Pay Scale

• The average salary for those working as aerospace engineers was $99,000 in 2010, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The highest paid aerospace engineers made more than $143,000 per year. The upper 25 percent made more than $120,290 per year. The median salary for those working in this field was $97,480, while the lower 25 percent made less than $76,440. The lowest 10 percent made salaries less than $61,000 annually. Senior aerospace engineers tend to make salaries in the upper 25 percent range or higher, but there are exceptions to the rule.
  
  

Industry

• The field in which the aerospace engineer works also provides some indication of how much he can expect to make. According to the BLS, the highest paying industry for aerospace systems engineers was the equipment, machinery and wholesale supplies field. Engineers in this field made more than $118,000 per year. Those employed by the federal government made $110,000 or more per year, while those employed in the aerospace parts manufacturing sector made an average of about $89,000 per year in 2010.
  
  

Location

• Location can also provide some additional indication of the average salary for aerospace engineers. According to the BLS, the highest paid engineers in this field worked in the states of Maryland, Virginia, Alabama and California. The District of Columbia was also listed by the bureau as being among the top paying locations in which to work. Average salaries in these areas were in excess of $108,000 per year in 2010. Texas and Washington were second and third to California, respectively, in terms of overall employment. Average salaries earned in these states were $97,800 and $95,080, respectively.
  
  

Job Outlook

• The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the number of jobs in the aerospace engineering field will grow by about 10 percent from 2008 to 2018. According to the bureau, the main impetus for growth in the aerospace industry will be the increase in military-based jobs in this field. Growth of the space industry is also expected to have a continued impact on job growth for aerospace engineers.