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

6 months to
26 Sep 2026
Same period 2025 Same period 2024
Rank 185 288 320
Rank change year-on-year +103 +32 +39
Contract jobs citing Aerospace 839 285 265
As % of all contract jobs in the UK 1.53% 0.86% 0.69%
As % of the General category 2.73% 1.36% 1.19%
Number of daily rates quoted 141 95 53
10th Percentile £400 £250 £264
25th Percentile £514 £450 £350
Median daily rate (50th Percentile) £575 £550 £538
Median % change year-on-year +4.55% +2.23% -
75th Percentile £680 £641 £670
90th Percentile £800 £735 £723
UK excluding London median daily rate £575 £525 £425
% change year-on-year +9.52% +23.53% -20.93%
Number of hourly rates quoted 515 97 118
10th Percentile £26.06 £22.63 £31.97
25th Percentile £35.54 £41.25 £41.56
Median hourly rate £52.50 £52.50 £50.00
Median % change year-on-year - +5.00% -9.09%
75th Percentile £77.50 £67.00 £70.00
90th Percentile £87.96 £75.00 £75.00
UK excluding London median hourly rate £53.00 £52.50 £50.00
% change year-on-year +0.95% +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 30,691 20,987 22,323
As % of all contract IT jobs advertised in the UK 55.94% 63.45% 58.26%
Number of daily rates quoted 17,938 13,037 13,227
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 £490
% change year-on-year +5.26% -3.06% -2.00%
Number of hourly rates quoted 2,607 1,219 1,051
10th Percentile £13.50 £13.50 £14.73
25th Percentile £16.25 £16.17 £17.25
Median hourly rate £29.01 £25.15 £35.00
Median % change year-on-year +15.35% -28.14% +27.27%
75th Percentile £53.95 £47.50 £60.00
90th Percentile £77.50 £67.00 £71.25
UK excluding London median hourly rate £29.50 £21.40 £35.00
% change year-on-year +37.85% -38.86% +29.63%

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 26 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 26 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 26 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 +106 779 £581 +5.64% 1,927
UK excluding London +90 764 £575 +9.52% 1,741
South East +82 356 £575 +4.12% 575
South West +23 171 £500 -9.09% 329
Work from Home +49 148 £560 +6.67% 842
East of England +8 108 £488 -30.36% 308
North of England -29 76 £600 +33.78% 161
North West -22 53 £600 +33.33% 111
London -80 38 £675 +12.50% 293
Midlands -45 25 £538 +17.23% 152
East Midlands -8 18 £500 -23.08% 67
Scotland -18 16 £438 +573.08% 188
Yorkshire -29 14 - - 22
Wales - 10 - - 31
North East - 9 - - 30
West Midlands -53 6 - - 85
Northern Ireland +1 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
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 18 (2.15%) Microsoft Excel
2 16 (1.91%) Microsoft Project
3 15 (1.79%) Simulink
4 10 (1.19%) Windchill
5 9 (1.07%) CATIA
6 8 (0.95%) Microsoft Office
7 4 (0.48%) OrCAD
7 4 (0.48%) Stateflow
8 2 (0.24%) Adobe Illustrator
8 2 (0.24%) Microsoft PowerPoint
8 2 (0.24%) Photoshop
8 2 (0.24%) Siemens NX
9 1 (0.12%) Adobe XD
9 1 (0.12%) FrameMaker
9 1 (0.12%) MS Visio
Business Applications
1 23 (2.74%) SAP S/4HANA
2 7 (0.83%) SAP HR
3 6 (0.72%) Primavera
4 5 (0.60%) SAP GRC
4 5 (0.60%) SAP Payroll
4 5 (0.60%) SAP PP
4 5 (0.60%) Teamcenter
5 4 (0.48%) SAP EHS
6 3 (0.36%) Remedy ITSM
6 3 (0.36%) SAP FI
6 3 (0.36%) SAP QM
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 87 (10.37%) Azure
2 35 (4.17%) AWS
