Aerospace Engineering in Wisconsin

📊 Employment Overview

Wisconsin employs 1,170 aerospace engineering professionals, representing approximately 1.5% of the national workforce in this field. Wisconsin ranks #21 nationally for aerospace engineering employment.

💰 Salary Information

Aerospace Engineering professionals in Wisconsin earn competitive salaries across all experience levels, with an average annual salary of $105,000.

Note: Salaries are adjusted for cost of living and local market conditions. Data based on BLS statistics and industry surveys (2024-2025).

🎓 Schools Offering Aerospace Engineering

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🚀 Career Insights

Key information for aerospace engineering professionals in Wisconsin.

🏢 Industry Landscape & Top Employers

Wisconsin ranks #21 nationally in aerospace engineering — 1,170 engineers earning an average of $105,000 — with a market defined by Kimberly-Clark's aerospace materials research, a growing aerospace manufacturing supply chain, and military aviation operations at Volk Field and General Mitchell International Airport. Wisconsin's aerospace engineering community leverages the state's world-class manufacturing expertise in precision machining, composites, and industrial technology to supply defense and commercial aerospace programs nationally, while the growing Milwaukee aerospace supply chain is evolving from automotive-adjacent to explicitly aerospace-focused manufacturing.

Major Employers: Astronics Corporation (Kirkland WA parent, WI operations) develops aerospace cabin lighting and electronics employing systems engineers. Kaman Aerospace (Bloomfield, CT parent, WI precision machined components) supplies aerospace structural components. Oshkosh Corporation (Oshkosh) — primarily known for defense trucks — employs aerospace-adjacent systems engineers for military vehicle and aircraft ground support equipment integration. The Wisconsin Air National Guard (115th Fighter Wing, Madison — F-16C/D operations; 128th Air Refueling Wing, Milwaukee — KC-135R Stratotanker operations; 128th Air Control Squadron; 176th Air Defense Squadron) employs aerospace engineers through defense contractor support organizations for both fighter aircraft and tanker systems maintenance and sustainment. Harley-Davidson's advanced manufacturing research has aerospace materials parallels. Jason Industries (Milwaukee) develops aerospace sound dampening and vibration control systems. Astronautics Corporation of America (Milwaukee) develops avionics systems — including flight management systems and cockpit displays for regional aircraft and military platforms — employing aerospace engineers in product development and certification. Master Lock and Associated Spring (Milwaukee, Barnes Group subsidiary) produce aerospace-qualified fasteners and components. The University of Wisconsin-Madison's aerospace and mechanical engineering research programs create direct connections to Wisconsin's growing aerospace manufacturing community.

Astronautics Corporation — Wisconsin's Avionics Gem: Astronautics Corporation of America is an often-overlooked but technically sophisticated avionics manufacturer in Milwaukee — developing FMS, multifunction displays, and cockpit integration systems for regional jets, military trainers, and specialized aircraft. This company represents the kind of concentrated avionics expertise that creates genuine aerospace engineering careers in an unexpected location, combining Milwaukee's manufacturing base with the precision electronics engineering required for certified avionics products.

Wisconsin's Aerospace Manufacturing Strength: Wisconsin's industrial heritage — in precision machining, castings, and composites — creates an aerospace manufacturing supply chain that is more substantial than the state's aerospace engineering headcount suggests. Wisconsin manufacturers supply structural components, fasteners, hydraulic fittings, and precision parts to Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and GE Aerospace, providing manufacturing engineering positions that bridge Wisconsin's traditional industrial strengths with aerospace's demanding quality requirements.

📈 Career Growth & Pathways

Wisconsin's aerospace careers reward specialization in avionics product development at Astronautics, aerospace manufacturing engineering in the state's growing supply chain, and the F-16 and KC-135 maintenance engineering community in the Air National Guard.

