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

6 months to
19 Sep 2026
Same period 2025 Same period 2024
Rank 188 297 301
Rank change year-on-year +109 +4 +36
Contract jobs citing Aerospace 841 278 279
As % of all contract jobs in the UK 1.53% 0.84% 0.72%
As % of the General category 2.75% 1.33% 1.25%
Number of daily rates quoted 141 94 54
10th Percentile £400 £268 £267
25th Percentile £500 £450 £331
Median daily rate (50th Percentile) £575 £550 £532
Median % change year-on-year +4.55% +3.38% -1.12%
75th Percentile £675 £646 £665
90th Percentile £730 £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 94 133
10th Percentile £26.25 £22.63 £32.58
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 £74.63 £74.75
UK excluding London median hourly rate £52.50 £52.50 £50.00
% change year-on-year - +5.00% -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 30,627 20,972 22,349
As % of all contract IT jobs advertised in the UK 55.83% 63.65% 58.00%
Number of daily rates quoted 17,971 13,001 13,375
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 £500
% change year-on-year +5.26% -5.00% -
Number of hourly rates quoted 2,563 1,207 1,105
10th Percentile £13.50 £13.50 £14.71
25th Percentile £16.25 £16.17 £17.08
Median hourly rate £29.96 £25.15 £35.36
Median % change year-on-year +19.13% -28.87% +28.58%
75th Percentile £54.88 £49.13 £60.00
90th Percentile £77.50 £67.50 £70.39
UK excluding London median hourly rate £30.00 £21.30 £35.36
% change year-on-year +40.85% -39.76% +30.56%

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 19 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 19 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 19 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 +123 778 £575 +4.55% 1,804
UK excluding London +88 767 £575 +9.52% 1,626
South East +75 355 £578 +6.64% 533
South West +28 169 £495 -10.00% 312
Work from Home +37 150 £555 +5.71% 731
East of England +16 104 £500 -28.57% 290
North of England -26 81 £600 +33.78% 168
North West -31 56 £600 +33.33% 111
London -77 38 £675 +12.50% 265
Midlands -45 27 £538 +17.23% 148
East Midlands -6 18 £500 -23.08% 57
Scotland -10 18 £438 +548.15% 158
Yorkshire -26 14 - - 32
North East - 11 - - 26
Wales - 11 - - 32
West Midlands -54 8 - - 91
Northern Ireland +4 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 (0.83%) 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 12 (1.43%) 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 (0.59%) SAP GRC
4 5 (0.59%) SAP Payroll
4 5 (0.59%) 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 (10.11%) Azure
2 34 (4.04%) AWS
3 27 (3.21%) Azure DevOps
4 23 (2.73%) GCP
5 22 (2.62%) Power Platform
6 14 (1.66%) GitHub
7 13 (1.55%) Dynamics 365
7 13 (1.55%) OpenShift
8 9 (1.07%) Google Workspace
9 8 (0.95%) Entra ID
10 7 (0.83%) GitHub Actions
10 7 (0.83%) Power Automate
11 6 (0.71%) Azure Functions
11 6 (0.71%) Azure Logic Apps
11 6 (0.71%) Cloud Computing
11 6 (0.71%) PowerApps
11 6 (0.71%) Serverless
12 4 (0.48%) Google Sheets
12 4 (0.48%) SaaS
13 3 (0.36%) Figma
Communications & Networking
1 19 (2.26%) Wireless
2 14 (1.66%) 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%) Reverse Proxy
10 1 (0.12%) RS-422
10 1 (0.12%) S/MIME
10 1 (0.12%) SpaceWire
Database & Business Intelligence
1 19 (2.26%) Power BI
2 15 (1.78%) Metadata
3 11 (1.31%) NoSQL
4 5 (0.59%) 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%) Azure SQL Database
8 1 (0.12%) BigQuery
8 1 (0.12%) BusinessObjects
8 1 (0.12%) Power Query
8 1 (0.12%) Relational Database
8 1 (0.12%) SQLite
Development Applications
1 39 (4.64%) Rational DOORS
2 23 (2.73%) Git
3 13 (1.55%) 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
1 232 (27.59%) Manufacturing
2 147 (17.48%) Social Skills
3 66 (7.85%) Finance
4 49 (5.83%) Analytical Skills
5 41 (4.88%) Aviation
6 40 (4.76%) Electronics
7 35 (4.16%) Avionics
8 33 (3.92%) Automotive
9 25 (2.97%) Influencing Skills
10 17 (2.02%) Public Sector
11 15 (1.78%) Military
11 15 (1.78%) Telecoms
