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 30 September 2026, comparing them to the same period in the previous two years.

6 months to
30 Sep 2026
Same period 2025 Same period 2024
Rank 188 301 327
Rank change year-on-year +113 +26 +28
Contract jobs citing Aerospace 838 278 257
As % of all contract jobs in the UK 1.53% 0.85% 0.68%
As % of the General category 2.72% 1.33% 1.17%
Number of daily rates quoted 142 96 53
10th Percentile £400 £238 £264
25th Percentile £514 £450 £350
Median daily rate (50th Percentile) £578 £550 £538
Median % change year-on-year +5.09% +2.23% -
75th Percentile £686 £637 £670
90th Percentile £800 £731 £717
UK excluding London median daily rate £575 £525 £400
% change year-on-year +9.52% +31.25% -25.58%
Number of hourly rates quoted 511 95 112
10th Percentile £25.94 £22.63 £31.97
25th Percentile £35.54 £41.05 £40.35
Median hourly rate £52.50 £55.00 £53.45
Median % change year-on-year -4.55% +2.90% -2.82%
75th Percentile £77.50 £67.00 £70.06
90th Percentile £87.96 £75.00 £75.00
UK excluding London median hourly rate £52.50 £54.75 £53.45
% change year-on-year -4.11% +2.43% -2.82%

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 30,767 20,862 21,960
As % of all contract IT jobs advertised in the UK 56.05% 63.53% 58.39%
Number of daily rates quoted 17,965 12,966 12,972
10th Percentile £313 £275 £281
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 £488
% change year-on-year +5.26% -2.56% -2.50%
Number of hourly rates quoted 2,633 1,214 1,008
10th Percentile £13.50 £13.50 £14.73
25th Percentile £16.25 £16.17 £17.21
Median hourly rate £29.00 £25.15 £35.00
Median % change year-on-year +15.31% -28.14% +27.27%
75th Percentile £53.75 £46.94 £60.00
90th Percentile £77.50 £67.00 £71.25
UK excluding London median hourly rate £29.01 £21.39 £35.00
% change year-on-year +35.62% -38.89% +29.68%

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 30 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 30 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 30 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% 1,740
UK excluding London +80 757 £575 +9.52% 1,537
South East +87 354 £575 +4.12% 504
South West +21 166 £500 -9.09% 318
Work from Home +29 150 £560 +6.67% 768
East of England +20 111 £488 -30.36% 238
North of England -38 76 £560 +24.75% 153
North West -26 53 £560 +24.33% 95
London -76 42 £675 +12.50% 262
Midlands -41 23 £575 +25.41% 136
East Midlands -10 18 £538 -17.31% 57
Scotland -16 15 £438 +573.08% 169
Yorkshire -31 14 - - 26
Wales - 10 - - 29
North East - 9 - - 33
West Midlands -56 4 - - 79
Northern Ireland - 2 £252 - 21

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 (0.84%) 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
