Aerospace Engineer salary

Q: How much does an aerospace engineer make?

The median aerospace engineer salary in the U.S. is about $130,720 per year. Most aerospace engineers earn between $86,070 and $175,480, and top earners (90th percentile) make $175,480 or more. These national figures come from published U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS OEWS) wage data.

Q: How much do entry-level aerospace engineers make?

Entry-level aerospace engineers (0–2 years) earn about $102,000 per year, rising to roughly $141,000 at mid-level and $176,500+ at the principal/staff level. These by-experience figures are modeled estimates based on typical engineering career progression.

Q: Do aerospace engineers make good money?

Yes. The median aerospace engineer salary of $130,720 is 12% above the roughly $116,537 median across engineering occupations, and experienced aerospace engineers can earn $175,480 or more.

Q: Which cities pay aerospace engineers the most?

Estimated aerospace engineer pay is highest in San Jose ($193,466), San Francisco ($185,622), Seattle ($169,936). These are cost-of-labor estimates that adjust the national baseline by local wage levels — not direct BLS metro wages.

Verified

Updated January 2025

Aerospace engineers design aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles, and test prototypes to ensure they function safely.

Median pay

$130,720

U.S. typical

Top earners

$175,480

90th percentile

Entry level

$102,000

0–2 yrs

Senior

$176,500

15+ yrs

The median aerospace engineer salary in the U.S. is about $130,720 per year. Entry-level pay starts near $86,070, while top earners (90th percentile) make $175,480 or more. Add your city and experience for a sharper, local number.

Median annual wage

$130,720

Mean

$134,970

10th pct · $86,07090th pct · $175,480

What aerospace engineers do

Design aerodynamic, propulsion, and structural systems, run simulations and wind-tunnel tests, and support manufacturing and flight test.

Aerospace engineers design aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles, and test prototypes to ensure they function safely.

What affects aerospace engineer pay

▹Defense/space clearance requirements
▹Industry (commercial aviation, defense, new space)
▹Years of experience
▹Specialty (propulsion, GNC, structures, avionics)
▹Metro cost of labor

Aerospace Engineer salary by experience

Pay typically climbs from about $102,000 for entry level engineers to $176,500+ at the principal / staff level.

Entry level 0–2 yrs

$102,000

Early career 3–5 yrs

$123,000

Mid level 6–9 yrs

$141,000

Senior 10–14 yrs

$159,500

Principal / Staff 15+ yrs

$176,500

Your actual offer depends on company, location, and specialization — run the calculator for a tailored range.

Highest-paying cities for aerospace engineers

Estimated aerospace engineer pay in the top-paying metros, vs the national median.

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Metro	State	Median	90th pct	vs U.S.	Data
San Jose California	CA	$193,466	$259,710	+48%	Estimate
San Francisco California	CA	$185,622	$249,182	+42%	Estimate
Seattle Washington	WA	$169,936	$228,124	+30%	Estimate
New York City New York	NY	$164,707	$221,105	+26%	Estimate
Boston Massachusetts	MA	$159,478	$214,086	+22%	Estimate
Washington, D.C. District of Columbia	DC	$156,864	$210,576	+20%	Estimate
Los Angeles California	CA	$154,250	$207,066	+18%	Estimate
San Diego California	CA	$150,328	$201,802	+15%	Estimate

Aerospace Engineer salary by state

State	Est. median	Est. 90th pct
California	$162,093	$217,595
Texas	$135,949	$182,499
New York	$149,021	$200,047
Washington	$154,250	$207,066
Massachusetts	$151,635	$203,557

State figures are estimates — open a state for its full city-by-city breakdown.

Aerospace Engineer salary — frequently asked questions

How much does an aerospace engineer make?

The median aerospace engineer salary in the U.S. is about $130,720 per year. Most aerospace engineers earn between $86,070 and $175,480, and top earners (90th percentile) make $175,480 or more. These national figures come from published U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS OEWS) wage data.

What is the highest aerospace engineer salary?

Top-earning aerospace engineers (90th percentile) make about $175,480 or more nationally. In the highest-paying metros, estimated pay can run even higher — for example around $193,466 in San Jose. Metro figures are cost-of-labor estimates, not direct BLS metro data.

How much do entry-level aerospace engineers make?

Entry-level aerospace engineers (0–2 years) earn about $102,000 per year, rising to roughly $141,000 at mid-level and $176,500+ at the principal/staff level. These by-experience figures are modeled estimates based on typical engineering career progression.

Do aerospace engineers make good money?

Yes. The median aerospace engineer salary of $130,720 is 12% above the roughly $116,537 median across engineering occupations, and experienced aerospace engineers can earn $175,480 or more.

Which cities pay aerospace engineers the most?

Estimated aerospace engineer pay is highest in San Jose ($193,466), San Francisco ($185,622), and Seattle ($169,936). These are cost-of-labor estimates that adjust the national baseline by local wage levels — not direct BLS metro wages.

How can an aerospace engineer earn more?

Aerospace Engineer pay rises most with defense/space clearance requirements, industry (commercial aviation, defense, new space), and years of experience. Moving to a higher-cost metro, specializing, and taking on senior or lead scope are the biggest levers — the salary calculator lets you model each one.

Source details

National wage from BLS OEWS May 2024 for SOC 17-2011. Median and 90th-percentile annual wages.

Benchmarks come from published government wage data via BLS OEWS. Local and emerging-role figures are labeled estimates. Full methodology →