Aerospace Engineers Salary
The median pay for a aerospace engineers in Arizona is $123,170/year ($59.22/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $89K at the entry level to $194K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 96.41), that's roughly $127,756 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,437/month, or 18.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Arizona. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $123K get you in Arizona?
About aerospace engineers
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What this looks like in Arizona
Aerospace engineers pay in Arizona tracks closely to the national median, $123K locally vs. $135K nationwide, a 9% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,437/month, 18.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 96.41) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arizona
Entry-level aerospace engineers (10th percentile) start around $89K. Mid-career wages sit at $123K. Top earners bring in $194K or more, a $105K spread from bottom to top.
Aerospace Engineers salary by metro in Arizona
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler | $130K | +6% | 1,360 |
| Tucson | $107K | -13% | 1,720 |
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Track aerospace engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arizona numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a aerospace engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arizona?
Yes — at the median salary of $123K, rent takes 18.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,437/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for aerospace engineers in Arizona?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new aerospace engineers typically earn — is $89K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,335/month. At HUD’s $1,437/month FMR, rent would take 27% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is aerospace engineer a high-paying job in Arizona?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $123K locally vs. $135K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does Arizona compare to the national average for aerospace engineers?
Arizona pays $123K median vs. the U.S. average of $135K — that’s -9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 96.41), the purchasing-power equivalent is $128K — below the national median.
How much do aerospace engineers make in Arizona?
The median is $123,170 a year, that works out to about $59 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $88,920, and experienced aerospace engineers can clear $193,990. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $123K enough to live in Arizona?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,655/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,437/month, which eats 18.8% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a aerospace engineers salary go in Arizona?
Arizona has a Regional Price Parity of 96.41 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median aerospace engineers salary is worth about $127,756 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do aerospace engineers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.