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%) ThingWorx
4 1 (0.12%) Tomcat
Applications
1 19 (2.27%) Microsoft Excel
2 17 (2.03%) Microsoft Project
3 15 (1.79%) Simulink
4 10 (1.19%) Windchill
5 8 (0.95%) CATIA
5 8 (0.95%) Microsoft Office
6 4 (0.48%) OrCAD
6 4 (0.48%) Stateflow
7 2 (0.24%) Adobe Illustrator
7 2 (0.24%) Microsoft PowerPoint
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 (2.63%) SAP S/4HANA
2 7 (0.84%) SAP HR
2 7 (0.84%) Teamcenter
3 6 (0.72%) Primavera
3 6 (0.72%) SAP PP
4 5 (0.60%) SAP Payroll
5 4 (0.48%) SAP EHS
5 4 (0.48%) SAP GRC
6 3 (0.36%) Remedy ITSM
6 3 (0.36%) SAP QM
7 2 (0.24%) SAP CO
7 2 (0.24%) SAP FI
7 2 (0.24%) SAP FI/CO
8 1 (0.12%) Maximo
8 1 (0.12%) SAP ERP
8 1 (0.12%) SAP HCM
8 1 (0.12%) SAP PM
Cloud Services
1 87 (10.38%) Azure
2 35 (4.18%) AWS
3 27 (3.22%) Azure DevOps
4 24 (2.86%) GCP
5 22 (2.63%) Power Platform
6 16 (1.91%) GitHub
7 14 (1.67%) Dynamics 365
8 12 (1.43%) OpenShift
9 8 (0.95%) Entra ID
9 8 (0.95%) Google Workspace
10 7 (0.84%) GitHub Actions
11 6 (0.72%) Cloud Computing
11 6 (0.72%) Power Automate
12 5 (0.60%) Azure Functions
12 5 (0.60%) Azure Logic Apps
12 5 (0.60%) PowerApps
12 5 (0.60%) Serverless
13 4 (0.48%) Google Sheets
13 4 (0.48%) SaaS
14 3 (0.36%) Smartsheet
Communications & Networking
1 18 (2.15%) Wireless
2 14 (1.67%) DNS
3 13 (1.55%) Ethernet
4 12 (1.43%) DHCP
4 12 (1.43%) Firewall
5 11 (1.31%) Software-Defined Radio
6 9 (1.07%) TCP/IP
7 7 (0.84%) VPN
8 3 (0.36%) FTP
8 3 (0.36%) HTTP
8 3 (0.36%) HTTPS
8 3 (0.36%) Kerberos
8 3 (0.36%) Network Security
8 3 (0.36%) Software-Defined Networking
9 2 (0.24%) RS-232
9 2 (0.24%) SSL
10 1 (0.12%) BGP
10 1 (0.12%) Internet
10 1 (0.12%) OSPF
10 1 (0.12%) S/MIME
Database & Business Intelligence
1 19 (2.27%) Power BI
2 15 (1.79%) Metadata
3 11 (1.31%) NoSQL
4 5 (0.60%) Oracle Reports
4 5 (0.60%) Qlik Sense
4 5 (0.60%) SQL Server
4 5 (0.60%) Tableau
5 4 (0.48%) Big Data
5 4 (0.48%) Data Warehouse
5 4 (0.48%) MS Access
6 3 (0.36%) Hadoop
7 2 (0.24%) BigQuery
7 2 (0.24%) Looker
7 2 (0.24%) PostgreSQL
8 1 (0.12%) Amazon Aurora
8 1 (0.12%) Data Lake
8 1 (0.12%) Db2
8 1 (0.12%) Power Query
8 1 (0.12%) SAP HANA
8 1 (0.12%) SQLite
Development Applications
1 41 (4.89%) Rational DOORS
2 24 (2.86%) Git
3 17 (2.03%) JIRA
4 11 (1.31%) GitLab
5 10 (1.19%) Jenkins
6 3 (0.36%) SonarQube
6 3 (0.36%) Visual Studio
7 2 (0.24%) Artifactory
7 2 (0.24%) eggPlant
7 2 (0.24%) LabVIEW
8 1 (0.12%) Eclipse
8 1 (0.12%) Visual Studio Code
General
1 227 (27.09%) Manufacturing
2 149 (17.78%) Social Skills
3 66 (7.88%) Finance
4 52 (6.21%) Analytical Skills
5 46 (5.49%) Aviation
6 42 (5.01%) Electronics
7 40 (4.77%) Avionics
