Mechanical Engineer
Median wage · national
$104,110
Range: $84K – $133K
Employed
297K
Openings/yr
18K
Typically: bachelor's degree
STEM
Aerospace Engineer
With a national median of $134,960 and +6.1% projected job growth through 2034, Aerospace Engineer offers both strong financial return and stable long-term demand.
About Aerospace Engineer
Perform engineering duties in designing, constructing, and testing aircraft, missiles, and spacecraft. May conduct basic and applied research to evaluate adaptability of materials and equipment to aircraft design and manufacture. May recommend improvements in testing equipment and techniques.
- Median Wage
- $134,960
- Employed Nationally
- 68K
- Openings / Year
- 4,500
- Entry Education
- Bachelor's degree
- Job Zone
- Zone 4: Considerable Preparation
Also known as:
Aerodynamicist
Aerodynamics Engineer
Aeronautical Design Engineer
Aeronautical Engineer
Aeronautical Project Engineer
How Much Do Aerospace Engineers Make?
Aerospace Engineer earn $134,960 nationally, well above the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $106,110 and $169,690. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.
$134,960
National Median (Annual)
Well above average for college graduates.
$106K–$170K
Middle 50% Range
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
Earnings Range
$106,110
Entry-level
$134,960
Median
$169,690
Experienced
What Do Aerospace Engineers Do?
O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Aerospace Engineer roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.
What You'll Do
- Formulate mathematical models or other methods of computer analysis to develop, evaluate, or modify design, according to customer engineering requirements.
- Plan or conduct experimental, environmental, operational, or stress tests on models or prototypes of aircraft or aerospace systems or equipment.
- Formulate conceptual design of aeronautical or aerospace products or systems to meet customer requirements or conform to environmental regulations.
- Plan or coordinate investigation and resolution of customers' reports of technical problems with aircraft or aerospace vehicles.
- Write technical reports or other documentation, such as handbooks or bulletins, for use by engineering staff, management, or customers.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Critical Thinking
Science
Reading Comprehension
Writing
Speaking
Who Thrives Here
I
Investigative
This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.
R
Realistic
Hands-on tasks, physical activity, or working with tools and real materials are central parts of the daily work here.
C
Conventional
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
Where Do Aerospace Engineers Work?
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Work Setting
Mixed
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Physical Demands
Light
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Stress Level
Moderate
Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.
What Is the Job Outlook for Aerospace Engineers?
The BLS projects +6.1% employment change for Aerospace Engineer through 2034, roughly in line with the national average of +5%. About 4,500 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.
↗ +6.1%
10-Year Growth (2024–2034)
About as fast as average.
4,500
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
68K
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most Aerospace Engineer professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $134,960 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 9,330 | $143,860 | +6.6% |
| 2 | Texas | 7,660 | $126,470 | -6.3% |
| 3 | Washington | 5,700 | $158,600 | +17.5% |
| 4 | Alabama | 5,570 | $133,080 | -1.4% |
| 5 | Colorado | 4,020 | $151,570 | +12.3% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
Most Aerospace Engineer positions require a bachelor's degree to qualify. The 3 programs below are the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.
Typical Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
Job Zone
Zone 4: Considerable Preparation
These positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mechanical Engineering | 43,522 | $92,135 | 441 |
| 2 | Electrical Engineering | 27,809 | $100,647 | 460 |
| 3 | Aerospace Engineering | 9,220 | $98,207 | 95 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring Aerospace Engineers
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States Naval Academy Annapolis, MD | 97 | — | — |
| 2 | United States Coast Guard Academy New London, CT | 96 | — | — |
| 3 | United States Air Force Academy USAF Academy, CO | 96 | — | — |
| 4 | United States Military Academy West Point, NY | 96 | — | — |
| 5 | Princeton University Princeton, NJ | 94 | $6,128 | $110,066 |
| 6 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | 93 | $12,548 | $82,511 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up Aerospace Engineer, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to Aerospace Engineer pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Aerospace Engineer Pros & Cons
Strong earnings and growing demand make Aerospace Engineer a compelling path. The 3 strengths and 1 trade-offs below are drawn from BLS wage data and employment projections.
PROS
- Very high median salary The national median of $134,960 places this career well above average for college graduates, with significant upside at the 75th percentile.
- Steady job outlook The BLS projects +6.1% growth through 2034, keeping pace with the national average. Demand is stable and annual openings remain consistent.
- High earning ceiling Top earners (75th percentile) reach $169,690 annually. Strong performers, specialists, and those in high-cost markets have significant upside beyond the median.
CONS
- Multi-year ramp before career-level pay This is a Job Zone 4 occupation, these positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles. Most workers in this field spend their first several years at entry-level pay well below the $134,960 median while building the experience employers require.
Aerospace Engineer Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Aerospace Engineer professionals earn?
The national median annual wage for Aerospace Engineer is $134,960, well into the top quartile of US wages. The middle 50% of earners fall between $106,110 and $169,690. Pay varies by employer size, industry sector, specialization, and geography. National figures are a starting point, not a guarantee.
Is Aerospace Engineer a good career?
Yes, the data is strong. A $134,960 median with +6.1% projected growth through 2034 is a combination most career fields can't match. The real variable is early career: workers around the 25th percentile earn $106,110, so your first employer and location will shape your trajectory more than the national number suggests.
How long does it take to become a Aerospace Engineer?
Expect 4 years of undergraduate education followed by 2 or more years of field experience before most employers consider you qualified for career-level positions. A bachelor's degree is the typical minimum credential. Degree programs like Mechanical Engineering are typical entry paths. Early-career pay during this ramp-up period will be meaningfully below the $134,960 national median. Factor that gap into any program ROI calculation.
What is the job outlook for Aerospace Engineer?
The BLS projects +6.1% employment change for Aerospace Engineer through 2034, about as fast as average compared to all occupations. About 4,500 job openings per year are projected, including new positions and replacements for workers who retire or change careers. 68K people currently work in this occupation nationwide (BLS May 2024).
Why do Aerospace Engineer salaries vary so widely?
The $63,580 gap between the 25th ($106,110) and 75th ($169,690) percentile reflects how much employer type, industry, specialization, and geography affect pay. Entry-level roles and lower-demand markets cluster near the bottom; senior, specialized, or high-cost-metro positions push the top. In fields with this much spread, where you work and what you specialize in often matters more than years of experience.
What skills do Aerospace Engineer professionals need?
O*NET data identifies the core skills employers consistently prioritize for Aerospace Engineer roles: Critical Thinking, Science, Reading Comprehension, Writing, and Speaking. These develop through formal education and hands-on work. Programs with internship or co-op requirements give you a meaningful head start on the ones that take time to build.
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- Median wage
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Does a Master's Degree Pay Off? Barely, on Average
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- Master's degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Median wage
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- Career outcomes
-
Growing and Paying $80K Plus: The Careers That Do Both
Only 95 of 385 federal careers both pay a median above $80,000 and grow faster than the typical job. Here is the rare set that clears both bars.
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- Median wage
- High-paying careers
- Job outlook
- Career change
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