All careersEngineering & science

Aerospace Engineer

$134,830
median pay per year
full range coming in the next data update

What the job actually is

Design and test aircraft, spacecraft, and their systems, and solve problems in flight and propulsion.

Where you work

Offices, labs, and manufacturing sites

The hours

Regular weekday hours

By the numbers

May 2024–25 BLS wage data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.

Median pay
$134,830
per year
What most earn
range coming soon
Openings a year
~4,500
projected, 2024–34
Outlook to 2034
+6%
Faster than average
Working in the U.S.
71,600
people, nationwide

Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.

“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.

How you get in

Typical starting education

Bachelor's degree

Training path: Bachelor's degree.

License or certification

No license is needed for most roles, though a professional engineer license helps for senior positions.

What it takes

MathematicsAnalytical thinkingProblem solvingAttention to detail

The honest take

High pay and cutting-edge work, though it demands strong math and a competitive engineering degree.

Standard Occupational Classification 17-2011. Pay, employment, and outlook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wage survey and 2024–34 employment projections). See something off? Tell us.