SOC 17-2011 · May 2025 · United States
Aerospace Engineers
National figures, with pay broken out by state and metro area
The median wage for Aerospace Engineers across the United States is $134,960 per year, measured over 67,710 jobs. The highest state median is in Minnesota, at $159,060.
National wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
The next ten years
Projected to grow faster than average
- Change in jobs, 2024 to 2034
- +6.1%
- Openings per year
- 4,500
- Typical entry-level education
- Bachelor's degree
Includes jobs opened by workers leaving the occupation, not only new positions.
Projections are based on 2024 employment and run to 2034. The wages above are from the May 2025 survey, a separate BLS programme on a different release cycle, so the two are not two views of one dataset.
Where the pay is highest for Aerospace Engineers
Pay for this occupation varies by 79.9% between the highest and lowest paying states with published data. Minnesota pays $159,060 and Wisconsin pays $88,400.
| # | State | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota | $159,060 | 140 | |
| 2 | Washington | $158,370 | 5,760 | |
| 3 | California | $157,620 | 9,170 | |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $157,600 | 290 | |
| 5 | Maryland | $156,750 | 3,180 | |
| 6 | Colorado | $156,190 | 4,070 | |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $149,470 | 990 | |
| 8 | Vermont | $144,400 | 100 | |
| 9 | Virginia | $143,210 | 2,540 | |
| 10 | Georgia | $140,460 | 2,230 |
States with the most Aerospace Engineers jobs
| # | State | Jobs | Median | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 9,170 | $157,620 | |
| 2 | Texas | 6,750 | $130,270 | |
| 3 | Alabama | 5,820 | $127,540 | |
| 4 | Washington | 5,760 | $158,370 | |
| 5 | Colorado | 4,070 | $156,190 | |
| 6 | Ohio | 3,710 | $138,440 | |
| 7 | New Jersey | 3,400 | $126,430 | |
| 8 | Florida | 3,250 | $129,280 | |
| 9 | Maryland | 3,180 | $156,750 | |
| 10 | Arizona | 3,110 | $123,170 |
Top-paying metro areas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco | $191,260 | 510 |
| 2 | San Jose | $181,630 | 930 |
| 3 | Omaha | $171,380 | — |
| 4 | Boulder | $167,160 | 800 |
| 5 | Baltimore | $166,980 | 1,220 |
| 6 | Washington | $166,420 | 2,420 |
| 7 | Seattle | $163,580 | 5,480 |
| 8 | Los Angeles | $163,280 | 5,200 |
| 9 | Minneapolis | $159,950 | 120 |
| 10 | Denver | $156,190 | 2,010 |
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.