What is the salary and career path for an aerospace engineer?
Aerospace engineer is an exact match to Aerospace Engineers (SOC 17-2011), the BLS code for engineers who design and test aircraft, spacecraft and propulsion systems; the OEWS May 2025 median is $134,960 a year ($64.89 an hour), from $86,700 at the 10th percentile to $205,890 at the 90th. BLS projects 6.1% employment growth for the code over 2024–2034 — faster than average — with roughly 4,500 openings a year. It requires an ABET-accredited aerospace or aeronautical engineering degree; the NCEES FE and, where offered, a PE license add standing, and many defense roles require a U.S. security clearance.
- Aerospace Engineers earn a national median $134,960/yr ($64.89/hr) (BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 17-2011); the top 10% clear $205,890.
- Aerospace engineering is a degree profession: an ABET degree, the NCEES FE, and often a security clearance for defense and space work.
- BLS projects 6.1% growth for Aerospace Engineers (SOC 17-2011) through 2034 — faster than average — with roughly 4,500 openings a year.
- Pay runs from an entry EIT near $86,700 to a principal or chief engineer at the $205,890 top decile.
Career Path
How do you become an aerospace engineer?
Entry aerospace engineer (EIT)
Running loads, aero or structural analysis and building models under senior engineers; entry pay sits near the 10th percentile of $86,700.
Aerospace Engineer
Owning subsystem or discipline analysis on an airframe, propulsion or spacecraft program around the $134,960 national median for SOC 17-2011.
Senior / lead aerospace engineer
Leading vehicle-level integration, trade studies and design reviews pays toward the 75th percentile of $169,690.
Principal / chief engineer
Serving as a program chief engineer or technical fellow reaches the 90th percentile of $205,890.
BLS Salary Data
Which state pays aerospace engineers the most in 2026?
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 17-2011. National median: $134,960. Full salary guide →
Pay Comparison
How does aerospace engineer pay compare to related roles?
Head-to-head against the roles aerospace engineers most often weigh against. BLS OEWS May 2025 medians.
Takeaway: aerospace engineers rank 2 of 4 on median pay among the comparable roles above, with a projected +6.1% employment change 2024–34 (BLS Employment Projections). Pay position and projected demand together are what determine how quickly aerospace engineers clear offers across the GlobalCybers placement network.
Methodology & Sources
How this guide is sourced and reviewed
Wages (BLS): All median and percentile figures are BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 17-2011 (aerospace engineers) and the matching SOC codes for each comparison role. OEWS is sampled on a rolling 3-year basis and published ~10 months after collection, so treat it as a firm anchor rather than a spot rate.
Job growth: Projected 2024–34 employment change, and the average annual openings figure, are from the BLS Employment Projections program, by occupation. Openings are a per-year average over the projection decade, not a decade total.
Licensing & credentials:Requirements are drawn from the issuing state licensing boards and the certifying body behind each credential — not from third-party aggregators.
Demand signal:Any statement about how quickly this role clears offers reflects GlobalCybers placement request volume across the trailing 12 months — our own network data, offered as a directional real-world indicator alongside BLS, not a market-wide survey.
Credentials
What licences and certifications do aerospace engineers need?
The baseline credential; a master's is common for propulsion, GNC and advanced analysis roles. See all state licences →
Passing the Fundamentals of Engineering exam; the first step for engineers who pursue licensure.
Required for many defense and government aerospace programs; granted through a government process, not a school.
Aerospace-specific PE exams are limited, so licensed aerospace engineers often hold a PE (Mechanical); useful but not universally required in industry.
Tools & Software
What tools and software do aerospace engineers use on the job?
⚙️ Core Tools & Equipment
📊 BLS Employment Data, SOC 17-2011
Salary Levers
How do aerospace engineers earn above the $134,960 BLS median?
Discipline and clearance
Propulsion, GNC or hypersonics depth plus an active clearance moves pay from the $86,700 entry band toward the median and above.
Advanced degree
A master's or PhD for research and advanced analysis roles commands premiums above the $134,960 median.
Technical leadership
Lead engineer, technical fellow and chief-engineer tracks push earnings toward the $205,890 top decile.
This Route vs. College
Is becoming an aerospace engineer worth it vs. a 4-year degree?
The entry route into this role, set against a four-year degree. Same starting line, side by side.
Entry-level (10th percentile) and all-level median wages: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 17-2011. Student-debt figure: median federal borrower balance for bachelor's-degree completers. Starting-salary comparison is illustrative and varies by field and region.
FAQ
Aerospace Engineer Career, Frequently Asked Questions
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