
Score 37 /100 - Limited ROI
Aviation / Aeronautics offers a challenging ROI profile (47/100).
Score 47 /100 - Narrow Career Breadth
Aviation / Aeronautics leads to a focused set of career paths (40/100). With 4 primary career trajectories, graduates benefit from clear direction but have less flexibility to pivot.
Score 40 /100
Decision Intelligence
Aviation / Aeronautics presents a more complex risk/reward profile. Outcomes are less predictable and depend heavily on specific career targeting and graduate school plans.
Who Benefits Most
Students who value career stability and meet the academic prerequisites. Students who pair this degree with internships and networking outperform peers.
Who Should Think Twice
Individuals who dislike working in high-pressure environments or those lacking a passion for aviation may find this degree unsatisfying. Additionally, those unwilling to adapt to rigorous training or who have low tolerance for long hours should reconsider pursuing this path.
Student Archetypes
- The Aspiring Pilot Recommended
This student is passionate about flying and is committed to completing the rigorous training required to become a pilot. They thrive in high-pressure environments and are willing to invest time and resources into their career.
Economic Importance
The Aviation/Aeronautics degree is crucial for industries that rely on air transportation, including commercial airlines, freight companies, and government agencies. The market values this degree due to the specialized knowledge and skills required in a heavily regulated and safety-conscious sector.
Scorecard Analysis
Our proprietary scorecard evaluates degrees across five dimensions from BLS wage and growth data, O*NET work context, and standard education requirements.
Moderate earning potential
Below-average growth
Moderate barrier
Strong remote/online compatibility
Moderate competition
Difficulty Score
55/100
Composite reflecting the combined demands of salary, growth, barrier, remote compatibility, and competition.
AI Resilience Assessment
Automation risk for careers linked to this degree.
Aviation / Aeronautics faces significant AI disruption risk (48/100). Many careers linked to this degree have components that are directly automatable. Graduates should prioritize developing skills AI cannot easily replicate.
- Many career pathways from this degree map to current AI capabilities.
- Entry-level positions in associated fields face the highest displacement risk.
- Mitigation: developing deep domain expertise and cross-functional leadership skills can differentiate from AI-driven alternatives.
Intelligence Deep Dive
-
Reality Check
Despite the allure of flying, the aviation sector can be highly volatile, with job security influenced by economic conditions and fuel prices. Moreover, the training process is extensive and expensive, often requiring significant financial investment before graduates see returns.
-
Hiring Market Signal
The current hiring market for aviation professionals is stable, with airlines actively seeking pilots and instructors to meet growing travel demand post-pandemic. Job seekers should focus on obtaining necessary certifications and building flight hours to enhance employability.
-
Risk Factors
- High training costs and student debt
- Market saturation in certain regions
- Potential for automation in air traffic control
- Dependence on economic cycles affecting airline hiring
- Geographic concentration of job opportunities
-
ROI Timeline
Typically, it can take 5 to 10 years to fully recoup the investment in an Aviation/Aeronautics degree, depending on starting salary and debt load. Those who secure high-paying airline positions may see quicker returns, while others may take longer to achieve financial stability.
What You'll Study
This curriculum is distinctive for its hands-on training in flight operations combined with theoretical courses in aviation weather and safety. Graduates are well-prepared for roles that demand both technical flying skills and an understanding of aviation regulations.
Throughout the program, students will engage in a mix of classroom instruction and practical experiences, including flight simulations and lab work. Core subjects often include aerodynamics, aircraft systems, navigation, and aviation safety. Many programs also incorporate internships, allowing students to gain real-world experience and network within the industry.
As students progress, they may face challenges such as mastering complex regulations and technical skills, particularly in flight training and simulation projects. This hands-on learning is crucial for preparing students for their future careers.
Typical Curriculum
- Private Pilot Training
- Instrument Rating
- Commercial Pilot
- Aviation Weather
- Aerodynamics
- Aviation Safety
- Air Traffic Control
- Flight Instructor
Career Pipeline
From entry to executive.
Entry-Level
- Commercial Pilot
- Flight Instructor
- Air Traffic Control Trainee
Mid-Career
- Airline Pilot
- Aviation Safety Inspector
- Aviation Manager
Advanced
- Director of Operations
- Chief Pilot
Pipeline Insight
Graduates typically start in entry-level roles such as flight instructing or as air traffic control trainees, gaining experience required for more advanced positions. Those who advance often leverage additional certifications or experience to stand out in a competitive market.
