Salary comparison
Aerospace Engineer vs Mechanical Engineer salary
Aerospace Engineers out-earn mechanical engineers by about $32,510 at the median. Here is the full side-by-side breakdown — pay range, top states, and experience.
Aerospace Engineers earn more — a median of $134,830 versus $102,320 for mechanical engineers, a gap of about $32,510 (32%). Both figures are published national wage benchmarks.
Aerospace Engineer
Verified$134,830
Median annual wage
- Entry (10th pct)
- $85,350
- Top 10%
- $205,850
- Discipline
- Architecture & Engineering
Mechanical Engineer
Verified$102,320
Median annual wage
- Entry (10th pct)
- $68,740
- Top 10%
- $161,240
- Discipline
- Architecture & Engineering
Aerospace Engineer vs Mechanical Engineer — pay distribution
Percentile-by-percentile comparison of national annual wages.
| Percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th percentileAerospace Engineer | $85,350 |
| MedianAerospace Engineer | $134,830 |
| 90th percentileAerospace Engineer | $205,850 |
| 10th percentileMechanical Engineer | $68,740 |
| MedianMechanical Engineer | $102,320 |
| 90th percentileMechanical Engineer | $161,240 |
Pay by experience
Modeled progression from entry to principal level for each role (estimated from the national percentile curve).
Aerospace Engineer
Mechanical Engineer
Where each role pays most
Highest-paying states by published median wage.
Aerospace Engineer
- District of Columbia$175,350
- Washington$158,600
- Maryland$158,220
- Massachusetts$152,210
- Colorado$151,570
Mechanical Engineer
- New Mexico$141,490
- District of Columbia$130,000
- Alaska$129,990
- California$126,370
- Massachusetts$122,670
Which should you choose?
On pay alone, aerospace engineers earn about 32% more at the median — but location and specialization routinely move pay by more than that gap.
Pick aerospace engineer if…
Aerospace engineers design aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles, and test prototypes to ensure they function safely.
- ▹Defense/space clearance requirements
- ▹Industry (commercial aviation, defense, new space)
- ▹Years of experience
Pick mechanical engineer if…
Mechanical engineers design, develop, and test mechanical and thermal devices, from engines and tools to HVAC and manufacturing systems.
- ▹Industry (aerospace and oil & gas pay above automotive/consumer)
- ▹Professional Engineer (PE) license
- ▹Years of experience
Aerospace Engineer vs Mechanical Engineer — frequently asked
Who earns more, aerospace engineers or mechanical engineers?
What is the salary range for aerospace engineers vs mechanical engineers?
Should I become a aerospace engineer or a mechanical engineer?
Source details
Published wage from BLS OEWS May 2024 for SOC 17-2011 (Aerospace Engineers), national.
Benchmarks come from published government wage data via BLS OEWS. Local and emerging-role figures are labeled estimates. Full methodology →