SOC 17-2011 · May 2025
Aerospace Engineer Salary
Aerospace Engineers in the US earn a median of $134,960 a year ($68.30 an hour on average), according to the BLS May 2025 wage survey. Average Aerospace Engineer pay climbed from $119,220 in 2019 to $142,060 in 2025, a +19.2% change in 6 years.
Median annual
$134,960
Half of all Aerospace Engineers in the United States earn more than this figure, half earn less. From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release.
Wage trend
+19.2% since 2019 · +0.6% YoY
Hourly
$68.30
Job growth 2025-35
+8.3%
US workers
67,710
BLS series
Annual median wage for Aerospace Engineers in All Industries in the United States
Salary range
From entry to top decile
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Aerospace Engineers is $86,700 – $205,890.
Percentile distribution
USD · annual
10th
$86,700
25th
$106,110
Median
$134,960
75th
$169,690
90th
$205,890
Percentile bands
Where your pay would sit
Percentile bands
Annual wages at each point of the BLS distribution for Aerospace Engineers. Where you sit depends on experience, employer, location and credentials.
| Percentile | What it means | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 10% earn less. Common for new entrants | $86,700 |
| 25th percentile | A quarter earn less | $106,110 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $134,960 |
| 75th percentile | A quarter earn more | $169,690 |
| 90th percentile | 10% earn more. Often senior or specialist staff | $205,890 |
Geography
Aerospace Engineer pay by state
Aerospace Engineers earn the most in Minnesota ($159,060, +18% against the national median) and the least in Wisconsin ($88,400). BLS publishes a May 2025 estimate for this occupation in 41 of 51 states and D.C.
National median
$134,960
Highest-paying states for aerospace engineers
| State | Annual median | vs national | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $159,060 | +18% | 140 |
| Washington | $158,370 | +17% | 5,760 |
| California | $157,620 | +17% | 9,170 |
| D.C. | $157,600 | +17% | 290 |
| Maryland | $156,750 | +16% | 3,180 |
| Colorado | $156,190 | +16% | 4,070 |
| Massachusetts | $149,470 | +11% | 990 |
| Vermont | $144,400 | +7% | 100 |
| Virginia | $143,210 | +6% | 2,540 |
| Georgia | $140,460 | +4% | 2,230 |
All 41 states, highest to lowest
| State | Annual median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $159,060 | 140 |
| Washington | $158,370 | 5,760 |
| California | $157,620 | 9,170 |
| D.C. | $157,600 | 290 |
| Maryland | $156,750 | 3,180 |
| Colorado | $156,190 | 4,070 |
| Massachusetts | $149,470 | 990 |
| Vermont | $144,400 | 100 |
| Virginia | $143,210 | 2,540 |
| Georgia | $140,460 | 2,230 |
| Ohio | $138,440 | 3,710 |
| Hawaii | $137,240 | 40 |
| South Carolina | $137,030 | 650 |
| Louisiana | $136,970 | 90 |
| Utah | $135,840 | 1,010 |
| Nebraska | $135,670 | 130 |
| Pennsylvania | $133,940 | 990 |
| New Mexico | $132,850 | 570 |
| Missouri | $130,680 | 650 |
| New York | $130,330 | 560 |
| Kansas | $130,330 | 1,730 |
| Texas | $130,270 | 6,750 |
| Connecticut | $129,500 | 1,160 |
| Florida | $129,280 | 3,250 |
| Michigan | $128,960 | – |
| Tennessee | $128,510 | 610 |
| Alabama | $127,540 | 5,820 |
| New Jersey | $126,430 | 3,400 |
| Kentucky | $126,130 | 290 |
| Oklahoma | $125,470 | 1,090 |
| Oregon | $124,630 | 250 |
| Arizona | $123,170 | 3,110 |
| North Carolina | $122,930 | 650 |
| Mississippi | $109,200 | 90 |
| Illinois | $108,940 | 200 |
| Indiana | $107,400 | 440 |
| Arkansas | $102,040 | 180 |
| Alaska | $101,710 | 100 |
| Nevada | $96,730 | 270 |
| Idaho | $95,700 | 190 |
| Wisconsin | $88,400 | 120 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates, May 2025, all industries.
What affects this salary
Pay drivers for Aerospace Engineers
Aerospace engineers (BLS SOC 17-2011) design aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles. The role requires a bachelor's degree in aerospace or related engineering field; a security clearance is required for most defense and government work. SpaceX, Blue Origin, Boeing, Lockheed, and major-defense-contractor roles typically pay above the OEWS median.
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $86,700 – $205,890. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.
Geography matters. The best-paying states for this role are Minnesota, Washington and California. Pay in Minnesota runs 1.8 times the level in Wisconsin, before any adjustment for cost of living.
Getting in. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as bachelor's degree, and projects about 3,800 openings a year over 2025-35. Employment is projected to grow 8.3% over the same period, against 3.5% for all occupations.
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked
What is the average Aerospace Engineer salary in the US?
How much does a Aerospace Engineer make an hour?
How much do Aerospace Engineers make at the low and high end?
Which state pays Aerospace Engineers the most?
Is the average Aerospace Engineer salary higher than the median?
Is Aerospace Engineer a growing career?
Open positions
Open Aerospace Engineer roles hiring now
Browse current Aerospace Engineer listings on Indeed and ZipRecruiter, filtered to your role.
Source & methodology
Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 17-2011. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Job growth, annual openings and typical education are from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2025-35; see the Occupational Outlook Handbook entry. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.