20 U.S. Jobs That Require Strong Spatial Abilities

by Noah Smith

Monday, April 20, 2015

Spatial abilities have been described as that group of abilities related to the manipulation and organization of spatial information. It consists of the following:

Spatial Orientation: The ability to know your location in relation to the environment or to know where other objects are in relation to you.
Visualization: The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.

Below are 20 jobs where strong abilities related to the manipulation and organization of spatial information is required.

Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers
Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers pilot and navigate the flight of fixed-wing, multi-engine aircraft, usually on scheduled air carrier routes, for the transport of passengers and cargo. Requires Federal Air Transport certificate and rating for specific aircraft type used. Includes regional, National, and international airline pilots and flight instructors of airline pilots. Other abilities that strongly feature for this occupation include attentiveness, auditory and speech, control movement, idea generation and reasoning, perceptual, reaction time and speed, verbal and visual abilities.
Median Annual Salary: $103,210 Minimum Educational Requirement: High School Diploma (or GED or High School Equivalence Certificate)

Manufactured building and mobile home installers
Manufactured building and mobile home installers move or install mobile homes or prefabricated buildings. Other abilities that strongly feature for this occupation include control movement abilities.
Median Annual Salary: $28,760 Minimum Educational Requirement: Less than a High School Diploma

Architects
Architects plan and design structures, such as private residences, office buildings, theaters, factories, and other structural property. Other abilities that strongly feature for this occupation include idea generation and reasoning, quantitative, verbal and visual abilities.
Median Annual Salary: $72,550 Minimum Educational Requirement: Bachelor's Degree

Electricians
Electricians install, maintain, and repair electrical wiring, equipment, and fixtures. Ensure that work is in accordance with relevant codes. They may also install or service street lights, intercom systems, or electrical control systems. Other abilities that strongly feature for this occupation include verbal abilities.
Median Annual Salary: $48,250 Minimum Educational Requirement: High School Diploma (or GED or High School Equivalence Certificate)

Mobile heavy equipment mechanics
Mobile heavy equipment mechanics diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul mobile mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic equipment, such as cranes, bulldozers, graders, and conveyors, used in construction, logging, and surface mining. Other abilities that strongly feature for this occupation include control movement, flexibility, balance and and coordination abilities.
Median Annual Salary: $44,830 Minimum Educational Requirement: Less than a High School Diploma

Civil engineers
Civil engineers perform engineering duties in planning, designing, and overseeing construction and maintenance of building structures, and facilities, such as roads, railroads, airports, bridges, harbors, channels, dams, irrigation projects, pipelines, power plants, and water and sewage systems. Includes architectural, structural, traffic, ocean, and geo-technical engineers. Other abilities that strongly feature for this occupation include idea generation and reasoning, perceptual, quantitative, verbal and visual abilities.
Median Annual Salary: $77,560 Minimum Educational Requirement: Bachelor's Degree

Set and exhibit designers
Set and exhibit designers design special exhibits and movie, television, and theater sets. They may also study scripts, confer with directors, and conduct research to determine appropriate architectural styles. Other abilities that strongly feature for this occupation include idea generation and reasoning and verbal abilities.
Median Annual Salary: $46,680 Minimum Educational Requirement: Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in Personnel Services, Engineering-related Technologies, Vocational Home Economics, Construction Trades, Mechanics and Repairers, Precision Production Trades)

Aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers
Aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers assemble, fit, fasten, and install parts of airplanes, space vehicles, or missiles, such as tails, wings, fuselage, bulkheads, stabilizers, landing gear, rigging and control equipment, or heating and ventilating systems. Other abilities that strongly feature for this occupation include abilities.
Median Annual Salary: $44,820 Minimum Educational Requirement: Less than a High School Diploma

Coaches and scouts
Coaches and scouts instruct or coach groups or individuals in the fundamentals of sports. Demonstrate techniques and methods of participation. They may also evaluate athletes' strengths and weaknesses as possible recruits or to improve the athletes' technique to prepare them for competition. Those required to hold teaching degrees should be reported in the appropriate teaching category. Other abilities that strongly feature for this occupation include auditory and speech, idea generation and reasoning and verbal abilities.
Median Annual Salary: $28,340 Minimum Educational Requirement: Less than a High School Diploma

