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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2021

17-2011 Aerospace Engineers

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.


National estimates for Aerospace Engineers
Industry profile for Aerospace Engineers
Geographic profile for Aerospace Engineers

National estimates for Aerospace Engineers:

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Aerospace Engineers:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
56,640 2.6 % $ 59.12 $ 122,970 0.7 %

Percentile wage estimates for Aerospace Engineers:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 37.23 $ 46.22 $ 58.78 $ 73.53 $ 80.95
Annual Wage (2) $ 77,440 $ 96,130 $ 122,270 $ 152,950 $ 168,370


Industry profile for Aerospace Engineers:

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Aerospace Engineers are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Aerospace Engineers, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Aerospace Engineers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing 18,620 3.97 $ 59.29 $ 123,330
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) 9,750 0.46 $ 59.83 $ 124,440
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services 9,150 0.61 $ 57.59 $ 119,790
Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing 5,640 1.41 $ 63.39 $ 131,860
Scientific Research and Development Services 4,830 0.61 $ 64.29 $ 133,720

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Aerospace Engineers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing 18,620 3.97 $ 59.29 $ 123,330
Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing 5,640 1.41 $ 63.39 $ 131,860
Support Activities for Air Transportation 1,300 0.67 $ 47.81 $ 99,440
Scientific Research and Development Services 4,830 0.61 $ 64.29 $ 133,720
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services 9,150 0.61 $ 57.59 $ 119,790

Top paying industries for Aerospace Engineers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (8) (8) $ 69.42 $ 144,390
Scientific Research and Development Services 4,830 0.61 $ 64.29 $ 133,720
Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing 5,640 1.41 $ 63.39 $ 131,860
Employment Services 760 0.02 $ 62.59 $ 130,180
Management of Companies and Enterprises 1,520 0.06 $ 60.92 $ 126,720


Geographic profile for Aerospace Engineers:

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Aerospace Engineers are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Aerospace Engineers, see the Create Customized Tables function.



Map of employment of aerospace engineers by state, May 2021


States with the highest employment level in Aerospace Engineers:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 7,860 0.48 1.18 $ 64.48 $ 134,120
Texas 5,510 0.45 1.12 $ 57.70 $ 120,010
Florida 4,640 0.54 1.34 $ 51.48 $ 107,070
Washington 4,110 1.28 3.19 $ 64.41 $ 133,970
Alabama 3,860 2.00 4.98 $ 58.35 $ 121,370


Map of location quotient of aerospace engineers by state, May 2021


States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Aerospace Engineers:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Alabama 3,860 2.00 4.98 $ 58.35 $ 121,370
Maryland 3,490 1.37 3.41 $ 64.11 $ 133,350
Kansas 1,790 1.34 3.32 $ 51.59 $ 107,310
Washington 4,110 1.28 3.19 $ 64.41 $ 133,970
Colorado 3,070 1.17 2.91 $ 67.64 $ 140,690


Map of annual mean wages of aerospace engineers by state, May 2021


Top paying states for Aerospace Engineers:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Nebraska 140 0.15 0.38 $ 72.05 $ 149,860
Colorado 3,070 1.17 2.91 $ 67.64 $ 140,690
Arizona 1,230 0.43 1.07 $ 67.51 $ 140,430
District of Columbia 390 0.59 1.47 $ 66.06 $ 137,390
California 7,860 0.48 1.18 $ 64.48 $ 134,120



Map of employment of aerospace engineers by area, May 2021


Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Aerospace Engineers:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 3,890 2.03 5.05 $ 64.92 $ 135,040
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 3,860 0.68 1.68 $ 65.24 $ 135,690
Huntsville, AL 3,340 14.53 36.13 $ 59.08 $ 122,880
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 3,010 0.84 2.09 $ 55.72 $ 115,890
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 2,770 0.94 2.35 $ 69.78 $ 145,140
Wichita, KS 1,510 5.31 13.20 $ 52.39 $ 108,960
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 1,500 0.52 1.29 $ 64.07 $ 133,260
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL 1,240 5.62 13.98 $ 54.19 $ 112,710
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO 1,180 0.80 2.00 $ 67.62 $ 140,660
Boulder, CO 1,170 6.45 16.03 $ 71.63 $ 148,990


Map of location quotient of aerospace engineers by area, May 2021


Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Aerospace Engineers:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California-Lexington Park, MD 1,120 24.24 60.30 $ 57.77 $ 120,160
Huntsville, AL 3,340 14.53 36.13 $ 59.08 $ 122,880
Boulder, CO 1,170 6.45 16.03 $ 71.63 $ 148,990
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL 1,240 5.62 13.98 $ 54.19 $ 112,710
Wichita, KS 1,510 5.31 13.20 $ 52.39 $ 108,960
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL 390 3.40 8.45 $ 50.19 $ 104,400
Dayton, OH 1,040 2.93 7.29 $ 54.39 $ 113,120
Las Cruces, NM 170 2.50 6.22 $ 45.17 $ 93,940
Bakersfield, CA 650 2.10 5.23 $ 55.84 $ 116,150
Colorado Springs, CO 600 2.08 5.18 $ 62.71 $ 130,440


Map of annual mean wages of aerospace engineers by area, May 2021


Top paying metropolitan areas for Aerospace Engineers:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA 60 0.13 0.32 $ 79.84 $ 166,060
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 680 0.30 0.75 $ 71.87 $ 149,490
Boulder, CO 1,170 6.45 16.03 $ 71.63 $ 148,990
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 820 0.76 1.90 $ 70.79 $ 147,240
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ 1,000 0.47 1.17 $ 70.73 $ 147,110
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 2,770 0.94 2.35 $ 69.78 $ 145,140
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO 1,180 0.80 2.00 $ 67.62 $ 140,660
Birmingham-Hoover, AL 110 0.22 0.56 $ 66.31 $ 137,930
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 3,860 0.68 1.68 $ 65.24 $ 135,690
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 3,890 2.03 5.05 $ 64.92 $ 135,040

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Aerospace Engineers:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area 100 1.49 3.72 $ 31.07 $ 64,620
Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area 90 0.64 1.60 $ 50.51 $ 105,050
Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area 60 0.43 1.06 $ 38.58 $ 80,240
Kansas nonmetropolitan area 50 0.12 0.31 $ 33.90 $ 70,500

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Aerospace Engineers:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area 100 1.49 3.72 $ 31.07 $ 64,620
Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area 90 0.64 1.60 $ 50.51 $ 105,050
Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area 60 0.43 1.06 $ 38.58 $ 80,240
Kansas nonmetropolitan area 50 0.12 0.31 $ 33.90 $ 70,500

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Aerospace Engineers:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area (8) (8) (8) $ 55.98 $ 116,430
Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area 90 0.64 1.60 $ 50.51 $ 105,050
Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area (8) (8) (8) $ 40.66 $ 84,560
Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area 60 0.43 1.06 $ 38.58 $ 80,240
Kansas nonmetropolitan area 50 0.12 0.31 $ 33.90 $ 70,500


About May 2021 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.

The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(8) Estimate not released.

(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.


Other OEWS estimates and related information:

May 2021 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: March 31, 2022