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

6 months to
1 Sep 2026
Same period 2025 Same period 2024
Rank 189 314 316
Rank change year-on-year +125 +2 +43
Contract jobs citing Aerospace 793 257 288
As % of all contract jobs in the UK 1.48% 0.78% 0.75%
As % of the General category 2.68% 1.24% 1.30%
Number of daily rates quoted 122 78 54
10th Percentile £400 £333 £267
25th Percentile £481 £453 £353
Median daily rate (50th Percentile) £584 £550 £526
Median % change year-on-year +6.23% +4.66% -2.23%
75th Percentile £686 £650 £636
90th Percentile £724 £750 £723
UK excluding London median daily rate £575 £525 £481
% change year-on-year +9.52% +9.09% -9.41%
Number of hourly rates quoted 493 91 146
10th Percentile £26.90 £22.63 £31.97
25th Percentile £35.54 £41.25 £45.05
Median hourly rate £52.50 £50.49 £53.13
Median % change year-on-year +3.99% -4.97% -7.61%
75th Percentile £77.50 £67.00 £70.19
90th Percentile £87.87 £75.00 £75.00
UK excluding London median hourly rate £53.00 £50.49 £53.13
% change year-on-year +4.98% -4.97% -7.61%

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 29,578 20,791 22,220
As % of all contract IT jobs advertised in the UK 55.13% 63.49% 57.55%
Number of daily rates quoted 17,440 12,926 13,659
10th Percentile £313 £275 £292
25th Percentile £418 £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 £744 £775
UK excluding London median daily rate £500 £475 £499
% change year-on-year +5.26% -4.71% -0.30%
Number of hourly rates quoted 2,300 1,170 1,213
10th Percentile £13.81 £13.50 £14.25
25th Percentile £16.87 £16.17 £17.25
Median hourly rate £31.16 £25.15 £36.50
Median % change year-on-year +23.88% -31.10% +32.73%
75th Percentile £55.00 £50.00 £60.00
90th Percentile £77.50 £68.84 £70.36
UK excluding London median hourly rate £31.93 £22.06 £36.08
% change year-on-year +44.72% -38.86% +39.05%

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 1 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 1 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 1 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 +116 735 £588 +6.82% 1,473
UK excluding London +106 731 £575 +9.52% 1,446
South East +84 337 £600 +16.50% 469
South West +30 158 £495 -13.91% 300
Work from Home +50 144 £560 +6.67% 677
East of England +14 88 £488 -30.36% 241
North of England -18 86 £725 +61.65% 149
North West -27 61 £725 +61.11% 107
London -78 33 £675 +12.50% 227
Midlands -47 28 £500 +11.11% 122
East Midlands -1 19 £475 -36.67% 43
Scotland -10 19 £438 +525.00% 156
Yorkshire -24 14 - - 25
North East - 11 - - 22
Wales - 10 - - 20
West Midlands -56 8 - - 79
Northern Ireland +8 5 £380 - 27

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 5 (0.63%) SharePoint
2 3 (0.38%) Apache Spark
3 2 (0.25%) Apache
3 2 (0.25%) Apache Superset
