Aerospace Contract Job Trends

Aerospace
UK

The table below looks at the prevalence of the term Aerospace in contract job vacancies. Included is a benchmarking guide to the contractor rates offered in vacancies that cited Aerospace over the 6 months leading up to 21 September 2026, comparing them to the same period in the previous two years.

6 months to
21 Sep 2026
Same period 2025 Same period 2024
Rank 186 304 306
Rank change year-on-year +118 +2 +37
Contract jobs citing Aerospace 840 279 274
As % of all contract jobs in the UK 1.55% 0.85% 0.71%
As % of the General category 2.77% 1.34% 1.23%
Number of daily rates quoted 139 94 54
10th Percentile £400 £268 £267
25th Percentile £513 £450 £353
Median daily rate (50th Percentile) £575 £550 £544
Median % change year-on-year +4.55% +1.10% +1.12%
75th Percentile £678 £646 £671
90th Percentile £744 £739 £723
UK excluding London median daily rate £575 £525 £450
% change year-on-year +9.52% +16.67% -16.28%
Number of hourly rates quoted 524 93 127
10th Percentile £26.25 £22.63 £31.97
25th Percentile £35.54 £41.25 £45.00
Median hourly rate £52.50 £52.50 £50.00
Median % change year-on-year - +5.00% -9.09%
75th Percentile £75.00 £67.00 £70.00
90th Percentile £85.78 £74.75 £75.00
UK excluding London median hourly rate £52.50 £51.49 £50.00
% change year-on-year +1.96% +2.99% -9.09%

All General Skills
UK

Aerospace falls under the General Skills category. For comparison with the information above, the following table provides summary statistics for all contract job vacancies requiring general skills.

Contract vacancies with a requirement for general skills 30,275 20,755 22,289
As % of all contract IT jobs advertised in the UK 55.71% 63.55% 58.06%
Number of daily rates quoted 17,736 12,845 13,341
10th Percentile £313 £275 £283
25th Percentile £419 £400 £413
Median daily rate (50th Percentile) £525 £500 £525
Median % change year-on-year +5.00% -4.76% -4.55%
75th Percentile £638 £625 £650
90th Percentile £738 £738 £775
UK excluding London median daily rate £500 £475 £498
% change year-on-year +5.26% -4.52% -0.50%
Number of hourly rates quoted 2,554 1,207 1,089
10th Percentile £13.50 £13.50 £14.70
25th Percentile £16.25 £16.17 £17.00
Median hourly rate £29.60 £25.15 £35.00
Median % change year-on-year +17.69% -28.14% +27.27%
75th Percentile £54.36 £47.50 £60.00
90th Percentile £77.50 £67.25 £70.39
UK excluding London median hourly rate £30.00 £21.10 £35.00
% change year-on-year +42.18% -39.71% +27.27%

Aerospace
Job Vacancy Trend

Historical trend showing the proportion of contract IT job postings citing Aerospace relative to all contract IT jobs advertised.

Aerospace job vacancy trend in the UK

Aerospace
Daily Rate Trend

Contractor daily rate distribution trend for jobs in the UK citing Aerospace.

Contractor daily rate distribution trend for jobs in the UK citing Aerospace

Aerospace
Daily Rate Histogram

Daily rate distribution for jobs citing Aerospace over the 6 months to 21 September 2026.

Daily rate histogram for Aerospace in the UK

Aerospace
Hourly Rate Trend

Contractor hourly rate distribution trend for jobs in the UK citing Aerospace.

Contractor hourly rate distribution trend for jobs in the UK citing Aerospace

Aerospace
Hourly Rate Histogram

Hourly rate distribution of jobs citing Aerospace over the 6 months to 21 September 2026.

Hourly rate histogram for Aerospace in the UK

Aerospace
Top 17 Contract Job Locations

The table below looks at the demand and provides a guide to the median contractor rates quoted in IT jobs citing Aerospace within the UK over the 6 months to 21 September 2026. The 'Rank Change' column provides an indication of the change in demand within each location based on the same 6 month period last year.

