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 18 August 2026, comparing them to the same period in the previous two years.

6 months to
18 Aug 2026
Same period 2025 Same period 2024
Rank 187 314 268
Rank change year-on-year +127 -46 +93
Contract jobs citing Aerospace 803 251 332
As % of all contract jobs in the UK 1.50% 0.76% 0.86%
As % of the General category 2.72% 1.20% 1.49%
Number of daily rates quoted 115 75 66
10th Percentile £400 £367 £294
25th Percentile £463 £455 £375
Median daily rate (50th Percentile) £581 £550 £604
Median % change year-on-year +5.64% -8.90% +12.22%
75th Percentile £688 £649 £700
90th Percentile £728 £727 £742
UK excluding London median daily rate £550 £525 £601
% change year-on-year +4.76% -12.57% +13.04%
Number of hourly rates quoted 510 93 184
10th Percentile £26.90 £22.63 £35.00
25th Percentile £35.71 £40.84 £45.00
Median hourly rate £57.35 £50.00 £50.00
Median % change year-on-year +14.70% - -13.04%
75th Percentile £78.75 £67.00 £70.00
90th Percentile £88.00 £75.00 £75.00
UK excluding London median hourly rate £57.50 £50.00 £50.00
% change year-on-year +15.00% - -13.04%

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 29,482 20,875 22,222
As % of all contract IT jobs advertised in the UK 55.05% 63.50% 57.36%
Number of daily rates quoted 17,469 12,963 13,968
10th Percentile £313 £275 £290
25th Percentile £415 £400 £413
Median daily rate (50th Percentile) £525 £500 £525
Median % change year-on-year +5.00% -4.76% -4.55%
75th Percentile £638 £626 £650
90th Percentile £738 £750 £775
UK excluding London median daily rate £500 £475 £500
% change year-on-year +5.26% -5.00% -
Number of hourly rates quoted 2,257 1,147 1,334
10th Percentile £13.99 £13.25 £14.06
25th Percentile £17.25 £16.25 £16.88
Median hourly rate £31.56 £25.15 £38.12
Median % change year-on-year +25.47% -34.02% +38.62%
75th Percentile £57.50 £50.25 £58.65
90th Percentile £80.00 £70.06 £70.23
UK excluding London median hourly rate £32.50 £22.14 £38.12
% change year-on-year +46.79% -41.92% +52.48%

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 18 August 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 18 August 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 18 August 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
UK excluding London +97 750 £550 +4.76% 563
England +117 745 £600 +9.09% 563
South East +82 348 £625 +21.60% 201
South West +28 160 £495 -13.91% 119
Work from Home +54 146 £560 +6.67% 186
North of England -22 93 £725 +61.65% 77
East of England +10 85 £488 -31.58% 74
North West -12 69 £725 +61.11% 56
London -72 29 £675 +12.50% 39
Midlands -46 28 £500 +2.56% 78
Scotland -1 19 - - 28
East Midlands -5 19 £475 -36.67% 37
Yorkshire -33 13 - - 11
North East - 11 - - 11
Wales - 10 - - 10
West Midlands -54 8 - - 41
Northern Ireland +11 7 £380 -

