Aerospace engineers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $86,700 | $41.68 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $134,960 | $64.89 |
| Mean (average) | $142,060 | $68.30 |
| 90th percentile | $205,890 | $98.98 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Aerospace engineers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 43 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $127,540 | $78,660 | $195,190 | 5,820 | 6.32 |
| Alaska | $101,710 | $81,650 | $170,340 | 100 | 0.68 |
| Arizona | $123,170 | $88,920 | $193,990 | 3,110 | 2.21 |
| Arkansas | $102,040 | $72,590 | $155,680 | 180 | 0.31 |
| California | $157,620 | $104,370 | $220,670 | 9,170 | 1.16 |
| Colorado | $156,190 | $101,970 | $210,410 | 4,070 | 3.25 |
| Connecticut | $129,500 | $86,420 | $163,930 | 1,160 | 1.57 |
| District of Columbia | $157,600 | $98,200 | $196,310 | 290 | 0.96 |
| Florida | $129,280 | $84,210 | $177,070 | 3,250 | 0.75 |
| Georgia | $140,460 | $84,520 | $205,540 | 2,230 | 1.05 |
| Hawaii | $137,240 | $117,700 | $247,260 | 40 | 0.14 |
| Idaho | $95,700 | $64,870 | $139,190 | 190 | 0.5 |
| Illinois | $108,940 | $78,170 | $184,520 | 200 | 0.07 |
| Indiana | $107,400 | $82,530 | $176,860 | 440 | 0.32 |
| Iowa | Data unavailable | 40 | 0.07 | ||
| Kansas | $130,330 | $80,860 | $167,400 | 1,730 | 2.76 |
| Kentucky | $126,130 | $100,440 | $172,340 | 290 | 0.34 |
| Louisiana | $136,970 | $110,300 | $197,930 | 90 | 0.1 |
| Maryland | $156,750 | $97,460 | $232,930 | 3,180 | 2.64 |
| Massachusetts | $149,470 | $89,750 | $217,840 | 990 | 0.63 |
| Michigan | $128,960 | $76,130 | $180,160 | ||
| Minnesota | $159,060 | $85,330 | $194,950 | 140 | 0.11 |
| Mississippi | $109,200 | $78,640 | $171,220 | 90 | 0.19 |
| Missouri | $130,680 | $80,390 | $179,260 | 650 | 0.51 |
| Nebraska | $135,670 | $86,760 | $217,240 | 130 | 0.29 |
| Nevada | $96,730 | $77,920 | $179,050 | 270 | 0.4 |
| New Hampshire | Data unavailable | 40 | 0.14 | ||
| New Jersey | $126,430 | $103,230 | $163,770 | 3,400 | 1.82 |
| New Mexico | $132,850 | $97,350 | $195,110 | 570 | 1.51 |
| New York | $130,330 | $89,130 | $202,690 | 560 | 0.13 |
| North Carolina | $122,930 | $79,310 | $176,720 | 650 | 0.3 |
| Ohio | $138,440 | $82,830 | $201,670 | 3,710 | 1.53 |
| Oklahoma | $125,470 | $80,040 | $161,780 | 1,090 | 1.46 |
| Oregon | $124,630 | $85,070 | $179,470 | 250 | 0.3 |
| Pennsylvania | $133,940 | $89,230 | $179,820 | 990 | 0.38 |
| South Carolina | $137,030 | $81,460 | $170,150 | 650 | 0.64 |
| Tennessee | $128,510 | $79,690 | $171,560 | 610 | 0.43 |
| Texas | $130,270 | $82,990 | $195,190 | 6,750 | 1.1 |
| Utah | $135,840 | $85,230 | $183,810 | 1,010 | 1.33 |
| Vermont | $144,400 | $93,460 | $172,160 | 100 | 0.74 |
| Virginia | $143,210 | $95,420 | $226,950 | 2,540 | 1.42 |
| Washington | $158,370 | $112,580 | $207,710 | 5,760 | 3.73 |
| Wisconsin | $88,400 | $65,720 | $147,560 | 120 | 0.1 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for aerospace engineers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 3,800. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 0.2%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for aerospace engineers
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering, General CIP 14.0201
- Astronautical Engineering CIP 14.0202
- Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering, Other CIP 14.0299
- Electrical and Electronics Engineering CIP 14.1001
- Mechanical Engineering CIP 14.1901
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Formulate conceptual design of aeronautical or aerospace products or systems to meet customer requirements or conform to environmental regulations.
- Evaluate product data or design from inspections or reports for conformance to engineering principles, customer requirements, environmental regulations, or quality standards.
- Direct or coordinate activities of engineering or technical personnel involved in designing, fabricating, modifying, or testing of aircraft or aerospace products.
- Plan or conduct experimental, environmental, operational, or stress tests on models or prototypes of aircraft or aerospace systems or equipment.
- Diagnose performance problems by reviewing reports or documentation from customers or field engineers or by inspecting malfunctioning or damaged products.
- Formulate mathematical models or other methods of computer analysis to develop, evaluate, or modify design, according to customer engineering requirements.
- Write technical reports or other documentation, such as handbooks or bulletins, for use by engineering staff, management, or customers.
- Maintain records of performance reports for future reference.
Technology skills
- Autodesk AutoCAD (in demand)
- C (in demand)
- C++ (in demand)
- Dassault Systemes SolidWorks (in demand)
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (in demand)
- Python (in demand)
- The MathWorks MATLAB (in demand)
- Dassault Systemes CATIA (in demand)
- MathWorks Simulink (in demand)
- C# (hot technology)
- Extensible markup language XML (hot technology)
- Linux (hot technology)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
Transferable skills for career changers: Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Operations Analysis, Systems Evaluation, Quality Control Analysis, Systems Analysis.
Common job titles: Aeronautical Engineer, Aerospace Stress Engineer, Avionics Engineer, Design Engineer, Flight Controls Engineer, Flight Systems Test Engineer, Flight Test Engineer, Special Mission Engineer, Structural Analysis Engineer, Structural Test Engineer.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do aerospace engineers make?
The national median annual wage for aerospace engineers was $134,960 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $86,700 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $205,890. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do aerospace engineers need?
BLS lists bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is aerospace engineers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of aerospace engineers to change +8.3% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 3,800 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay aerospace engineers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Minnesota ($159,060), Washington ($158,370), California ($157,620). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.