Aerospace Engineers Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for aerospace engineers is $134,960, or $64.89 per hour. About 67,710 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $159,060 in Minnesota to $88,400 in Wisconsin.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 41 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota | $159,060 | $76.47 | 140 | 0.11 |
| 2 | Washington | $158,370 | $76.14 | 5,760 | 3.73 |
| 3 | California | $157,620 | $75.78 | 9,170 | 1.16 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $157,600 | $75.77 | 290 | 0.96 |
| 5 | Maryland | $156,750 | $75.36 | 3,180 | 2.64 |
| 6 | Colorado | $156,190 | $75.09 | 4,070 | 3.25 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $149,470 | $71.86 | 990 | 0.63 |
| 8 | Vermont | $144,400 | $69.42 | 100 | 0.74 |
| 9 | Virginia | $143,210 | $68.85 | 2,540 | 1.42 |
| 10 | Georgia | $140,460 | $67.53 | 2,230 | 1.05 |
| 11 | Ohio | $138,440 | $66.56 | 3,710 | 1.53 |
| 12 | Hawaii | $137,240 | $65.98 | 40 | 0.14 |
| 13 | South Carolina | $137,030 | $65.88 | 650 | 0.64 |
| 14 | Louisiana | $136,970 | $65.85 | 90 | 0.10 |
| 15 | Utah | $135,840 | $65.31 | 1,010 | 1.33 |
| 16 | Nebraska | $135,670 | $65.23 | 130 | 0.29 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $133,940 | $64.40 | 990 | 0.38 |
| 18 | New Mexico | $132,850 | $63.87 | 570 | 1.51 |
| 19 | Missouri | $130,680 | $62.83 | 650 | 0.51 |
| 20 | New York | $130,330 | $62.66 | 560 | 0.13 |
| 21 | Kansas | $130,330 | $62.66 | 1,730 | 2.76 |
| 22 | Texas | $130,270 | $62.63 | 6,750 | 1.10 |
| 23 | Connecticut | $129,500 | $62.26 | 1,160 | 1.57 |
| 24 | Florida | $129,280 | $62.15 | 3,250 | 0.75 |
| 25 | Michigan | $128,960 | $62.00 | — | — |
| 26 | Tennessee | $128,510 | $61.78 | 610 | 0.43 |
| 27 | Alabama | $127,540 | $61.32 | 5,820 | 6.32 |
| 28 | New Jersey | $126,430 | $60.79 | 3,400 | 1.82 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $126,130 | $60.64 | 290 | 0.34 |
| 30 | Oklahoma | $125,470 | $60.32 | 1,090 | 1.46 |
| 31 | Oregon | $124,630 | $59.92 | 250 | 0.30 |
| 32 | Arizona | $123,170 | $59.22 | 3,110 | 2.21 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $122,930 | $59.10 | 650 | 0.30 |
| 34 | Mississippi | $109,200 | $52.50 | 90 | 0.19 |
| 35 | Illinois | $108,940 | $52.38 | 200 | 0.07 |
| 36 | Indiana | $107,400 | $51.63 | 440 | 0.32 |
| 37 | Arkansas | $102,040 | $49.06 | 180 | 0.31 |
| 38 | Alaska | $101,710 | $48.90 | 100 | 0.68 |
| 39 | Nevada | $96,730 | $46.51 | 270 | 0.40 |
| 40 | Idaho | $95,700 | $46.01 | 190 | 0.50 |
| 41 | Wisconsin | $88,400 | $42.50 | 120 | 0.10 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do aerospace engineers make?
The median annual wage for aerospace engineers in the United States is $134,960, or $64.89 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $86,700, and the top 10% earn $205,890.
How many aerospace engineers are employed in the U.S.?
About 67,710 people work as aerospace engineers nationwide.
Which state pays aerospace engineers the most?
Minnesota pays the most at a median of $159,060, followed by Washington ($158,370) and California ($157,620).
Which state pays aerospace engineers the least?
Wisconsin has the lowest median at $88,400.
Where are aerospace engineers jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is Alabama at 6.32×.