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 4 (0.50%) SharePoint
2 3 (0.37%) Apache Spark
3 2 (0.25%) Apache
3 2 (0.25%) Microsoft Exchange
3 2 (0.25%) ThingWorx
4 1 (0.12%) Apache Airflow
4 1 (0.12%) Apache Superset
4 1 (0.12%) Confluence
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 19 (2.37%) Simulink
2 16 (1.99%) Microsoft Excel
3 15 (1.87%) CATIA
4 14 (1.74%) Microsoft Project
5 7 (0.87%) Windchill
6 5 (0.62%) Microsoft Office
7 4 (0.50%) Stateflow
8 2 (0.25%) Adobe Illustrator
8 2 (0.25%) Microsoft PowerPoint
8 2 (0.25%) Photoshop
9 1 (0.12%) Adobe XD
9 1 (0.12%) FrameMaker
9 1 (0.12%) MS Visio
9 1 (0.12%) OrCAD
9 1 (0.12%) Siemens NX
Business Applications
1 23 (2.86%) SAP S/4HANA
2 8 (1.00%) Teamcenter
3 6 (0.75%) Primavera
4 5 (0.62%) SAP GRC
4 5 (0.62%) SAP Payroll
5 4 (0.50%) SAP EHS
6 3 (0.37%) SAP FI
6 3 (0.37%) SAP PP
6 3 (0.37%) SAP QM
7 2 (0.25%) DELMIA
7 2 (0.25%) ENOVIA
7 2 (0.25%) SAP CO
7 2 (0.25%) SAP ERP
7 2 (0.25%) SAP FI/CO
7 2 (0.25%) SAP HR
8 1 (0.12%) Remedy ITSM
8 1 (0.12%) SAP CCM
8 1 (0.12%) SAP EWM
8 1 (0.12%) SAP FI-GL
8 1 (0.12%) SAP HCM
Cloud Services
1 75 (9.34%) Azure
2 32 (3.99%) AWS
3 25 (3.11%) Azure DevOps
4 22 (2.74%) GCP
5 15 (1.87%) Power Platform
6 13 (1.62%) Dynamics 365
6 13 (1.62%) GitHub
7 10 (1.25%) OpenShift
8 8 (1.00%) Entra ID
9 7 (0.87%) Power Automate
10 6 (0.75%) Azure Functions
10 6 (0.75%) Azure Logic Apps
10 6 (0.75%) Cloud Computing
10 6 (0.75%) GitHub Actions
10 6 (0.75%) PowerApps
10 6 (0.75%) Serverless
11 4 (0.50%) Google Workspace
11 4 (0.50%) SaaS
12 3 (0.37%) Figma
12 3 (0.37%) Smartsheet
Communications & Networking
1 18 (2.24%) Wireless
2 13 (1.62%) Ethernet
3 12 (1.49%) Software-Defined Radio
4 10 (1.25%) DNS
5 9 (1.12%) DHCP
5 9 (1.12%) Firewall
6 5 (0.62%) TCP/IP
6 5 (0.62%) VPN
7 2 (0.25%) FTP
7 2 (0.25%) HTTPS
7 2 (0.25%) Kerberos
7 2 (0.25%) Network Security
7 2 (0.25%) Software-Defined Networking
8 1 (0.12%) 3GPP
8 1 (0.12%) Reverse Proxy
8 1 (0.12%) RS-232
8 1 (0.12%) RS-422
8 1 (0.12%) S/MIME
8 1 (0.12%) SpaceWire
8 1 (0.12%) X.509
Database & Business Intelligence
1 12 (1.49%) Power BI
2 11 (1.37%) NoSQL
3 4 (0.50%) Data Warehouse
4 3 (0.37%) Big Data
4 3 (0.37%) Hadoop
4 3 (0.37%) Metadata
4 3 (0.37%) Tableau
5 2 (0.25%) MS Access
5 2 (0.25%) PostgreSQL
5 2 (0.25%) SAP HANA
5 2 (0.25%) SQL Server
6 1 (0.12%) Azure SQL Database
6 1 (0.12%) BusinessObjects
6 1 (0.12%) Data Lake
6 1 (0.12%) Power Query
6 1 (0.12%) Relational Database
6 1 (0.12%) SQLite
Development Applications
1 63 (7.85%) Rational DOORS
2 19 (2.37%) Git
3 11 (1.37%) GitLab
4 9 (1.12%) Jenkins
5 8 (1.00%) JIRA
6 6 (0.75%) Rational Rhapsody
7 2 (0.25%) Artifactory
7 2 (0.25%) SonarQube
7 2 (0.25%) Visual Studio
8 1 (0.12%) Atlassian Bamboo
8 1 (0.12%) eggPlant
8 1 (0.12%) Hudson
8 1 (0.12%) LabVIEW
8 1 (0.12%) PetaLinux
8 1 (0.12%) Postman