Typical Career Trajectory:

• Junior Aerospace Engineer (0–2 years): $68,000–$92,000 — Entry at Astronautics Corporation, Wisconsin Air National Guard contractor organizations, or aerospace manufacturing companies. University of Wisconsin-Madison's aerospace and mechanical engineering programs are the primary feeders. Wisconsin's 10–15% below-average cost of living provides genuine financial strength even on starting salaries.
• Mid-Level Engineer (3–7 years): $92,000–$122,000 — Astronautics avionics engineers with DO-178C FMS certification experience, Wisconsin ANG F-16 or KC-135 systems engineers, and aerospace manufacturing engineers with AS9100-qualified production expertise advance through this range.
• Senior Engineer (7–12 years): $122,000–$155,000 — Technical authority at Astronautics on major avionics programs or senior Wisconsin aerospace manufacturing engineers leading supply chain quality programs. These engineers carry direct responsibility for products flying in certified aviation and military aircraft worldwide.
• Principal/Fellow Engineer (12+ years): $155,000–$215,000+ — Astronautics distinguished engineers and senior Wisconsin aerospace supply chain technical authorities represent the state's aerospace apex.

Astronautics FMS Certification Credentials: Astronautics Corporation's flight management system development requires engineers with deep DO-178C Level A software certification experience — the highest design assurance level for aviation software. FMS certification engineers who have led safety case development for Astronautics products build credentials recognized by every FMS manufacturer and every aviation authority globally, creating career mobility across the avionics industry that exceeds what Wisconsin's small aerospace market would otherwise allow.

💰 Salary vs. Cost of Living

Wisconsin's $105,000 average aerospace salary against a cost of living that remains well below the national average creates strong purchasing power — Milwaukee and Madison offer genuine Midwestern affordability alongside improving urban amenities that aerospace engineers from coastal markets find surprisingly complete.

Milwaukee Metro (Astronautics / Manufacturing): Wisconsin's primary aerospace employment center, with cost of living roughly 10–15% below the national average. Median home prices of $265,000–$380,000 in desirable suburbs (Wauwatosa, Brookfield, Mequon) make homeownership very accessible. Milwaukee's cultural renaissance — the Milwaukee Art Museum, Summerfest, the Third Ward's restaurants — creates urban richness that engineers relocating from coastal markets consistently find more vibrant than expected.

Madison (UW / ANG Area): Wisconsin's capital and university city, with cost of living near the national average. Median homes of $365,000–$480,000. The 115th Fighter Wing's operations at Truax Field create F-16 aerospace engineering employment adjacent to the University of Wisconsin's research community. Madison's lake-centered lifestyle, State Street corridor, and Big Ten athletics culture create a quality of life that routinely ranks among the nation's best.

Tax Note: Wisconsin's progressive income tax (top rate 7.65%) is higher than most Midwest states — meaningfully reducing the after-tax picture compared to no-income-tax states like neighboring Michigan (4.25%) or Ohio (3.75%). Engineers comparing Wisconsin aerospace careers to neighboring states should model this difference, though Wisconsin's outdoor recreation access and cultural quality partially compensate.

📜 Licensing & Professional Development

Wisconsin's aerospace professional development reflects its avionics, military aviation, and aerospace manufacturing sectors — with DO-178C FMS certification credentials, AS9100 manufacturing quality expertise, and Air National Guard airworthiness qualifications being the most relevant.

The Wisconsin Examining Board of Architects, Landscape Architects, Professional Engineers, Designers, and Land Surveyors administers PE licensure via the standard pathway.

High-Value Credentials in Wisconsin's Aerospace Market:

• DO-178C / DO-254 Avionics Certification (Astronautics): For Astronautics Corporation engineers developing FAA-certified FMS and cockpit display systems, mastery of aviation software and hardware design assurance standards at the highest levels (DAL A for FMS catastrophic failure conditions) is the foundational credential. Engineers who have led full DO-178C Level A development programs for flight-critical avionics at Astronautics build credentials recognized across the global avionics community.
• KC-135 Tanker Systems (128th ARW): For Wisconsin Air National Guard contractor engineers supporting the 128th Air Refueling Wing's KC-135R operations, expertise in aerial refueling system maintenance, boom operator equipment engineering, and the specific performance characteristics of KC-135 operations from Milwaukee's Midwest environment builds credentials that transfer to every KC-135 operating unit in the Air Force and Air Guard.
• AS9100 / NADCAP Aerospace Manufacturing: For Wisconsin aerospace manufacturing supply chain engineers, AS9100 quality management certification and NADCAP accreditation for processes (heat treating, NDT, welding) are mandatory professional credentials for manufacturing quality leadership roles in the state's growing aerospace supplier community.
• RTCA Avionics Standards (Astronautics): For Astronautics FMS and display engineers, deep familiarity with RTCA standards for navigation systems (DO-236C, DO-283B), weather radar (DO-220), and cockpit displays (DO-257A) creates specialized regulatory knowledge that is valued across every avionics manufacturer seeking FAA TSO authorization for their products.