3 2 (0.25%) Microsoft Exchange
3 2 (0.25%) ThingWorx
4 1 (0.13%) Apache Airflow
4 1 (0.13%) Confluence
4 1 (0.13%) Jupyter
4 1 (0.13%) Kinematics
4 1 (0.13%) Palantir Foundry
4 1 (0.13%) Red Hat Fuse
4 1 (0.13%) Tomcat
Applications
1 19 (2.40%) Simulink
2 15 (1.89%) CATIA
3 14 (1.77%) Microsoft Project
4 13 (1.64%) Microsoft Excel
5 10 (1.26%) Windchill
6 7 (0.88%) Microsoft Office
7 4 (0.50%) Stateflow
8 3 (0.38%) Microsoft PowerPoint
8 3 (0.38%) OrCAD
9 2 (0.25%) Adobe Illustrator
9 2 (0.25%) Photoshop
10 1 (0.13%) Adobe XD
10 1 (0.13%) FrameMaker
10 1 (0.13%) MS Visio
10 1 (0.13%) Siemens NX
Business Applications
1 22 (2.77%) SAP S/4HANA
2 8 (1.01%) Teamcenter
3 6 (0.76%) Primavera
4 5 (0.63%) SAP GRC
4 5 (0.63%) SAP Payroll
5 4 (0.50%) SAP EHS
6 3 (0.38%) SAP FI
6 3 (0.38%) SAP PP
6 3 (0.38%) 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 (0.13%) Remedy ITSM
8 1 (0.13%) SAP CCM
8 1 (0.13%) SAP FI-GL
8 1 (0.13%) SAP HCM
8 1 (0.13%) SAP PM
Cloud Services
1 77 (9.71%) Azure
2 32 (4.04%) AWS
3 24 (3.03%) Azure DevOps
4 22 (2.77%) GCP
5 17 (2.14%) Power Platform
6 13 (1.64%) Dynamics 365
6 13 (1.64%) GitHub
6 13 (1.64%) OpenShift
7 8 (1.01%) Entra ID
8 7 (0.88%) Power Automate
9 6 (0.76%) Azure Functions
9 6 (0.76%) Azure Logic Apps
9 6 (0.76%) Cloud Computing
9 6 (0.76%) GitHub Actions
9 6 (0.76%) PowerApps
9 6 (0.76%) Serverless
10 4 (0.50%) Google Workspace
10 4 (0.50%) SaaS
11 3 (0.38%) Figma
11 3 (0.38%) Smartsheet
Communications & Networking
1 18 (2.27%) Wireless
2 15 (1.89%) Ethernet
3 12 (1.51%) DNS
3 12 (1.51%) Software-Defined Radio
4 11 (1.39%) DHCP
4 11 (1.39%) Firewall
5 7 (0.88%) TCP/IP
5 7 (0.88%) VPN
6 3 (0.38%) Software-Defined Networking
7 2 (0.25%) FTP
7 2 (0.25%) HTTPS
7 2 (0.25%) Kerberos
7 2 (0.25%) Network Security
8 1 (0.13%) 3GPP
8 1 (0.13%) Reverse Proxy
8 1 (0.13%) RS-232
8 1 (0.13%) RS-422
8 1 (0.13%) S/MIME
8 1 (0.13%) SpaceWire
8 1 (0.13%) X.509
Database & Business Intelligence
1 14 (1.77%) Power BI
2 11 (1.39%) NoSQL
3 7 (0.88%) Metadata
4 4 (0.50%) SQL Server
4 4 (0.50%) Tableau
5 3 (0.38%) Big Data
5 3 (0.38%) Data Warehouse
5 3 (0.38%) Hadoop
6 2 (0.25%) MS Access
6 2 (0.25%) PostgreSQL
6 2 (0.25%) SAP HANA
7 1 (0.13%) Azure SQL Database
7 1 (0.13%) BusinessObjects
7 1 (0.13%) Data Lake
7 1 (0.13%) Power Query
7 1 (0.13%) Relational Database
7 1 (0.13%) SQLite
Development Applications
1 50 (6.31%) Rational DOORS
2 21 (2.65%) Git
3 10 (1.26%) GitLab
4 9 (1.13%) Jenkins
4 9 (1.13%) JIRA
5 3 (0.38%) Rational Rhapsody
6 2 (0.25%) LabVIEW
6 2 (0.25%) SonarQube
6 2 (0.25%) Visual Studio
7 1 (0.13%) Artifactory
7 1 (0.13%) Atlassian Bamboo
7 1 (0.13%) eggPlant
7 1 (0.13%) PetaLinux
7 1 (0.13%) Postman
7 1 (0.13%) Visual Studio Code
General
1 214 (26.99%) Manufacturing
2 116 (14.63%) Social Skills
