Aerospace Engineers pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $104,030 a year or less, while the top 10% make $249,990 or more. The middle half of aerospace engineers in Washington earn between $132,510 and $195,190.
- $104K10th
- $133K25th
- $166KMedian
- $195K75th
- $250K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $168,780 | $14,065 | $81.14 |
| Median | $166,420 | $13,868 | $80.01 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $132,510 | $11,042 | $63.71 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $195,190 | $16,266 | $93.84 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Aerospace Engineers pay in Washington vs. Washington, D.C. and the U.S.
Aerospace engineers in Washington earn 9% more than the Washington, D.C. average ($154,410) and 19% more than the U.S. average ($142,060). At the median the gap is +23% against the U.S. median of $134,960.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $168,780 | $166,420 | $104,030 | $249,990 | 2,420 |
| Washington, D.C. | $154,410 | $157,600 | $98,200 | $196,310 | 290 |
| 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 Washington
On the average salary of $168,780, a single filer in Washington takes home about $115,249 a year, or $9,604 a month and $4,433 every two weeks. Taxes take 32% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $119,786 | $9,982 |
| Working in MD | $118,518 | $9,877 |
| Working in VA | $117,736 | $9,811 |
| Working in DC | $115,249 | $9,604 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for aerospace engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $168,780 buys what about $155,009 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 3.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Aerospace Engineers salary in nearby metro areas
- Baltimore, MD$165,160
- Lexington Park, MD$141,950
- Charlottesville, VA$137,420
- Richmond, VA$140,140
- Virginia Beach, VA$142,550
- Atlantic City, NJ$138,560
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
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Aerospace Engineers salary in Washington: questions
How much do aerospace engineers make an hour in Washington?
$81.15 an hour on average, and $80.01 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level aerospace engineers salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $104,030 a year and the 25th percentile is $132,510, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the aerospace engineers take-home pay in Washington?
About $115,249 a year ($9,604 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $168,780.
Do aerospace engineers earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is 19% more than 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.3%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.77, this job is 1.8 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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