8 1 (0.12%) Visual Studio Code
General
1 215 (26.77%) Manufacturing
2 114 (14.20%) Social Skills
3 64 (7.97%) Finance
4 44 (5.48%) Analytical Skills
5 41 (5.11%) Aviation
6 26 (3.24%) Automotive
6 26 (3.24%) Electronics
7 23 (2.86%) Avionics
8 21 (2.62%) Influencing Skills
9 17 (2.12%) Public Sector
10 15 (1.87%) Telecoms
11 14 (1.74%) Military
12 13 (1.62%) Documentation Skills
13 8 (1.00%) Organisational Skills
14 7 (0.87%) Inclusion and Diversity
15 6 (0.75%) Presentation Skills
16 4 (0.50%) Legal
16 4 (0.50%) Pharmaceutical
17 3 (0.37%) General Ledger
17 3 (0.37%) Law
Job Titles
1 90 (11.21%) Lead
2 86 (10.71%) Systems Engineer
3 57 (7.10%) Software Engineer
4 55 (6.85%) Senior
5 54 (6.72%) Delivery Manager
6 47 (5.85%) Product Manager
7 46 (5.73%) Architect
8 42 (5.23%) Product Delivery Manager
9 39 (4.86%) Embedded Engineer
10 36 (4.48%) Quality Engineer
11 35 (4.36%) Test Engineer
12 34 (4.23%) Developer
12 34 (4.23%) QA Engineer
13 32 (3.99%) Systems Manager
14 31 (3.86%) Embedded Software Engineer
15 26 (3.24%) Programmer
16 23 (2.86%) Analyst
17 22 (2.74%) Systems Delivery Manager
17 22 (2.74%) Test Technician
18 21 (2.62%) Administrator
Libraries, Frameworks & Software Standards
1 13 (1.62%) Middleware
2 11 (1.37%) LDAP
3 10 (1.25%) AngularJS
4 8 (1.00%) React
4 8 (1.00%) Redux
4 8 (1.00%) REST
4 8 (1.00%) Vue
5 7 (0.87%) .NET
5 7 (0.87%) Backbone.js
5 7 (0.87%) OAuth
5 7 (0.87%) SAML
6 6 (0.75%) ARM Templates
7 4 (0.50%) OpenID
7 4 (0.50%) Web Services
7 4 (0.50%) XML
7 4 (0.50%) Yocto
8 3 (0.37%) Apache NiFi
8 3 (0.37%) RESTful
9 2 (0.25%) SAP Fiori
9 2 (0.25%) Spring Boot
Miscellaneous
1 55 (6.85%) Product Ownership
2 36 (4.48%) Data Structures
3 20 (2.49%) FPGA
4 19 (2.37%) Self-Motivation
5 18 (2.24%) Embedded Systems
5 18 (2.24%) Management Information System
6 13 (1.62%) Hybrid Cloud
7 12 (1.49%) Algorithms
7 12 (1.49%) Enterprise Software
7 12 (1.49%) Onboarding
7 12 (1.49%) PCIe
8 11 (1.37%) Operational Technology
8 11 (1.37%) VHDL
9 9 (1.12%) Cyber Threat
9 9 (1.12%) Verilog
10 8 (1.00%) Virtual Team
11 7 (0.87%) Cloud Native
12 5 (0.62%) Enterprise Cloud
13 4 (0.50%) Greenfield Project
13 4 (0.50%) Legacy Systems
Operating Systems
1 26 (3.24%) Linux
2 14 (1.74%) Windows
3 7 (0.87%) Red Hat Enterprise Linux
3 7 (0.87%) Windows Server
4 6 (0.75%) Embedded Linux
5 5 (0.62%) CentOS
5 5 (0.62%) FreeRTOS
6 3 (0.37%) Mac OS
6 3 (0.37%) Ubuntu
7 2 (0.25%) Windows Server 2012
8 1 (0.12%) Unix
Processes & Methodologies
1 115 (14.32%) Agile
2 107 (13.33%) Stakeholder Management
3 105 (13.08%) Continuous Improvement
4 101 (12.58%) Software Engineering
5 80 (9.96%) Stakeholder Engagement
6 79 (9.84%) Cybersecurity
7 76 (9.46%) Systems Engineering
8 71 (8.84%) Roadmaps
9 70 (8.72%) Validation
10 68 (8.47%) Problem-Solving
11 66 (8.22%) Computer Science
12 49 (6.10%) DevOps
13 48 (5.98%) PRINCE2