Career Outcomes
Graduates of aviation and aeronautics programs can pursue careers as airline pilots, flight instructors, air traffic controllers, or aviation managers. The median salary for these roles is around $99,640, with opportunities for growth as one gains experience. The aviation sector is projected to grow at 4%, driven by increased air travel and the need for skilled professionals in various aviation roles.
- Airline Pilot
- Flight Instructor
- Air Traffic Controller
- Aviation Manager
Compensation Context
The median salary of $99,640 reflects the high demand for skilled pilots and aviation professionals, driven by their critical role in ensuring safety and efficiency in air travel. Compensation can vary significantly based on geography, type of employer, and individual experience, with pilots in major airlines often earning significantly more than those in smaller operations.
Alternative Routes
Similar or competing pathways students consider alongside Aviation / Aeronautics:
- Aviation Management (Bachelor's)
- Air Traffic Control Certification
- Flight Training Programs
- Aerospace Engineering (Bachelor's)
- Self-taught flight training
Getting In & Timeline
Typical time to complete: 4 years full-time
- High school diploma or equivalent, courses in math and physics, possibly a personal statement or interview
Advice
Focus on gaining relevant flight experience and consider joining aviation clubs or organizations to enhance your application.
Is This Degree Worth It?
This degree can pay off significantly for those who secure positions with major airlines, especially if they can rise to senior pilot roles. However, students should consider the high costs of flight training and the competitive nature of the job market, which may delay financial returns for some.
Schools With Strong Outcomes in Technology
Ranked by median graduate earnings 10 years after enrollment. Schools grouped into tiers by outcome level.
Top Tier2schools
Strong Outcomes2schools
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Methodology & Data Sources
Every score, grade, and verdict on this page is built from a consistent framework designed to answer one question: what is the expected return on this degree?
Scorecard dimensions. We evaluate programs on five proprietary axes — Salary, Job Growth, Education Barrier, Remote/Online Compatibility, and Competition — each normalized to a 0–100 scale. The Overall Score is a weighted composite: salary (30%), job growth (20%), AI resilience (15%), barrier proximity (15%), competition inverse (10%), and career breadth (10%). Letter grades follow a standard scale from A+ (95+) down to F.
AI Resilience. Measures automation risk across the degree's associated career pathways. Each degree receives a category-level baseline adjusted upward for AI-adjacent fields (e.g., machine learning, computer science) and downward for fields with higher routine-task exposure. The score represents the degree's resistance to labor-market disruption, not a prediction of elimination.
Verdict scores. Future-Proof, ROI, and Career Breadth are secondary composites weighting AI resilience, growth, salary, barrier, and career count to answer specific decision questions: is this career durable (Future-Proof), financially worthwhile (ROI), and flexible (Career Breadth)?
Data sources. Salary and growth figures are drawn from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (O*NET) and the Occupational Outlook Handbook (2023–2033 projections). Education requirement data and work context scores come from O*NET 28.2. School-level earnings data is sourced from the Opportunity Insights Economic Tracker (median earnings 10 years after enrollment, based on federal tax records). Program rankings and school lists reflect CollegeRanker's proprietary classification and filtering methodology.
This page is built on disclosed, reproducible data. No affiliate bias, no survey-based rankings, no undisclosed weighting.
Data Behind This Page Updated 2025
Source datasets
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2023–2033 projections
- O*NET 28.2 — education requirements and work-context data
- Opportunity Insights — earnings 10 years after enrollment (federal tax records)
Methodology
Degrees are scored on five normalized axes — salary (30%), job growth (20%), AI resilience (15%), education barrier (15%), and competition (10%), plus career breadth (10%) — each on a 0–100 scale.
See the full methodology and weights →Confidence notes
- Salary and growth figures come from federal Bureau of Labor Statistics data — administrative wage records and official projections, not surveys.
- AI-resilience scores are computed from O*NET task and work-context data, applied consistently across every program.
- Every measure is normalized to a fixed 0–100 scale, so degrees are directly comparable.
Limitations
- BLS wage data reflect national medians; actual pay varies widely by region, employer, and experience.
- Job growth is a 2023–2033 projection, not a guarantee — labor markets shift with technology and the economy.
- AI-resilience is a directional estimate of automation exposure, not a prediction about any specific role.
- Figures describe typical outcomes for the field, not a promise for any individual graduate.