Medical equipment repairers
Medical equipment repairers test, adjust, or repair biomedical or electromedical equipment. Other abilities that strongly feature for this occupation include verbal abilities.
Median Annual Salary: $44,490 Minimum Educational Requirement: Less than a High School Diploma

Mining and geological engineers
Mining and geological engineers conduct sub-surface surveys to identify the characteristics of potential land or mining development sites. They may also specify the ground support systems, processes and equipment for safe, economical, and environmentally sound extraction or underground construction activities. They may also inspect areas for unsafe geological conditions, equipment, and working conditions. They may also design, implement, and coordinate mine safety programs. Other abilities that strongly feature for this occupation include idea generation and reasoning, perceptual, quantitative and verbal abilities.
Median Annual Salary: $82,870 Minimum Educational Requirement: Bachelor's Degree

Desktop publishers
Desktop publishers format typescript and graphic elements using computer software to produce publication-ready material. Other abilities that strongly feature for this occupation include visual abilities.
Median Annual Salary: $36,610 Minimum Educational Requirement: High School Diploma (or GED or High School Equivalence Certificate)

Air traffic controllers
Air traffic controllers control air traffic on and within vicinity of airport and movement of air traffic between altitude sectors and control centers according to established procedures and policies. Authorize, regulate, and control commercial airline flights according to government or company regulations to expedite and ensure flight safety. Other abilities that strongly feature for this occupation include attentiveness, auditory and speech, idea generation and reasoning, perceptual, verbal and visual abilities.
Median Annual Salary: $108,040 Minimum Educational Requirement: Less than a High School Diploma

Interior designers
Interior designers plan, design, and furnish interiors of residential, commercial, or industrial buildings. Formulate design which is practical, aesthetic, and conducive to intended purposes, such as raising productivity, selling merchandise, or improving life style. They may also specialize in a particular field, style, or phase of interior design. Other abilities that strongly feature for this occupation include idea generation and reasoning and verbal abilities.
Median Annual Salary: $46,280 Minimum Educational Requirement: Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)

Commercial and industrial designers
Commercial and industrial designers develop and design manufactured products, such as cars, home appliances, and children's toys. Combine artistic talent with research on product use, marketing, and materials to create the most functional and appealing product design. Other abilities that strongly feature for this occupation include idea generation and reasoning, verbal and visual abilities.
Median Annual Salary: $58,230 Minimum Educational Requirement: High School Diploma (or GED or High School Equivalence Certificate)

Physicists
Physicists conduct research into physical phenomena, develop theories on the basis of observation and experiments, and devise methods to apply physical laws and theories. Other abilities that strongly feature for this occupation include attentiveness, auditory and speech, idea generation and reasoning, perceptual, quantitative and verbal abilities.
Median Annual Salary: $106,370 Minimum Educational Requirement: High School Diploma (or GED or High School Equivalence Certificate)

Mechanical engineers
Mechanical engineers perform engineering duties in planning and designing tools, engines, machines, and other mechanically functioning equipment. Oversee installation, operation, maintenance, and repair of equipment such as centralized heat, gas, water, and steam systems. Other abilities that strongly feature for this occupation include idea generation and reasoning, quantitative, verbal and visual abilities.
Median Annual Salary: $78,160 Minimum Educational Requirement: High School Diploma (or GED or High School Equivalence Certificate)

Fabric and apparel patternmakers
Fabric and apparel patternmakers draw and construct sets of precision master fabric patterns or layouts. They may also also mark and cut fabrics and apparel. Other abilities that strongly feature for this occupation include abilities.
Median Annual Salary: $38,970 Minimum Educational Requirement: High School Diploma (or GED or High School Equivalence Certificate)

Mechanical drafters
Mechanical drafters prepare detailed working diagrams of machinery and mechanical devices, including dimensions, fastening methods, and other engineering information. Other abilities that strongly feature for this occupation include visual abilities.
Median Annual Salary: $48,810 Minimum Educational Requirement: High School Diploma (or GED or High School Equivalence Certificate)

Fine artists, sculptors, and illustrators
Fine artists, sculptors, and illustrators create original artwork using any of a wide variety of media and techniques. Other abilities that strongly feature for this occupation include idea generation and reasoning and visual abilities.
Median Annual Salary: $44,850 Minimum Educational Requirement: Less than a High School Diploma