14 47 (5.85%) Risk Management
15 46 (5.73%) Programme Management
15 46 (5.73%) Scaled Agile Framework
16 45 (5.60%) Configuration Management
16 45 (5.60%) Digital Transformation Programme
17 44 (5.48%) Technical Leadership
18 43 (5.35%) Change Control
Programming Languages
1 49 (6.10%) Python
2 29 (3.61%) Ada
3 28 (3.49%) C
3 28 (3.49%) SQL
4 23 (2.86%) MATLAB
5 18 (2.24%) PowerShell
6 16 (1.99%) C++
7 15 (1.87%) Java
8 14 (1.74%) JavaScript
9 10 (1.25%) SystemVerilog
10 9 (1.12%) Bash
11 8 (1.00%) C#
12 7 (0.87%) Bicep
13 4 (0.50%) Shell Script
13 4 (0.50%) X++
14 2 (0.25%) Rust
15 1 (0.12%) ABAP
15 1 (0.12%) Ada 95
15 1 (0.12%) Embedded C++
15 1 (0.12%) Scala
Qualifications
1 321 (39.98%) Security Cleared
2 211 (26.28%) SC Cleared
3 117 (14.57%) Degree
4 56 (6.97%) BPSS Clearance
5 31 (3.86%) CISSP
6 23 (2.86%) Azure Certification
6 23 (2.86%) DV Cleared
7 15 (1.87%) HNC
8 13 (1.62%) PMP
9 12 (1.49%) Computer Science Degree
10 11 (1.37%) Cisco Certification
10 11 (1.37%) CISM
10 11 (1.37%) Microsoft Certification
10 11 (1.37%) NVQ Level 4
10 11 (1.37%) PMI Certification
11 10 (1.25%) (ISC)2 CCSP
12 9 (1.12%) CEH
12 9 (1.12%) Chartered Engineer
12 9 (1.12%) TOGAF Certification
13 8 (1.00%) CompTIA Security+
Quality Assurance & Compliance
1 47 (5.85%) QA
2 42 (5.23%) ISO/IEC 27001
3 33 (4.11%) NIST
4 22 (2.74%) Def Stans
5 16 (1.99%) GRC
6 12 (1.49%) Data Quality
6 12 (1.49%) DO-254
6 12 (1.49%) GDPR
6 12 (1.49%) NIST 800
7 11 (1.37%) NCSC
8 10 (1.25%) IEC 61508
9 5 (0.62%) Cyber Essentials
9 5 (0.62%) PMO
9 5 (0.62%) SLA
10 4 (0.50%) Cyber Essentials PLUS
10 4 (0.50%) ISO 26262
11 3 (0.37%) ISO 9001
11 3 (0.37%) JSP 440
12 2 (0.25%) ARP4761
12 2 (0.25%) DO-160
System Software
1 16 (1.99%) Active Directory
2 13 (1.62%) Firmware
3 12 (1.49%) Docker
4 7 (0.87%) VMware Infrastructure
5 6 (0.75%) Embedded Firmware
6 4 (0.50%) Hyper-V
7 2 (0.25%) VMware ESXi
7 2 (0.25%) vSphere
8 1 (0.12%) IAG
8 1 (0.12%) Virtual Machines
Systems Management
1 22 (2.74%) Terraform
2 20 (2.49%) Kubernetes
3 19 (2.37%) Ansible
4 5 (0.62%) Functional Safety
5 3 (0.37%) Check_MK
5 3 (0.37%) Jamf Pro
5 3 (0.37%) Podman
5 3 (0.37%) Red Hat Satellite
6 2 (0.25%) Active Directory Federation Services
6 2 (0.25%) Argo
6 2 (0.25%) Grafana
6 2 (0.25%) Istio
6 2 (0.25%) Single Sign-On
7 1 (0.12%) HP ALM
7 1 (0.12%) MOM
7 1 (0.12%) Prometheus
7 1 (0.12%) PTC Integrity
7 1 (0.12%) RSA Archer
7 1 (0.12%) SolarWinds Orion
Vendors
1 77 (9.59%) SAP
2 67 (8.34%) Microsoft
3 31 (3.86%) IBM
4 15 (1.87%) EMC
5 14 (1.74%) Google
6 11 (1.37%) Xilinx
7 10 (1.25%) ServiceNow
7 10 (1.25%) VMware
8 9 (1.12%) Microsemi
9 8 (1.00%) Red Hat
10 7 (0.87%) Altera
11 6 (0.75%) Adobe
12 5 (0.62%) Siemens
13 4 (0.50%) Intel
13 4 (0.50%) Lauterbach
13 4 (0.50%) Okta
13 4 (0.50%) Ping Identity
13 4 (0.50%) PTC
14 3 (0.37%) Apple
14 3 (0.37%) Cisco