Location Rank Change
on Same Period
Last Year
Matching
Contract
IT Job Ads
Median
Daily Rate
Past 6 Months
Median Daily Rate
% Change
on Same Period
Last Year
Live
Jobs
England +116 777 £581 +5.64% 2,129
UK excluding London +92 766 £575 +9.52% 1,952
South East +79 356 £578 +6.64% 595
South West +24 167 £495 -10.00% 393
Work from Home +36 147 £565 +7.62% 961
East of England +13 105 £500 -28.57% 352
North of England -21 80 £600 +33.78% 190
North West -26 55 £600 +33.33% 132
London -81 38 £675 +12.50% 326
Midlands -42 27 £538 +17.23% 175
East Midlands -6 18 £500 -23.08% 66
Scotland -19 18 £438 +548.15% 214
Yorkshire -27 14 - - 46
North East - 11 - - 26
Wales - 11 - - 33
West Midlands -51 8 - - 109
Northern Ireland +6 2 £252 - 33

Aerospace
Co-Occurring Skills & Capabilities by Category

The following tables expand on the one above by listing co-occurrences grouped by category. They cover the same employment type, locality and period, with up to 20 co-occurrences shown in each category:

Application Platforms
1 7 (0.83%) SharePoint
2 3 (0.36%) Apache Spark
3 2 (0.24%) Apache
3 2 (0.24%) Apache Airflow
3 2 (0.24%) Apache Superset
3 2 (0.24%) Microsoft Exchange
3 2 (0.24%) ThingWorx
4 1 (0.12%) Confluence
4 1 (0.12%) IIS
4 1 (0.12%) Jupyter
4 1 (0.12%) Kinematics
4 1 (0.12%) Palantir Foundry
4 1 (0.12%) Red Hat Fuse
4 1 (0.12%) Tomcat
Applications
1 18 (2.14%) Microsoft Excel
2 16 (1.90%) Microsoft Project
2 16 (1.90%) Simulink
3 11 (1.31%) CATIA
4 9 (1.07%) Microsoft Office
4 9 (1.07%) Windchill
5 4 (0.48%) Stateflow
6 3 (0.36%) Microsoft PowerPoint
6 3 (0.36%) OrCAD
7 2 (0.24%) Adobe Illustrator
7 2 (0.24%) Photoshop
7 2 (0.24%) Siemens NX
8 1 (0.12%) Adobe XD
8 1 (0.12%) FrameMaker
8 1 (0.12%) MS Visio
Business Applications
1 22 (2.62%) SAP S/4HANA
2 7 (0.83%) Teamcenter
3 6 (0.71%) Primavera
3 6 (0.71%) SAP HR
4 5 (0.60%) SAP GRC
4 5 (0.60%) SAP Payroll
4 5 (0.60%) SAP PP
5 4 (0.48%) SAP EHS
6 3 (0.36%) SAP FI
6 3 (0.36%) SAP QM
7 2 (0.24%) DELMIA
7 2 (0.24%) ENOVIA
7 2 (0.24%) Remedy ITSM
7 2 (0.24%) SAP CO
7 2 (0.24%) SAP FI/CO
8 1 (0.12%) SAP CCM
8 1 (0.12%) SAP ERP
8 1 (0.12%) SAP FI-GL
8 1 (0.12%) SAP HCM
8 1 (0.12%) SAP PM
Cloud Services
1 85 (10.12%) Azure
2 34 (4.05%) AWS
3 27 (3.21%) Azure DevOps
4 23 (2.74%) GCP
5 22 (2.62%) Power Platform
6 14 (1.67%) GitHub
7 13 (1.55%) Dynamics 365
7 13 (1.55%) OpenShift
8 8 (0.95%) Entra ID
8 8 (0.95%) Google Workspace
