In the United States, aerospace engineers earned a median annual wage of $134,960 in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). That is the closest official category for people who design and develop aircraft. It is a national occupational median—not a guaranteed starting salary, an individual job offer, or a figure that applies worldwide.
What “aircraft engineer” means in salary data
“Aircraft engineer” is an everyday description, not the precise occupation used for the main U.S. wage figure. For aircraft design and development, the closest BLS category is aerospace engineers. The BLS describes their work as designing, developing, and testing aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles.
The category can include titles such as aeronautical engineer, aerospace stress engineer, avionics engineer, design engineer, flight controls engineer, flight systems test engineer, flight test engineer, and structural analysis engineer, as listed by O*NET. The job title alone is not enough to determine which occupation’s pay figure applies; duties matter.
Roles that should not be conflated
- Aerospace engineers design, develop, and test aerospace systems.
- Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians operate and maintain equipment used to develop, test, produce, and sustain aircraft and spacecraft. The BLS lists an associate’s degree as typical entry-level education for this occupation.
- Aircraft mechanics and service technicians inspect, diagnose, repair, and document aircraft maintenance. Avionics technicians focus on aircraft electronic equipment.
U.S. aerospace engineer pay in May 2025
The BLS reports a $134,960 median annual wage for aerospace engineers in May 2025. A median is the midpoint: half of workers earned more and half earned less. It is not the same as an arithmetic average, a new-graduate salary, or the amount every engineer can expect to earn.
#1 Best Overall
| Wage measure | May 2025 figure | How to interpret it |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage | $134,960 | Half of aerospace engineers earned more and half earned less. |
| Lowest 10 percent threshold | Less than $86,700 | Workers in the lowest tenth earned below this amount; it is not a typical starting salary. |
| Highest 10 percent threshold | More than $205,890 | Workers in the highest tenth earned above this amount; it is not a standard salary cap or guaranteed top salary. |
All three figures are BLS national wage statistics for U.S. aerospace engineers in May 2025. The percentile thresholds describe the distribution of reported wages; they do not identify what a particular employer will offer.
How pay differs by industry
The BLS reports different May 2025 medians across selected industries employing aerospace engineers. These are comparisons, not evidence that choosing an industry by itself causes a particular salary.
| Industry | Median annual wage, May 2025 |
|---|---|
| Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences | $149,260 |
| Federal government | $142,630 |
| Aerospace product and parts manufacturing | $137,030 |
| Engineering services | $132,440 |
| Navigational, measuring, electromedical, and control instruments manufacturing | $126,740 |
These industry medians are from the BLS’s aerospace engineers profile. They are national figures for the listed industries, not salary quotes for specific companies or locations.
How related aircraft jobs compare
People sometimes use “aircraft engineer” to mean a technician or maintenance specialist. Those are separate occupations with different duties and wage distributions. The following are BLS U.S. median annual wages for May 2025:
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
| Occupation | Median annual wage | Typical work distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Aerospace engineers | $134,960 | Design, develop, and test aerospace systems. |
| Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians | $82,890 | Operate and maintain equipment for aerospace development, testing, production, and support. |
| Aircraft mechanics and service technicians | $79,870 | Inspect, diagnose, repair, and document aircraft maintenance. |
| Avionics technicians | $82,280 | Work on aircraft electronic equipment. |
The technician wage is reported in the BLS profile for aerospace engineering and operations technicians; mechanic and avionics figures are in the BLS profile for aircraft and avionics equipment mechanics and technicians. Comparing these figures is useful only if the occupations match the work being considered.
What to check when comparing salaries
- Occupation and duties: Confirm whether the role is engineering design and development, technician work, or maintenance.
- Industry: BLS industry medians differ, but they do not predict an individual offer.
- Geography: The figures above are national U.S. data, not city or state rankings. The BLS aerospace engineer profile links to state and area wage information for localized comparisons.
- Education and experience: A bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering or a related field is typically needed for aerospace engineer roles. Individual employers and jobs can differ.
- Type of number: Separate a median from a percentile threshold or a posted offer; they answer different questions.
For defense-related work, a security clearance may be needed, according to the BLS; that does not mean every aerospace engineering position requires one.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Job outlook and work context
The BLS projects aerospace engineer employment to grow 8 percent from 2025 to 2035, with about 3,800 openings per year on average over that period. These are national projections, not a guarantee of hiring in a particular specialty or location. The occupation typically involves office work, often at a computer, and some engineers work more than 40 hours a week. See the BLS occupation profile for its wage, education, work-environment, and outlook details.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