3 28 (3.34%) Azure DevOps
4 24 (2.86%) GCP
5 23 (2.74%) Power Platform
6 16 (1.91%) GitHub
7 13 (1.55%) Dynamics 365
8 12 (1.43%) OpenShift
9 8 (0.95%) Entra ID
10 7 (0.83%) GitHub Actions
10 7 (0.83%) Google Workspace
10 7 (0.83%) Power Automate
11 6 (0.72%) Azure Functions
11 6 (0.72%) Azure Logic Apps
11 6 (0.72%) Cloud Computing
11 6 (0.72%) PowerApps
11 6 (0.72%) Serverless
12 4 (0.48%) Google Sheets
12 4 (0.48%) SaaS
13 3 (0.36%) Azure Monitor
Communications & Networking
1 18 (2.15%) Wireless
2 14 (1.67%) DNS
2 14 (1.67%) Ethernet
3 12 (1.43%) DHCP
3 12 (1.43%) Firewall
4 11 (1.31%) Software-Defined Radio
5 9 (1.07%) TCP/IP
6 7 (0.83%) VPN
7 3 (0.36%) HTTP
7 3 (0.36%) HTTPS
7 3 (0.36%) Kerberos
7 3 (0.36%) Network Security
7 3 (0.36%) Software-Defined Networking
8 2 (0.24%) FTP
8 2 (0.24%) RS-232
8 2 (0.24%) SSL
9 1 (0.12%) 3GPP
9 1 (0.12%) Reverse Proxy
9 1 (0.12%) RS-422
9 1 (0.12%) SpaceWire
Database & Business Intelligence
1 20 (2.38%) Power BI
2 15 (1.79%) Metadata
3 11 (1.31%) NoSQL
4 5 (0.60%) Oracle Reports
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
5 4 (0.48%) Qlik Sense
6 3 (0.36%) Hadoop
7 2 (0.24%) BigQuery
7 2 (0.24%) Looker
7 2 (0.24%) SAP HANA
8 1 (0.12%) Amazon Redshift
8 1 (0.12%) Azure SQL Database
8 1 (0.12%) BusinessObjects
8 1 (0.12%) Data Lake
8 1 (0.12%) PostgreSQL
8 1 (0.12%) Relational Database
Development Applications
1 42 (5.01%) Rational DOORS
2 24 (2.86%) Git
3 16 (1.91%) 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
1 226 (26.94%) Manufacturing
2 147 (17.52%) Social Skills
3 65 (7.75%) Finance
4 48 (5.72%) Analytical Skills
5 42 (5.01%) Aviation
6 40 (4.77%) Electronics
7 38 (4.53%) Avionics
8 29 (3.46%) Automotive
9 25 (2.98%) Influencing Skills
10 17 (2.03%) Public Sector
11 16 (1.91%) Military
12 15 (1.79%) Telecoms
13 13 (1.55%) Organisational Skills
14 10 (1.19%) Documentation Skills
15 7 (0.83%) Presentation Skills
16 5 (0.60%) Inclusion and Diversity
16 5 (0.60%) Legal
17 4 (0.48%) French Language
17 4 (0.48%) Publishing
18 3 (0.36%) German Language
Job Titles
1 100 (11.92%) Lead
2 99 (11.80%) Systems Engineer
3 62 (7.39%) Architect
4 54 (6.44%) Senior
5 48 (5.72%) Software Engineer
6 47 (5.60%) Delivery Manager
7 39 (4.65%) Developer
7 39 (4.65%) Test Engineer
8 34 (4.05%) Quality Engineer
9 32 (3.81%) Administrator
9 32 (3.81%) QA Engineer
10 27 (3.22%) Embedded Engineer
11 26 (3.10%) Embedded Software Engineer
12 25 (2.98%) Product Manager
13 24 (2.86%) Analyst
13 24 (2.86%) Product Delivery Manager
14 23 (2.74%) Test Technician
15 22 (2.62%) Data Engineer
16 21 (2.50%) Change Manager
16 21 (2.50%) Configuration Manager
Libraries, Frameworks & Software Standards
1 24 (2.86%) 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 (0.83%) .NET
7 7 (0.83%) ARM Templates
7 7 (0.83%) Backbone.js
8 6 (0.72%) Web Services
8 6 (0.72%) XML
9 4 (0.48%) OpenID
10 3 (0.36%) Hibernate
10 3 (0.36%) RESTful
10 3 (0.36%) Spring
10 3 (0.36%) Spring Boot
Miscellaneous
1 33 (3.93%) Product Ownership
2 29 (3.46%) Management Information System
3 26 (3.10%) Self-Motivation
4 21 (2.50%) Embedded Systems
4 21 (2.50%) FPGA
5 17 (2.03%) Hybrid Cloud
6 14 (1.67%) Data Structures
7 12 (1.43%) Enterprise Software
8 11 (1.31%) Cyber Threat
8 11 (1.31%) PCIe
9 10 (1.19%) Onboarding
9 10 (1.19%) Virtual Team