9 7 (0.83%) GitHub Actions
9 7 (0.83%) Power Automate
10 6 (0.71%) Azure Functions
10 6 (0.71%) Azure Logic Apps
10 6 (0.71%) Cloud Computing
10 6 (0.71%) PowerApps
10 6 (0.71%) Serverless
11 4 (0.48%) Google Sheets
11 4 (0.48%) SaaS
12 3 (0.36%) Azure Monitor
Communications & Networking
1 19 (2.26%) Wireless
2 14 (1.67%) Ethernet
3 13 (1.55%) DNS
4 12 (1.43%) Firewall
4 12 (1.43%) Software-Defined Radio
5 11 (1.31%) DHCP
6 9 (1.07%) TCP/IP
7 7 (0.83%) VPN
8 3 (0.36%) HTTP
8 3 (0.36%) HTTPS
8 3 (0.36%) Network Security
8 3 (0.36%) Software-Defined Networking
9 2 (0.24%) FTP
9 2 (0.24%) Kerberos
9 2 (0.24%) RS-232
9 2 (0.24%) SSL
10 1 (0.12%) 3GPP
10 1 (0.12%) Internet
10 1 (0.12%) S/MIME
10 1 (0.12%) SMTP
Database & Business Intelligence
1 19 (2.26%) Power BI
2 15 (1.79%) Metadata
3 11 (1.31%) NoSQL
4 5 (0.60%) Tableau
5 4 (0.48%) Big Data
5 4 (0.48%) Data Warehouse
5 4 (0.48%) MS Access
5 4 (0.48%) Oracle Reports
5 4 (0.48%) Qlik Sense
5 4 (0.48%) SQL Server
6 3 (0.36%) Hadoop
7 2 (0.24%) PostgreSQL
7 2 (0.24%) SAP HANA
8 1 (0.12%) Amazon Redshift
8 1 (0.12%) BigQuery
8 1 (0.12%) BusinessObjects
8 1 (0.12%) Data Lake
8 1 (0.12%) Looker
8 1 (0.12%) Power Query
8 1 (0.12%) Relational Database
Development Applications
1 39 (4.64%) Rational DOORS
2 23 (2.74%) Git
3 15 (1.79%) JIRA
4 11 (1.31%) GitLab
5 9 (1.07%) Jenkins
6 3 (0.36%) SonarQube
6 3 (0.36%) Visual Studio
7 2 (0.24%) LabVIEW
8 1 (0.12%) Artifactory
8 1 (0.12%) Atlassian Bamboo
8 1 (0.12%) Eclipse
8 1 (0.12%) eggPlant
8 1 (0.12%) PetaLinux
8 1 (0.12%) Postman
8 1 (0.12%) Rational Rhapsody
8 1 (0.12%) Visual Studio Code
General
1 230 (27.38%) Manufacturing
2 145 (17.26%) Social Skills
3 65 (7.74%) Finance
4 48 (5.71%) Analytical Skills
5 42 (5.00%) Aviation
6 41 (4.88%) Electronics
7 37 (4.40%) Avionics
8 33 (3.93%) Automotive
9 25 (2.98%) Influencing Skills
10 17 (2.02%) Public Sector
11 15 (1.79%) Military
11 15 (1.79%) Telecoms
12 13 (1.55%) Organisational Skills
13 10 (1.19%) Documentation Skills
14 7 (0.83%) Presentation Skills
15 5 (0.60%) Inclusion and Diversity
15 5 (0.60%) Legal
16 4 (0.48%) French Language
16 4 (0.48%) Law
16 4 (0.48%) Publishing
Job Titles
1 99 (11.79%) Lead
2 95 (11.31%) Systems Engineer
3 57 (6.79%) Architect
4 54 (6.43%) Senior
4 54 (6.43%) Software Engineer
5 45 (5.36%) Delivery Manager
6 41 (4.88%) Test Engineer
7 38 (4.52%) Developer
8 36 (4.29%) Quality Engineer
9 34 (4.05%) QA Engineer
