Engineering

Aerospace Engineer Salary

Aerospace engineers design, develop, and test aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles.

Median Salary
$126,880
Mean Salary
$132,200
Total Employed
63,200
Job Growth
+6%

Aerospace Engineer Salary by Experience Level

Entry-level aerospace engineers earn around $80,000 per year, while mid-career professionals earn $128,000. Senior-level aerospace engineers can earn $185,000 or more.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$80,000
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$128,000
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$185,000

Salary Percentile Breakdown

The salary range for aerospace engineers varies significantly. The bottom 10% earn $78,000, while the top 10% earn $192,000.

Percentile Annual Salary
10th Percentile $78,000
25th Percentile $100,000
50th Percentile (Median) $126,880
75th Percentile $160,000
90th Percentile $192,000

Aerospace Engineer Salary by State

Aerospace Engineer salaries vary significantly by state due to cost of living, demand, and industry concentration. The highest paying state is Hawaii at $215,696, while Mississippi offers the lowest at $105,310.

State Median
#1 Hawaii $215,696 Details →
#2 California $175,094 Details →
#3 Massachusetts $171,288 Details →
#4 Alaska $157,331 Details →
#5 New York $154,794 Details →
#6 New Jersey $145,912 Details →
#7 Washington $145,912 Details →
#8 Connecticut $142,106 Details →
#9 Maryland $139,568 Details →
#10 Oregon $139,568 Details →
#11 Colorado $133,224 Details →
#12 New Hampshire $133,224 Details →
#13 Rhode Island $133,224 Details →
#14 Virginia $131,955 Details →
#15 Delaware $128,149 Details →
#16 Vermont $128,149 Details →
#17 Florida $124,342 Details →
#18 Maine $124,342 Details →
#19 Arizona $123,074 Details →
#20 Minnesota $123,074 Details →
#21 Nevada $123,074 Details →
#22 Utah $123,074 Details →
#23 Pennsylvania $121,805 Details →
#24 Illinois $120,536 Details →
#25 Michigan $120,536 Details →
#26 Montana $120,536 Details →
#27 Idaho $119,267 Details →
#28 Georgia $117,998 Details →
#29 New Mexico $117,998 Details →
#30 North Carolina $116,730 Details →
#31 Texas $116,730 Details →
#32 Wisconsin $116,730 Details →
#33 Wyoming $116,730 Details →
#34 Louisiana $115,461 Details →
#35 Indiana $114,192 Details →
#36 Nebraska $114,192 Details →
#37 North Dakota $114,192 Details →
#38 Ohio $114,192 Details →
#39 Iowa $112,923 Details →
#40 South Carolina $112,923 Details →
#41 Tennessee $112,923 Details →
#42 Missouri $111,654 Details →
#43 South Dakota $111,654 Details →
#44 Alabama $110,386 Details →
#45 Kansas $110,386 Details →
#46 Kentucky $110,386 Details →
#47 Oklahoma $109,117 Details →
#48 Arkansas $106,579 Details →
#49 West Virginia $106,579 Details →
#50 Mississippi $105,310 Details →

Key Responsibilities

  • Design aircraft and spacecraft
  • Conduct aerodynamic analysis
  • Test prototypes
  • Develop manufacturing processes
  • Ensure safety standards

Top Skills

Aerodynamics CATIA/CAD Structural Analysis MATLAB Propulsion Systems FEA

Education Required

Bachelor's degree

Job Outlook

Faster than average — projected 6% growth over the next decade