Aerospace Design Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does an Aerospace Design Engineer make in the United States?

As of May 18, 2021, the average salary for an Aerospace Design Engineer in the United States is $94,843 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $46.

However, an Aerospace Design Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $110,989
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $84,774 to $103,294
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $75,607
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View as table View as graph 25% $84,774 10% $75,607 90% $110,989 75% $103,294 $94,843 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Aerospace Design Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $103,294 $8,608 $1,986 $50
Average $94,843 $7,904 $1,824 $46
25th Percentile $84,774 $7,065 $1,630 $41
Check out Aerospace Design Engineer Job Openings in the United States
Exterior Design Senior Engineer II

American Honda Motor Co. - Raymond, OH

Sr ADAS Design Engineer

American Honda Motor Co. - Raymond, OH

STAFF MECHANICAL DESIGN ENGINEER GE AEROSPACE

GE Aviation - West Chester, OH

AEROSPACE CERAMIC COMPOSITES DESIGN

GE Aviation - Evendale, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Aerospace Design Engineer Salaries

An Aerospace Design Engineer's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Aerospace Design Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Aerospace Design Engineer's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $91,977
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $92,265
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $93,703
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $96,082
  • Expert (over 8 years): $98,769
Levels Salary
Entry Level Aerospace Design Engineer$91,977
Intermediate Level Aerospace Design Engineer$92,265
Senior Level Aerospace Design Engineer$93,703
Specialist Level Aerospace Design Engineer$96,082
Expert Level Aerospace Design Engineer$98,769
$91,977 0 yr
$92,265 < 2 yrs
$93,703 2-4 yrs
$96,082 5-8 yrs
$98,769 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Aerospace Design Engineers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $119,625
  • San Francisco: $118,449
  • Oakland: $115,822

What Skills Can Increase an Aerospace Design Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 12% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • HACCP (Mentioned in 3.08% Job Postings): HACCP is a management system in which food safety is addressed through the analysis and control of biological, chemical, and physical hazards from raw material production, procurement to manufacturing and consumption of the finished product.
  • Dental Care (Mentioned in 2.03% Job Postings): Dental or oral health is concerned with your teeth, gums and mouth. The goal is to prevent complications such as tooth decay (cavities) and gum disease and to maintain the overall health of your mouth.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 12%
HACCP 3.08%
Dental Care 2.03%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Aerospace Design Engineer's salary.
  • Dental Hygiene: Can increase your salary by up to 20%.
  • CPR: Can increase your salary by up to 18%.
  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Dental Hygiene
$113,811
20%
CPR
$111,915
18%
Leadership
$110,018
16%
Patient Care
$108,121
14%
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How Education impacts an Aerospace Design Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Aerospace Design Engineers enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Aerospace Design Engineer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $91,787 and $100,081).

Aerospace Design Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Aerospace Design Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 2.4%
High School 2.4%
Associates 1.8%
Bachelors 37.0%
Masters 57.6%
Doctorate 1.2%
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Aerospace Design Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Aerospace Design Engineer's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on May 18, 2021

Salary Trends for Aerospace Design Engineer

Salaries for an Aerospace Design Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $81,189 in 2023 to around $80,234 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Aerospace Design Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Aerospace Design Engineer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$81,189
2024
$80,879
2025
$80,234
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $81,189
2024 $80,879
2025 $80,234
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Aerospace Design Engineer

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Aerospace Design Engineer

Here are companies hiring for Aerospace Design Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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