8 29 (3.46%) Automotive
9 26 (3.10%) Influencing Skills
10 16 (1.91%) Public Sector
10 16 (1.91%) Telecoms
11 15 (1.79%) Military
11 15 (1.79%) Organisational Skills
12 12 (1.43%) Documentation Skills
13 7 (0.84%) Presentation Skills
14 5 (0.60%) French Language
14 5 (0.60%) Inclusion and Diversity
14 5 (0.60%) Publishing
15 4 (0.48%) German Language
15 4 (0.48%) Legal
Job Titles
1 99 (11.81%) Systems Engineer
2 98 (11.69%) Lead
3 61 (7.28%) Architect
4 53 (6.32%) Senior
5 47 (5.61%) Delivery Manager
6 44 (5.25%) Software Engineer
7 39 (4.65%) Test Engineer
8 37 (4.42%) Developer
9 34 (4.06%) Administrator
9 34 (4.06%) QA Engineer
9 34 (4.06%) Quality Engineer
10 25 (2.98%) Product Manager
11 24 (2.86%) Analyst
11 24 (2.86%) Embedded Engineer
11 24 (2.86%) Product Delivery Manager
12 23 (2.74%) Embedded Software Engineer
12 23 (2.74%) Test Technician
13 22 (2.63%) Data Engineer
14 21 (2.51%) Change Manager
14 21 (2.51%) Configuration Manager
Libraries, Frameworks & Software Standards
1 25 (2.98%) Terraform
2 16 (1.91%) Middleware
3 14 (1.67%) LDAP
4 10 (1.19%) REST
5 9 (1.07%) AngularJS
6 8 (0.95%) OAuth
6 8 (0.95%) React
6 8 (0.95%) Redux
6 8 (0.95%) SAML
6 8 (0.95%) Vue
7 7 (0.84%) ARM Templates
7 7 (0.84%) Backbone.js
8 6 (0.72%) Web Services
8 6 (0.72%) XML
9 5 (0.60%) .NET
10 4 (0.48%) OpenID
11 3 (0.36%) Hibernate
11 3 (0.36%) JDBC
11 3 (0.36%) RESTful
11 3 (0.36%) Spring
Miscellaneous
1 33 (3.94%) Product Ownership
2 31 (3.70%) Management Information System
3 26 (3.10%) Self-Motivation
4 21 (2.51%) Embedded Systems
5 20 (2.39%) FPGA
6 17 (2.03%) Hybrid Cloud
7 13 (1.55%) Data Structures
8 12 (1.43%) Enterprise Software
9 11 (1.31%) Cyber Threat
10 10 (1.19%) Onboarding
10 10 (1.19%) PCIe
11 9 (1.07%) Algorithms
11 9 (1.07%) Cloud Native
11 9 (1.07%) Virtual Team
12 7 (0.84%) Analogue Electronics
12 7 (0.84%) VHDL
13 6 (0.72%) Robotics
13 6 (0.72%) Verilog
14 5 (0.60%) Greenfield Project
14 5 (0.60%) Operational Technology
Operating Systems
1 27 (3.22%) Linux
2 25 (2.98%) Windows
3 14 (1.67%) Windows Server
4 7 (0.84%) Red Hat Enterprise Linux
5 5 (0.60%) CentOS
5 5 (0.60%) Embedded Linux
5 5 (0.60%) FreeRTOS
6 3 (0.36%) Mac OS
6 3 (0.36%) Ubuntu
7 2 (0.24%) Windows Server 2012
8 1 (0.12%) Unix
Processes & Methodologies
1 146 (17.42%) Stakeholder Management
2 120 (14.32%) Agile
3 107 (12.77%) Continuous Improvement
4 91 (10.86%) Software Engineering
5 90 (10.74%) Roadmaps
6 73 (8.71%) Digital Engineering
7 72 (8.59%) Problem-Solving
8 66 (7.88%) Cybersecurity
9 63 (7.52%) Stakeholder Engagement
10 59 (7.04%) Technical Leadership
11 56 (6.68%) DevOps
12 52 (6.21%) Risk Management
12 52 (6.21%) Validation
13 49 (5.85%) Systems Engineering
