Aerospace Engineers
SOC 17-2011 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Aerospace Engineers is $130,720, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $134,330, and an estimated 66,660 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +10.2% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of -6.4% (pay did not keep up with inflation). BLS projects employment will grow 6.1% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Aerospace Engineers has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $130,720 | $130,720 | 66,660 |
| 2022 | $126,880 | $132,103 | 61,580 |
| 2021 | $122,270 | $137,491 | 56,640 |
| 2020 | $118,610 | $139,641 | 60,630 |
Nominal change
+10.2%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
-6.4%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
+6.1%
Faster than average
Employment 2024
71,600
Projected 2034
75,900
Annual Openings
4,500
Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Aerospace Engineers earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $130,720. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $166,310 | +27.2% | 410 |
| Maryland | $145,600 | +11.4% | 2,810 |
| Washington | $142,520 | +9% | 5,430 |
| Minnesota | $140,320 | +7.3% | 250 |
| Maine | $138,980 | +6.3% | 140 |
| Virginia | $137,540 | +5.2% | 2,550 |
| Massachusetts | $136,860 | +4.7% | 750 |
| Colorado | $135,280 | +3.5% | 3,760 |
| New Mexico | $132,340 | +1.2% | — |
| Nebraska | $131,870 | +0.9% | 60 |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$81,620
25th Pct
$101,730
Median
$130,720
75th Pct
$166,610
90th Pct
$188,910
H-1B Employer Filings
Employer-certified wages from DOL H-1B LCA filings — competitive market benchmark, not approved visas.
| Employer | State | Filings | Median Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qantas Airways Limited | CA | 8 | $130,000 |
| Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation | GA | 4 | $106,952 |
| Utopia Compression Corporation | CA | 2 | $117,000 |
| Joby Aero, Inc. | CA | 2 | $159,300 |
| Cirrus Design Corporation | TX | 2 | $136,164 |
| Supernal, LLC | CA | 2 | $241,200 |
| Honda Aircraft Company, LLC | NC | 2 | $154,500 |
| eInfochips Inc. | IA | 2 | $150,522 |
| SIA ENGINERING (USA) INC | CA | 2 | $122,914 |
| Overair, Inc. | CA | 1 | $170,000 |
| SkyGrid LLC | TX | 1 | $120,000 |
| AVIATION SERVICE PARTNERS INC. | MO | 1 | $84,219 |
| Loft Orbital Solutions, Inc. | CA | 1 | $132,500 |
| University of Dayton | OH | 1 | $138,930 |
| Rohr, Inc. | CA | 1 | $179,094 |
| Wisk Aero LLC | TX | 1 | $132,238 |
| LTA Research and Exploration LLC | CA | 1 | $124,540 |
| APiJET, LLC | WA | 1 | $112,754 |
| Siller Helicopters, Inc. | CA | 1 | $123,531 |
| AIBOT US Operation Inc. | CA | 1 | $135,000 |
Source: DOL Office of Foreign Labor Certification, H-1B LCA data.
Related Occupations in Architecture & Engineering
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