10 32 (3.81%) Embedded Engineer
11 30 (3.57%) Administrator
12 29 (3.45%) Embedded Software Engineer
13 25 (2.98%) Product Manager
14 24 (2.86%) Analyst
14 24 (2.86%) Product Delivery Manager
15 23 (2.74%) Data Engineer
15 23 (2.74%) Test Technician
16 22 (2.62%) Programmer
17 21 (2.50%) Configuration Manager
Libraries, Frameworks & Software Standards
1 24 (2.86%) Terraform
2 15 (1.79%) Middleware
3 13 (1.55%) LDAP
4 10 (1.19%) AngularJS
5 9 (1.07%) REST
6 8 (0.95%) React
6 8 (0.95%) Redux
6 8 (0.95%) Vue
7 7 (0.83%) .NET
7 7 (0.83%) ARM Templates
7 7 (0.83%) Backbone.js
7 7 (0.83%) OAuth
7 7 (0.83%) SAML
8 6 (0.71%) Web Services
9 5 (0.60%) XML
10 4 (0.48%) OpenID
10 4 (0.48%) RESTful
10 4 (0.48%) Yocto
11 3 (0.36%) Spring
11 3 (0.36%) Spring Boot
Miscellaneous
1 32 (3.81%) Product Ownership
2 28 (3.33%) Management Information System
3 25 (2.98%) Self-Motivation
4 21 (2.50%) Embedded Systems
5 20 (2.38%) FPGA
6 16 (1.90%) Hybrid Cloud
7 14 (1.67%) Data Structures
8 12 (1.43%) Enterprise Software
9 11 (1.31%) Cyber Threat
9 11 (1.31%) PCIe
10 10 (1.19%) Algorithms
10 10 (1.19%) Onboarding
10 10 (1.19%) Virtual Team
11 9 (1.07%) Cloud Native
12 8 (0.95%) VHDL
13 7 (0.83%) Operational Technology
13 7 (0.83%) Verilog
14 6 (0.71%) Analogue Electronics
15 5 (0.60%) Enterprise Cloud
16 4 (0.48%) Greenfield Project
Operating Systems
1 29 (3.45%) Linux
2 22 (2.62%) Windows
3 13 (1.55%) Windows Server
4 8 (0.95%) Red Hat Enterprise Linux
5 6 (0.71%) Embedded Linux
6 5 (0.60%) CentOS
6 5 (0.60%) FreeRTOS
7 3 (0.36%) Mac OS
7 3 (0.36%) Ubuntu
8 2 (0.24%) Windows Server 2012
9 1 (0.12%) Unix
Processes & Methodologies
1 140 (16.67%) Stakeholder Management
2 122 (14.52%) Agile
3 106 (12.62%) Continuous Improvement
4 98 (11.67%) Software Engineering
5 88 (10.48%) Roadmaps
6 72 (8.57%) Cybersecurity
7 71 (8.45%) Problem-Solving
8 68 (8.10%) Digital Engineering
9 61 (7.26%) Stakeholder Engagement
10 57 (6.79%) Technical Leadership
11 55 (6.55%) DevOps
12 53 (6.31%) Validation
13 51 (6.07%) Risk Management
14 49 (5.83%) Systems Engineering
15 44 (5.24%) Digital Transformation Programme
16 43 (5.12%) CI/CD
16 43 (5.12%) Computer Science
16 43 (5.12%) ITIL
17 42 (5.00%) Decision-Making
18 39 (4.64%) Scaled Agile Framework
Programming Languages
1 53 (6.31%) Python
2 31 (3.69%) SQL
3 23 (2.74%) C
4 21 (2.50%) PowerShell
5 20 (2.38%) MATLAB
6 19 (2.26%) Ada
7 17 (2.02%) C++
8 16 (1.90%) JavaScript
