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Salary comparison

Accountants and Auditors vs. Aerospace Engineers: Who Earns More?

Aerospace Engineers out-earn Accountants and Auditors by $51K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Accountants and Auditors land at $83,680 and Aerospace Engineers at $134,960. The education gap is real: accountants and auditor programs typically require bachelor's degree, while aerospace engineer programs require bachelor's degree. Top-paying state for Accountants and Auditors is District of Columbia ($111,530); for Aerospace Engineers it's Minnesota ($159,060).

Accountants and Auditors
Aerospace Engineers
Median salary
$83,680
$134,960
Hourly rate
$40.23/hr
$64.89/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$56,020
$86,700
Senior level (90th %)
$144,090
$205,890
Education required
Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
U.S. employment
1,449,500
67,710
Job growth (10-year)
4.6%
6.1%
Category
Business & Finance
Engineering
Top-paying state
District of Columbia
Minnesota

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Accountants and Auditors median pay.

State
Accountants and Auditors
Aerospace Engineers
District of Columbia
$111,530
$157,600
Massachusetts
$99,460
$149,470
California
$97,050
$157,620
Colorado
$97,030
$156,190
Washington
$96,550
$158,370
Virginia
$93,290
$143,210
Maryland
$89,370
$156,750
Georgia
$81,900
$140,460
Minnesota
$81,600
$159,060
Utah
$79,990
$135,840
Ohio
$79,320
$138,440
Vermont
$78,890
$144,400
South Carolina
$76,560
$137,030
Hawaii
$74,500
$137,240
Louisiana
$73,810
$136,970

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Accountants and Auditors or Aerospace Engineers?

Aerospace Engineers earn more nationally. The median is $83,680 for Accountants and Auditors versus $134,960 for Aerospace Engineers, a difference of $51K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Accountants and Auditors or Aerospace Engineers?

Aerospace Engineers has the better 10-year outlook at 6.1% projected growth, compared to 4.6% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Accountants and Auditors or Aerospace Engineers?

Accountants and Auditors typically requires bachelor's degree. Aerospace Engineers requires bachelor's degree. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Accountants and Auditors get paid the most?

District of Columbia is the top-paying state for Accountants and Auditors at $111,530/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Accountants and Auditors vs. Aerospace Engineers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In District of Columbia, Accountants and Auditors earn $111,530 vs. $157,600 for Aerospace Engineers. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Accountants and Auditors salary breakdownView →Full Aerospace Engineers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Accountants and Auditors by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Aerospace Engineers by take-home payExplore →How to become a accountants and auditorsGuide →How to become a aerospace engineersGuide →