How much does an Aerospace Engineer make?
The median pay for an Aerospace Engineer in the United States is $134,960 per year — about $64.88 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $86,700, while the most experienced Aerospace Engineers in the top 10% earn $205,890.
That is $73,570 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Aerospace Engineer salary range by percentile
Half of all Aerospace Engineers earn between $106,110 and $169,690 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $86,700 | $41.68 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $106,110 | $51.01 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $134,960 | $64.88 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $169,690 | $81.58 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $205,890 | $98.99 |
Highest-paying states for Aerospace Engineer
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Minnesota leads the country for Aerospace Engineer pay at $159,060 a year, followed by Washington ($158,370) and California ($157,620). At the other end, Wisconsin posts the lowest median at $88,400 — a gap of $70,660 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota | $159,060 | $76.47 | +18% |
| 2 | Washington | $158,370 | $76.14 | +17% |
| 3 | California | $157,620 | $75.78 | +17% |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $157,600 | $75.77 | +17% |
| 5 | Maryland | $156,750 | $75.36 | +16% |
Aerospace Engineer salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 41 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 68,000 people work as Aerospace Engineers in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $142,060 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
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Related salaries
Other engineering roles with similar pay.