9 15 (1.79%) Java
10 11 (1.31%) Bash
11 9 (1.07%) C#
12 8 (0.95%) Bicep
13 7 (0.83%) SystemVerilog
14 4 (0.48%) Shell Script
14 4 (0.48%) X++
15 2 (0.24%) Rust
16 1 (0.12%) Ada 95
16 1 (0.12%) Google Apps Script
16 1 (0.12%) Scala
16 1 (0.12%) Tcl
Qualifications
1 328 (39.05%) Security Cleared
2 254 (30.24%) SC Cleared
3 120 (14.29%) Degree
4 43 (5.12%) BPSS Clearance
5 33 (3.93%) CISSP
6 32 (3.81%) DV Cleared
7 29 (3.45%) Azure Certification
8 15 (1.79%) Computer Science Degree
9 14 (1.67%) PMI Certification
10 13 (1.55%) HNC
10 13 (1.55%) PMP
11 12 (1.43%) Cisco Certification
11 12 (1.43%) Microsoft Certification
12 11 (1.31%) Chartered Engineer
12 11 (1.31%) CISM
13 10 (1.19%) (ISC)2 CCSP
13 10 (1.19%) TOGAF Certification
14 9 (1.07%) CEH
15 8 (0.95%) CompTIA Security+
15 8 (0.95%) NVQ Level 4
Quality Assurance & Compliance
1 43 (5.12%) QA
2 33 (3.93%) ISO/IEC 27001
3 25 (2.98%) NIST
4 23 (2.74%) Def Stans
5 16 (1.90%) GRC
6 15 (1.79%) Data Quality
6 15 (1.79%) GDPR
7 13 (1.55%) NCSC
8 9 (1.07%) IEC 61508
8 9 (1.07%) SLA
9 8 (0.95%) DO-254
9 8 (0.95%) ISO 9001
9 8 (0.95%) NIST 800
10 6 (0.71%) PMO
11 4 (0.48%) Cyber Essentials
11 4 (0.48%) Cyber Essentials PLUS
11 4 (0.48%) JSP 440
12 3 (0.36%) DO-160
13 2 (0.24%) ARP4761
13 2 (0.24%) MIL-STD-1553
System Software
1 21 (2.50%) Active Directory
2 16 (1.90%) Docker
2 16 (1.90%) Firmware
3 10 (1.19%) VMware Infrastructure
4 7 (0.83%) Hyper-V
5 6 (0.71%) Embedded Firmware
6 3 (0.36%) vSphere
7 2 (0.24%) Virtual Machines
7 2 (0.24%) VMware ESXi
8 1 (0.12%) IAG
8 1 (0.12%) NFS
Systems Management
1 25 (2.98%) Kubernetes
2 21 (2.50%) Ansible
3 7 (0.83%) Functional Safety
4 4 (0.48%) Grafana
5 3 (0.36%) Check_MK
5 3 (0.36%) Istio
5 3 (0.36%) Jamf Pro
5 3 (0.36%) MOM
5 3 (0.36%) Podman
5 3 (0.36%) Red Hat Satellite
6 2 (0.24%) Active Directory Federation Services
6 2 (0.24%) Argo
6 2 (0.24%) Prometheus
6 2 (0.24%) Single Sign-On
7 1 (0.12%) Nagios
7 1 (0.12%) PTC Integrity
7 1 (0.12%) RSA Archer
7 1 (0.12%) SolarWinds Orion
Vendors
1 91 (10.83%) Microsoft
2 75 (8.93%) SAP
3 26 (3.10%) EMC
4 16 (1.90%) Google
5 14 (1.67%) VMware
6 10 (1.19%) Xilinx
7 8 (0.95%) Red Hat
8 7 (0.83%) ServiceNow
9 6 (0.71%) Altera
9 6 (0.71%) Intel
9 6 (0.71%) Microsemi
9 6 (0.71%) Oracle
9 6 (0.71%) PTC
9 6 (0.71%) Siemens
10 5 (0.60%) Adobe
10 5 (0.60%) IBM
10 5 (0.60%) Palantir
11 4 (0.48%) Okta
11 4 (0.48%) Ping Identity
11 4 (0.48%) Workday