Aerospace engineers
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Aerospace engineers in the United States earn a median salary of $134,960 per year — about $65 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 72K people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of +6%.
AI & Automation Risk
Aerospace engineering is a high-level knowledge occupation where core tasks like aerodynamic modeling, structural analysis, and propulsion design are increasingly performed using digital simulation and AI-driven optimization tools. While the role requires critical human judgment for safety, regulatory compliance, and physical inspection of prototypes, the heavy reliance on computer-aided design (CAD) and complex data analysis makes it highly susceptible to AI-driven productivity gains and task automation.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE-IABEST VALUE | $171,380 | Below avg (91.9) | $186,463 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $191,260 | Above avg (115.6) | $165,431 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $181,630 | Above avg (110.4) | $164,486 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $149,430 | Below avg (92.6) | $161,377 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $166,980 | Above avg (104.5) | $159,809 |
| Boulder, CO | $167,160 | Above avg (105.2) | $158,894 |
| Decatur, AL | $138,460 | Below avg (87.2) | $158,763 |
| Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $150,700 | Average (98.2) | $153,412 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $166,420 | Above avg (108.9) | $152,842 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $159,950 | Above avg (104.8) | $152,592 |
| Cleveland, OH | $143,020 | Below avg (93.9) | $152,274 |
| Las Cruces, NM | $136,860 | Below avg (90.2) | $151,709 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $151,980 | Average (100.7) | $150,913 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $144,020 | Below avg (95.5) | $150,734 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $150,220 | Average (100.1) | $150,133 |