12 14 (1.66%) Organisational Skills
13 11 (1.31%) Documentation Skills
14 7 (0.83%) Presentation Skills
15 5 (0.59%) Inclusion and Diversity
15 5 (0.59%) Legal
16 4 (0.48%) French Language
16 4 (0.48%) Law
16 4 (0.48%) Publishing
Job Titles
1 99 (11.77%) Lead
2 95 (11.30%) Systems Engineer
3 59 (7.02%) Architect
4 54 (6.42%) Senior
4 54 (6.42%) Software Engineer
5 44 (5.23%) Delivery Manager
6 41 (4.88%) Test Engineer
7 38 (4.52%) Developer
8 36 (4.28%) Quality Engineer
9 34 (4.04%) QA Engineer
10 32 (3.80%) Embedded Engineer
11 29 (3.45%) Embedded Software Engineer
12 28 (3.33%) Administrator
13 25 (2.97%) Product Manager
14 24 (2.85%) Product Delivery Manager
15 23 (2.73%) Analyst
15 23 (2.73%) Data Engineer
15 23 (2.73%) Programmer
15 23 (2.73%) Test Technician
16 21 (2.50%) Configuration Manager
Libraries, Frameworks & Software Standards
1 24 (2.85%) Terraform
2 15 (1.78%) 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 (0.59%) XML
10 4 (0.48%) OpenID
10 4 (0.48%) RESTful
10 4 (0.48%) Yocto
11 3 (0.36%) Hibernate
11 3 (0.36%) Spring Boot
Miscellaneous
1 32 (3.80%) Product Ownership
2 28 (3.33%) Management Information System
3 25 (2.97%) Self-Motivation
4 21 (2.50%) Embedded Systems
5 20 (2.38%) FPGA
6 16 (1.90%) Hybrid Cloud
7 14 (1.66%) Data Structures
8 12 (1.43%) Enterprise Software
9 11 (1.31%) Cyber Threat
9 11 (1.31%) PCIe
9 11 (1.31%) Virtual Team
10 10 (1.19%) Algorithms
10 10 (1.19%) Onboarding
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 (0.59%) Enterprise Cloud
16 4 (0.48%) Greenfield Project
Operating Systems
1 29 (3.45%) Linux
2 21 (2.50%) Windows
3 13 (1.55%) Windows Server
4 8 (0.95%) Red Hat Enterprise Linux
5 6 (0.71%) Embedded Linux
6 5 (0.59%) CentOS
6 5 (0.59%) 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
1 141 (16.77%) Stakeholder Management
2 122 (14.51%) Agile
3 107 (12.72%) Continuous Improvement
4 97 (11.53%) Software Engineering
5 88 (10.46%) Roadmaps
6 73 (8.68%) Cybersecurity
7 72 (8.56%) Problem-Solving
8 67 (7.97%) Digital Engineering
9 61 (7.25%) Stakeholder Engagement
10 57 (6.78%) Technical Leadership
11 55 (6.54%) DevOps
11 55 (6.54%) Validation
12 52 (6.18%) Risk Management
13 51 (6.06%) Systems Engineering
14 45 (5.35%) Digital Transformation Programme
15 44 (5.23%) Computer Science
16 43 (5.11%) CI/CD
16 43 (5.11%) ITIL
17 42 (4.99%) Decision-Making
18 39 (4.64%) Scaled Agile Framework
Programming Languages
1 53 (6.30%) Python
2 31 (3.69%) SQL
3 23 (2.73%) 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 (1.78%) 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%) ABAP
16 1 (0.12%) Ada 95
16 1 (0.12%) Google Apps Script
16 1 (0.12%) Scala
Qualifications
1 330 (39.24%) Security Cleared
2 256 (30.44%) SC Cleared
3 122 (14.51%) Degree
4 41 (4.88%) BPSS Clearance
5 33 (3.92%) CISSP
6 32 (3.80%) DV Cleared
7 29 (3.45%) Azure Certification
8 15 (1.78%) Computer Science Degree
8 15 (1.78%) PMI Certification
9 14 (1.66%) HNC
9 14 (1.66%) PMP
10 12 (1.43%) Cisco Certification
10 12 (1.43%) Microsoft Certification
11 11 (1.31%) Chartered Engineer
11 11 (1.31%) CISM
12 10 (1.19%) (ISC)2 CCSP
12 10 (1.19%) TOGAF Certification
13 9 (1.07%) CEH
13 9 (1.07%) NVQ Level 4
14 8 (0.95%) AWS Certification
Quality Assurance & Compliance
1 45 (5.35%) QA
2 34 (4.04%) ISO/IEC 27001
3 26 (3.09%) NIST
4 23 (2.73%) Def Stans
5 16 (1.90%) GRC
6 15 (1.78%) Data Quality
6 15 (1.78%) GDPR
7 13 (1.55%) NCSC
8 9 (1.07%) IEC 61508
8 9 (1.07%) NIST 800
8 9 (1.07%) SLA
9 8 (0.95%) DO-254
9 8 (0.95%) ISO 9001
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
3 15 (1.78%) Firmware
4 10 (1.19%) VMware Infrastructure
5 7 (0.83%) Hyper-V
6 6 (0.71%) 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 25 (2.97%) 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 92 (10.94%) Microsoft
2 74 (8.80%) SAP
3 26 (3.09%) EMC
4 17 (2.02%) Google
5 14 (1.66%) 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 (0.59%) Adobe
10 5 (0.59%) IBM
10 5 (0.59%) Palantir
11 4 (0.48%) Okta
11 4 (0.48%) Ping Identity
11 4 (0.48%) Workday