Aerospace Engineer Salary
Bureau of Labor Statistics title: Aerospace Engineers
The median aerospace engineer salary in the United States is $134,960 per year ($64.89/hour). Salaries range from $86,700 at the entry level to $205,890+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 67,710 aerospace engineer jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 6.1% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 Β· Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Salary Distribution
Job Growth (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
Education Required
Aerospace Engineer Career Guide
Interview questions, resume templates, and a career ladder written specifically for aerospace engineers.
Aerospace Engineers design + develop aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles. Career splits: commercial aerospace (Boeing, Airbus, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, SpaceX, Blue Origin), defense (missiles, fighter jets, drones β Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, Boeing Defense), space + satellite (NASA, SpaceX, Rocket Lab, Northrop Grumman Space), engine + propulsion (GE Aviation, Pratt + Whitney, Rolls-Royce), R&D + academic. Path: bachelor's in Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering + FE + PE. Security clearance often required (defense + NASA work). Median compensation: entry $75-105k; mid $105-155k; senior $135-200k+; principal + specialty $180-280k+; management + executive $210-380k+.
Core Skills Hiring Managers Screen For
How to Become a Aerospace Engineer
- 1Bachelor's in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering4-year ABET-accredited program.
- 2FE exam during senior yearFirst step to PE.
- 3Entry engineer role at aerospace companyBoeing, Lockheed, Northrop, SpaceX, Blue Origin. Structured programs.
- 4Get security clearance (Secret/Top Secret) for defense workEmployer-sponsored. Adds clearance premium.
- 5PE (Professional Engineer) license after 4 yearsHigher pay + technical leadership.
- 6Specialize (aerodynamics, structures, propulsion, avionics, controls)Specialty commands premium.
- 7Advance to Sr / Principal / Chief EngineerHigher pay + technical + management path.
Career Progression
- β’Support senior engineers
- β’Analysis + design under supervision
- β’Independent design + analysis
- β’Cross-functional collaboration
- β’Technical leadership
- β’Mentor + review
- β’Multi-project oversight
- β’Strategy + team leadership
- β’Full engineering function + P&L
Interview Questions & Answers
5 free questions below. Career Kit unlocks 9 total plus resume bullets for every level.
Q1. Walk me through a project you led.case
Q2. How do you approach a complex system design?case
Q3. Tell me about a failure.behavioral
Q4. Why our company?culture
Q5. How do you handle regulatory compliance?situational
Resume Template β Aerospace Engineer (3-6 yrs)
Copy these bullets into your resume as a starting point. Career Kit includes bullets for every level of the ladder.
- βΈAerospace Engineer, [Company], responsible for structural analysis of [aircraft/satellite/missile] program.
- βΈPE license + Secret clearance + ITAR trained.
- βΈLed design of [specific component] delivered on-schedule + under-budget.
- βΈContributed to 3 major program milestones over 3-year tenure.
What Gets You Rejected
- βWeak fundamentals or CAD skills.
- βMissing clearance for defense work.
- βPoor communication + documentation.
- βBad-mouthing prior team.
- βWeak understanding of regulations.
Salary Negotiation Levers
- βBase + performance bonus + equity (SpaceX + Blue Origin).
- βSign-on bonus $10-40k common.
- βClearance premium (Secret/TS = $5-15k+).
- βPE + specialty certifications support.
- βRelocation + housing.
- βContinuing education + tuition reimbursement.
- βPTO 3-5 weeks.
- βRemote/hybrid flexibility.
Aerospace Engineer Resume Review β $29
Personalized resume review from someone who has hired aerospace engineers. Purchase, email your resume to support@weblabra.com, and receive detailed written feedback within 7 days.
- β Occupation-specific critique (not generic)
- β Rewrite suggestions for weak bullets
- β Missing skills / keywords flagged
- β Formatting + ATS-readability feedback
- β 7-day turnaround, 100% refund if we miss it
Aerospace Engineer Career Kit β $19
- β All 9 interview questions with expert answers
- β 10 real questions aggregated from Glassdoor, Blind, Reddit, LinkedIn
- β Interview format intel for 8 top employers
- β 3 copy-paste salary negotiation emails
- β Resume bullets for every level of the career ladder
- β 30β60β90 day plan for your first role
- β Cover letter templates specific to this occupation
- β Detailed salary negotiation script
- β Ranked list of certifications with cost + ROI
- β Downloadable PDF for offline access
- β Instant access, no expiration, no subscription
One-time purchase. 7-day refund guarantee.
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Aerospace Engineer Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) βSalary Map β Click a state for details
Top Paying States
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $159,060 | +17.9% |
| Washington | $158,370 | +17.3% |
| California | $157,620 | +16.8% |
| District of Columbia | $157,600 | +16.8% |
| Maryland | $156,750 | +16.1% |
| Colorado | $156,190 | +15.7% |
| Massachusetts | $149,470 | +10.8% |
| Vermont | $144,400 | +7.0% |
| Virginia | $143,210 | +6.1% |
| Georgia | $140,460 | +4.1% |
Aerospace Engineer Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $191,260 | +41.7% |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $181,630 | +34.6% |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $171,380 | +27.0% |
| Boulder, CO | $167,160 | +23.9% |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $166,980 | +23.7% |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $166,420 | +23.3% |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $163,580 | +21.2% |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $163,280 | +21.0% |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $159,950 | +18.5% |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $156,190 | +15.7% |