10 9 (1.07%) Algorithms
10 9 (1.07%) Cloud Native
11 7 (0.83%) Analogue Electronics
11 7 (0.83%) Operational Technology
11 7 (0.83%) VHDL
12 5 (0.60%) Enterprise Cloud
12 5 (0.60%) Greenfield Project
12 5 (0.60%) Verilog
Operating Systems
1 27 (3.22%) Linux
2 23 (2.74%) Windows
3 14 (1.67%) Windows Server
4 8 (0.95%) Red Hat Enterprise Linux
5 5 (0.60%) CentOS
5 5 (0.60%) FreeRTOS
6 4 (0.48%) Embedded Linux
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
1 145 (17.28%) Stakeholder Management
2 120 (14.30%) Agile
3 107 (12.75%) Continuous Improvement
4 93 (11.08%) Software Engineering
5 91 (10.85%) Roadmaps
6 73 (8.70%) Cybersecurity
7 72 (8.58%) Digital Engineering
8 68 (8.10%) Problem-Solving
9 62 (7.39%) Stakeholder Engagement
10 59 (7.03%) DevOps
10 59 (7.03%) Technical Leadership
11 54 (6.44%) Validation
12 51 (6.08%) Risk Management
13 49 (5.84%) Systems Engineering
14 46 (5.48%) CI/CD
14 46 (5.48%) Decision-Making
15 45 (5.36%) ITIL
16 44 (5.24%) Digital Transformation Programme
17 43 (5.13%) Computer Science
18 41 (4.89%) Service Management
Programming Languages
1 52 (6.20%) Python
2 34 (4.05%) SQL
3 22 (2.62%) PowerShell
4 18 (2.15%) JavaScript
4 18 (2.15%) MATLAB
5 17 (2.03%) C
6 15 (1.79%) Java
7 14 (1.67%) Ada
8 13 (1.55%) C++
9 11 (1.31%) Bash
10 9 (1.07%) C#
11 8 (0.95%) Bicep
12 5 (0.60%) SystemVerilog
13 4 (0.48%) Shell Script
13 4 (0.48%) X++
14 2 (0.24%) Google Apps Script
14 2 (0.24%) Rust
15 1 (0.12%) ABAP
15 1 (0.12%) Ada 95
15 1 (0.12%) Embedded C++
Qualifications
1 341 (40.64%) Security Cleared
2 265 (31.59%) SC Cleared
3 121 (14.42%) Degree
4 44 (5.24%) BPSS Clearance
5 36 (4.29%) DV Cleared
6 33 (3.93%) CISSP
7 29 (3.46%) Azure Certification
8 15 (1.79%) Computer Science Degree
9 13 (1.55%) PMI Certification
10 12 (1.43%) Cisco Certification
10 12 (1.43%) HNC
10 12 (1.43%) Microsoft Certification
10 12 (1.43%) PMP
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
14 8 (0.95%) AWS Certification
14 8 (0.95%) CompTIA Security+
Quality Assurance & Compliance
1 40 (4.77%) QA
2 33 (3.93%) ISO/IEC 27001
3 26 (3.10%) NIST
4 22 (2.62%) Def Stans
5 16 (1.91%) Data Quality
5 16 (1.91%) GDPR
5 16 (1.91%) GRC
6 14 (1.67%) NCSC
7 11 (1.31%) SLA
8 10 (1.19%) IEC 61508
9 8 (0.95%) ISO 9001
9 8 (0.95%) NIST 800
10 7 (0.83%) DO-254
11 6 (0.72%) PMO
12 5 (0.60%) JSP 440
13 4 (0.48%) Cyber Essentials
13 4 (0.48%) Cyber Essentials PLUS
14 3 (0.36%) DO-160
15 2 (0.24%) ARP4761
15 2 (0.24%) MIL-STD-1553
System Software
1 23 (2.74%) Active Directory
2 15 (1.79%) Docker
2 15 (1.79%) Firmware
3 10 (1.19%) VMware Infrastructure
4 7 (0.83%) Hyper-V
5 5 (0.60%) 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 24 (2.86%) Kubernetes
2 21 (2.50%) Ansible
3 8 (0.95%) Functional Safety
4 4 (0.48%) 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%) Red Hat Satellite
6 2 (0.24%) Prometheus
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 92 (10.97%) Microsoft
2 75 (8.94%) SAP
3 28 (3.34%) EMC
4 17 (2.03%) Google
5 14 (1.67%) VMware
6 10 (1.19%) Xilinx
7 8 (0.95%) Oracle
7 8 (0.95%) ServiceNow
8 7 (0.83%) Altera
8 7 (0.83%) Intel
8 7 (0.83%) Red Hat
9 6 (0.72%) Microsemi
9 6 (0.72%) PTC
10 5 (0.60%) Adobe
10 5 (0.60%) IBM
10 5 (0.60%) Palantir
10 5 (0.60%) Workday
11 4 (0.48%) Cisco
11 4 (0.48%) Ping Identity
11 4 (0.48%) Siemens