3 59 (7.44%) Finance
4 40 (5.04%) Analytical Skills
5 35 (4.41%) Aviation
6 30 (3.78%) Electronics
7 28 (3.53%) Avionics
8 26 (3.28%) Automotive
9 22 (2.77%) Influencing Skills
10 17 (2.14%) Public Sector
11 15 (1.89%) Telecoms
12 13 (1.64%) Military
13 12 (1.51%) Documentation Skills
14 8 (1.01%) Organisational Skills
15 7 (0.88%) Inclusion and Diversity
16 6 (0.76%) Presentation Skills
17 5 (0.63%) Legal
18 3 (0.38%) General Ledger
18 3 (0.38%) Law
18 3 (0.38%) Pharmaceutical
Job Titles
1 98 (12.36%) Lead
2 89 (11.22%) Systems Engineer
3 54 (6.81%) Senior
4 53 (6.68%) Software Engineer
5 48 (6.05%) Delivery Manager
6 45 (5.67%) Architect
7 39 (4.92%) Test Engineer
8 36 (4.54%) Developer
8 36 (4.54%) Embedded Engineer
9 35 (4.41%) Product Manager
10 33 (4.16%) Product Delivery Manager
10 33 (4.16%) Quality Engineer
11 31 (3.91%) QA Engineer
12 29 (3.66%) Embedded Software Engineer
13 26 (3.28%) Programmer
14 23 (2.90%) Analyst
15 22 (2.77%) Configuration Manager
15 22 (2.77%) Data Engineer
15 22 (2.77%) Systems Manager
15 22 (2.77%) Test Technician
Libraries, Frameworks & Software Standards
1 24 (3.03%) Terraform
2 13 (1.64%) Middleware
3 11 (1.39%) LDAP
4 10 (1.26%) AngularJS
5 8 (1.01%) React
5 8 (1.01%) Redux
5 8 (1.01%) Vue
6 7 (0.88%) .NET
6 7 (0.88%) ARM Templates
6 7 (0.88%) Backbone.js
6 7 (0.88%) OAuth
6 7 (0.88%) SAML
7 6 (0.76%) REST
8 4 (0.50%) OpenID
8 4 (0.50%) Web Services
8 4 (0.50%) Yocto
9 3 (0.38%) RESTful
9 3 (0.38%) XML
10 2 (0.25%) Hibernate
10 2 (0.25%) Spring
Miscellaneous
1 44 (5.55%) Product Ownership
2 27 (3.40%) Data Structures
3 23 (2.90%) FPGA
4 20 (2.52%) Embedded Systems
4 20 (2.52%) Self-Motivation
5 18 (2.27%) Management Information System
6 16 (2.02%) Hybrid Cloud
7 14 (1.77%) PCIe
8 12 (1.51%) Enterprise Software
9 11 (1.39%) Algorithms
9 11 (1.39%) Operational Technology
9 11 (1.39%) VHDL
10 10 (1.26%) Onboarding
11 9 (1.13%) Cyber Threat
11 9 (1.13%) Verilog
11 9 (1.13%) Virtual Team
12 8 (1.01%) Cloud Native
13 5 (0.63%) Enterprise Cloud
14 4 (0.50%) Greenfield Project
14 4 (0.50%) Life Science
Operating Systems
1 26 (3.28%) Linux
2 15 (1.89%) Windows
3 9 (1.13%) Windows Server
4 7 (0.88%) Red Hat Enterprise Linux
5 6 (0.76%) Embedded Linux
6 5 (0.63%) CentOS
6 5 (0.63%) FreeRTOS
7 3 (0.38%) Mac OS
7 3 (0.38%) Ubuntu
8 2 (0.25%) Windows Server 2012
9 1 (0.13%) Unix
Processes & Methodologies
1 113 (14.25%) Agile
2 112 (14.12%) Stakeholder Management
3 100 (12.61%) Continuous Improvement
4 92 (11.60%) Software Engineering
5 77 (9.71%) Cybersecurity
6 69 (8.70%) Stakeholder Engagement
7 68 (8.58%) Roadmaps
8 65 (8.20%) Problem-Solving
9 58 (7.31%) Systems Engineering
9 58 (7.31%) Validation
10 53 (6.68%) Computer Science
11 51 (6.43%) DevOps
12 50 (6.31%) Risk Management