Education: University of Wisconsin-Madison (with strong aerospace and mechanical engineering research programs and growing industry connections) is the primary feeder. Marquette University (Milwaukee) and Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) provide additional applied engineering pathways with strong local industry connections in the Milwaukee aerospace manufacturing community.

📊 Job Market Outlook

Wisconsin's aerospace market is expected to grow modestly, with Astronautics Corporation's avionics product portfolio expansion, growing aerospace manufacturing supply chain investment, and the Air National Guard's continued modernization providing sustained demand.

Advanced Air Mobility Avionics: Astronautics Corporation is pursuing avionics development programs for advanced air mobility platforms — the emerging eVTOL aircraft market needs FMS, cockpit displays, and navigation systems designed for low-altitude urban operations. Wisconsin's avionics certification expertise positions Astronautics for this new market, potentially creating significant engineering growth as the AAM sector advances toward commercial operations.

KC-46 Transition at 128th ARW: The Air National Guard's eventual transition from KC-135 to KC-46 Pegasus tankers will eventually reach Wisconsin's 128th Air Refueling Wing — creating a period of elevated engineering demand for new aircraft type transition support, training program development, and maintenance infrastructure establishment. This transition, whenever it occurs, will sustain Wisconsin's tanker engineering community through a period of new platform learning.

Aerospace Manufacturing Attraction: Wisconsin's economic development programs are increasingly targeting aerospace manufacturing investment — the state's precision machining heritage, skilled workforce, and reasonable operating costs make it competitive for aerospace parts manufacturing facilities. Additional aerospace supply chain investment would expand Wisconsin's aerospace engineering employment base beyond its current avionics and ANG foundation.

🕐 Day in the Life

Aerospace engineering in Wisconsin means certifying the avionics that guide regional jets on optimal flight paths, maintaining the tanker aircraft that refuel fighters across intercontinental deployments, and supplying precision aerospace components to the aircraft manufacturers whose programs define global aviation — within a state whose beer culture, Packers football, Great Lakes recreation, and genuine Midwestern community create one of America's most authentically satisfying engineering lifestyles.

At Astronautics Corporation (Milwaukee): Flight management system engineers developing a new FMS variant for a regional jet platform spend mornings in software verification testing — running the DO-178C Level A test suite for the new navigation mode additions, checking that every requirement in the software requirements specification is exercised by at least one test case, and reviewing the test results for any unexpected software behavior that could indicate unintended functionality. The testing is meticulous and methodical — DO-178C Level A software must be tested to structural coverage criteria that ensure every statement, decision, and modified condition/decision in the code is exercised. When the test suite passes and the certification documentation is complete, the FMS software approved for installation on regional jets that will carry passengers on thousands of daily flights will have been certified in Milwaukee.

Lifestyle: Wisconsin's lifestyle is defined by Packers football, lakes, and honest Midwestern character. Green Bay's Lambeau Field — the most historic venue in professional football, where temperatures regularly reach -20°F during January playoff games and fans stand in lines for hours — creates a community bond that transcends sport and becomes civic identity. Milwaukee's Summerfest (the world's largest music festival), the Milwaukee Art Museum's spectacular Calatrava wing, and the Third Ward's restaurant renaissance give the city surprising cultural depth. The Door County Peninsula's sailboat anchorages, cherry orchards, and dramatic limestone bluffs create a summer destination that Wisconsin residents claim as their own treasure. Lake Michigan's beaches, the Apostle Islands' sea caves, and the Wisconsin River's canoeing provide outdoor recreation of genuine quality throughout the state's outdoor-oriented communities. The cost of aerospace engineering life in Wisconsin — on an Astronautics or Air National Guard salary — is simply excellent, and the quality of life available here for the financial investment consistently surprises engineers who arrive from coastal markets expecting less.

🔄 Compare with Other States

See how Wisconsin compares to other top states for aerospace engineering: