Explore Colorado careers that design, build, fly, maintain, and support aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, drones, and advanced aviation systems.
Median Salary
$106,122
Statewide industry median
10-Year Growth
+7%
Statewide projection
Pathway Roles
16
Pathway roles
Required Education
Bachelor's
Engineering or related field
Explore Colorado Aerospace
From spacecraft and satellites to GPS and aviation systems, see what makes Colorado a national aerospace leader — and where you could fit in.
Here, students can explore careers across the whole mission:
Per-capita rank
#1
Colorado ranks first nationally for aerospace employment per capita.
Aerospace businesses
2,000+
The state ecosystem spans major primes, startups, suppliers, labs, and service firms.
Direct employees
55,000+
OEDIT cites another 184,000 indirect jobs tied to the industry.
Artemis suppliers
~200
Colorado companies are participating in NASA Artemis work, including Orion.
Space state hiding in plain sight
The work is not just launches. Colorado is home to command systems, satellite operations, mission support, orbital awareness, research labs, and companies that build the hardware and software behind modern spaceflight.
GPS, comms, and orbital awareness
For students, aerospace means tracking objects in orbit, protecting satellites, securing communications, analyzing data, and keeping GPS and warning systems reliable.
Fifteen buildings inside granite
NORAD lists 15 buildings inside the Cheyenne Mountain Complex, 5.1 acres of complex space, and roughly 693,000 tons of excavated granite. It became operational as a NORAD combat operations center in 1966.
Webb optics, LASP instruments, Moon missions
BAE Systems says its Space & Mission Systems team designed and built Webb’s advanced optical technology and lightweight mirror system. LASP notes instruments studying all eight planets and Pluto, while OEDIT points to Colorado firms helping NASA return to the Moon through Artemis and Orion.
Not just astronaut or engineer
Software, cybersecurity, data, GIS, precision manufacturing, technical writing, contracts, project controls, and supply chain experience can all map into aerospace-adjacent roles.
Airports, logistics, maintenance, operations
Colorado’s 2025 aviation impact study covers 66 public-use airports and ties aviation to tens of billions in annual business revenue, jobs, payroll, and regional mobility.
Career paths · where you fit in
Aerospace needs mission-critical thinkers across shops, labs, codebases, hangars, classrooms, and contract teams.
Essential resources for your educational journey
Compare college costs, graduation rates & outcomes
Find registered earn-while-you-learn programs
Individual Career & Academic Planning tools
Discover careers that match your interests