14 48 (5.73%) Decision-Making
15 45 (5.37%) Digital Transformation Programme
15 45 (5.37%) ITIL
16 44 (5.25%) CI/CD
17 43 (5.13%) Computer Science
18 41 (4.89%) Service Management
Programming Languages
1 50 (5.97%) Python
2 34 (4.06%) SQL
3 22 (2.63%) PowerShell
4 19 (2.27%) C
5 18 (2.15%) MATLAB
6 17 (2.03%) JavaScript
7 15 (1.79%) Java
8 14 (1.67%) Ada
8 14 (1.67%) C++
9 11 (1.31%) Bash
10 8 (0.95%) Bicep
11 7 (0.84%) C#
12 4 (0.48%) Shell Script
12 4 (0.48%) SystemVerilog
13 3 (0.36%) X++
14 2 (0.24%) Embedded C++
14 2 (0.24%) Google Apps Script
14 2 (0.24%) Rust
15 1 (0.12%) Assembly Language
15 1 (0.12%) Embedded C
Qualifications
1 342 (40.81%) Security Cleared
2 260 (31.03%) SC Cleared
3 121 (14.44%) Degree
4 48 (5.73%) BPSS Clearance
5 36 (4.30%) DV Cleared
6 30 (3.58%) CISSP
7 29 (3.46%) Azure Certification
8 15 (1.79%) Computer Science Degree
9 14 (1.67%) PMI Certification
10 13 (1.55%) PMP
11 12 (1.43%) Cisco Certification
12 11 (1.31%) Chartered Engineer
12 11 (1.31%) HNC
12 11 (1.31%) Microsoft Certification
13 10 (1.19%) (ISC)2 CCSP
13 10 (1.19%) CISM
14 9 (1.07%) TOGAF Certification
15 8 (0.95%) AWS Certification
15 8 (0.95%) CEH
16 7 (0.84%) PRINCE2 Certification
Quality Assurance & Compliance
1 41 (4.89%) QA
2 32 (3.82%) ISO/IEC 27001
3 24 (2.86%) NIST
4 22 (2.63%) Def Stans
5 17 (2.03%) Data Quality
6 15 (1.79%) GDPR
6 15 (1.79%) GRC
7 14 (1.67%) NCSC
8 11 (1.31%) SLA
9 10 (1.19%) IEC 61508
10 8 (0.95%) ISO 9001
11 7 (0.84%) NIST 800
12 6 (0.72%) DO-254
12 6 (0.72%) PMO
13 5 (0.60%) JSP 440
14 4 (0.48%) Cyber Essentials
14 4 (0.48%) Cyber Essentials PLUS
15 3 (0.36%) DO-160
16 2 (0.24%) ARP4761
16 2 (0.24%) MIL-STD-1553
System Software
1 23 (2.74%) Active Directory
2 15 (1.79%) Firmware
3 14 (1.67%) Docker
4 10 (1.19%) VMware Infrastructure
5 7 (0.84%) Hyper-V
6 4 (0.48%) Embedded Firmware
7 3 (0.36%) vSphere
8 2 (0.24%) Virtual Machines
8 2 (0.24%) VMware ESXi
9 1 (0.12%) IAG
9 1 (0.12%) NFS
Systems Management
1 24 (2.86%) Kubernetes
2 21 (2.51%) Ansible
3 8 (0.95%) Functional Safety
4 5 (0.60%) Grafana
5 3 (0.36%) Active Directory Federation Services
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%) Prometheus
5 3 (0.36%) Red Hat Satellite
6 2 (0.24%) Single Sign-On
7 1 (0.12%) Argo
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 94 (11.22%) Microsoft
2 78 (9.31%) SAP
3 28 (3.34%) EMC
4 17 (2.03%) Google
5 14 (1.67%) VMware
6 11 (1.31%) Oracle
7 9 (1.07%) Xilinx
8 8 (0.95%) ServiceNow
9 7 (0.84%) Intel
9 7 (0.84%) Red Hat
10 6 (0.72%) Altera
10 6 (0.72%) IBM
10 6 (0.72%) Palantir
10 6 (0.72%) PTC
11 5 (0.60%) Adobe
11 5 (0.60%) Microsemi
11 5 (0.60%) Workday
12 4 (0.48%) Cisco
12 4 (0.48%) Ping Identity
12 4 (0.48%) Siemens