13 46 (5.80%) Technical Leadership
14 44 (5.55%) Digital Transformation Programme
15 43 (5.42%) PRINCE2
16 39 (4.92%) Scaled Agile Framework
17 38 (4.79%) Digital Engineering
18 35 (4.41%) CI/CD
19 34 (4.29%) Vulnerability Management
Programming Languages
1 50 (6.31%) Python
2 29 (3.66%) SQL
3 27 (3.40%) C
4 24 (3.03%) Ada
5 23 (2.90%) MATLAB
6 20 (2.52%) PowerShell
7 15 (1.89%) C++
7 15 (1.89%) Java
8 14 (1.77%) JavaScript
9 11 (1.39%) Bash
10 10 (1.26%) SystemVerilog
11 8 (1.01%) Bicep
11 8 (1.01%) C#
12 4 (0.50%) Shell Script
12 4 (0.50%) X++
13 2 (0.25%) Rust
14 1 (0.13%) ABAP
14 1 (0.13%) Ada 95
14 1 (0.13%) Embedded C++
14 1 (0.13%) Scala
Qualifications
1 307 (38.71%) Security Cleared
2 218 (27.49%) SC Cleared
3 110 (13.87%) Degree
4 45 (5.67%) BPSS Clearance
5 31 (3.91%) CISSP
6 24 (3.03%) Azure Certification
7 23 (2.90%) DV Cleared
8 16 (2.02%) HNC
9 13 (1.64%) Computer Science Degree
10 12 (1.51%) Microsoft Certification
10 12 (1.51%) PMP
11 11 (1.39%) Cisco Certification
11 11 (1.39%) CISM
11 11 (1.39%) NVQ Level 4
12 10 (1.26%) (ISC)2 CCSP
12 10 (1.26%) PMI Certification
13 9 (1.13%) CEH
13 9 (1.13%) Chartered Engineer
13 9 (1.13%) TOGAF Certification
14 8 (1.01%) CompTIA Security+
Quality Assurance & Compliance
1 42 (5.30%) QA
2 39 (4.92%) ISO/IEC 27001
3 30 (3.78%) NIST
4 23 (2.90%) Def Stans
5 16 (2.02%) GRC
6 12 (1.51%) NCSC
6 12 (1.51%) NIST 800
7 11 (1.39%) DO-254
7 11 (1.39%) GDPR
8 10 (1.26%) Data Quality
9 8 (1.01%) IEC 61508
10 5 (0.63%) Cyber Essentials
10 5 (0.63%) PMO
10 5 (0.63%) SLA
11 4 (0.50%) Cyber Essentials PLUS
11 4 (0.50%) ISO 9001
12 3 (0.38%) JSP 440
13 2 (0.25%) ARP4761
13 2 (0.25%) DO-160
13 2 (0.25%) MIL-STD-1553
System Software
1 16 (2.02%) Active Directory
1 16 (2.02%) Firmware
2 13 (1.64%) Docker
3 9 (1.13%) VMware Infrastructure
4 6 (0.76%) Embedded Firmware
4 6 (0.76%) Hyper-V
5 2 (0.25%) VMware ESXi
5 2 (0.25%) vSphere
6 1 (0.13%) IAG
6 1 (0.13%) Virtual Machines
Systems Management
1 22 (2.77%) Kubernetes
2 21 (2.65%) Ansible
3 6 (0.76%) Functional Safety
4 4 (0.50%) Grafana
5 3 (0.38%) Check_MK
5 3 (0.38%) Istio
5 3 (0.38%) Jamf Pro
5 3 (0.38%) Podman
5 3 (0.38%) Red Hat Satellite
6 2 (0.25%) Active Directory Federation Services
6 2 (0.25%) Argo
6 2 (0.25%) MOM
6 2 (0.25%) Prometheus
6 2 (0.25%) Single Sign-On
7 1 (0.13%) PTC Integrity
7 1 (0.13%) RSA Archer
7 1 (0.13%) SolarWinds Orion
Vendors
1 73 (9.21%) Microsoft
2 68 (8.58%) SAP
3 19 (2.40%) EMC
4 18 (2.27%) IBM
5 14 (1.77%) Google
6 13 (1.64%) Xilinx
7 12 (1.51%) VMware
8 9 (1.13%) Altera
8 9 (1.13%) Microsemi
8 9 (1.13%) ServiceNow
9 8 (1.01%) Red Hat
10 6 (0.76%) Adobe
10 6 (0.76%) Intel
10 6 (0.76%) PTC
11 5 (0.63%) Siemens
12 4 (0.50%) Okta
12 4 (0.50%) Ping Identity
13 3 (0.38%) CyberArk
13 3 (0.38%) ForgeRock
13 3 (0.38%) Lauterbach