Aerospace Engineers pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $96,650 a year or less, while the top 10% make $209,080 or more. The middle half of aerospace engineers in San Diego earn between $114,730 and $164,110.
- $97K10th
- $115K25th
- $135KMedian
- $164K75th
- $209K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $144,280 | $12,023 | $69.37 |
| Median | $135,010 | $11,251 | $64.91 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $114,730 | $9,561 | $55.16 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $164,110 | $13,676 | $78.90 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Aerospace Engineers pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Aerospace engineers in San Diego earn 10% less than the California average ($159,960) and about the same as the U.S. average ($142,060). At the median the gap is +0% against the U.S. median of $134,960.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $144,280 | $135,010 | $96,650 | $209,080 | 800 |
| California | $159,960 | $157,620 | $104,370 | $220,670 | 9,170 |
| United States | $142,060 | $134,960 | $86,700 | $205,890 | 67,710 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Aerospace Engineers salary after taxes in San Diego
On the average salary of $144,280, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $100,555 a year, or $8,380 a month and $3,868 every two weeks. Taxes take 30% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Diego a good place for aerospace engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Diego area are 12% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.9), so the average $144,280 buys what about $128,952 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.3 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 6.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Aerospace Engineers salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 5th of 10 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($183,920).
- San Francisco$183,920
- San Jose$181,690
- Los Angeles$161,520
- Sacramento$144,960
- San Diego$144,280
- San Luis Obispo$143,350
- Riverside$141,070
- Santa Maria$137,690
- Bakersfield$134,930
- Oxnard$133,000
Highest-paying cities for aerospace engineers
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($183,920).
- San Francisco, CA$183,920
- San Jose, CA$181,690
- Omaha, NE$172,720
- Washington, DC$168,780
- Boulder, CO$165,500
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Aerospace Engineers salary in San Diego: questions
How much do aerospace engineers make an hour in San Diego?
$69.37 an hour on average, and $64.91 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level aerospace engineers salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $96,650 a year and the 25th percentile is $114,730, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the aerospace engineers take-home pay in San Diego?
About $100,555 a year ($8,380 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $144,280. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do aerospace engineers earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($142,060).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 17-2011; area San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.7%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.20, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.