Aerospace Engineers Salary
The median pay for a aerospace engineers in California is $157,620/year ($75.78/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $104K at the entry level to $221K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $148,502 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,471/month, or 26.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $158K get you in California?
About aerospace engineers
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What this looks like in California
California sits well above the national pay line for aerospace engineers, local pay runs about 17% higher than the U.S. median of $135K. Rent runs $2,471/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level aerospace engineers (10th percentile) start around $104K. Mid-career wages sit at $158K. Top earners bring in $221K or more, a $116K spread from bottom to top.
Aerospace Engineers salary by metro in California
10 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $191K | +21% | 510 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $182K | +15% | 930 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $163K | +4% | 5,200 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $135K | -14% | 40 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $135K | -14% | 800 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $132K | -16% | 200 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $131K | -17% | 100 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $130K | -18% | 120 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $129K | -18% | 700 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $129K | -18% | 110 |
Compare to other states
Track aerospace engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a aerospace engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
Yes — at the median salary of $158K, rent takes 27.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for aerospace engineers in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new aerospace engineers typically earn — is $104K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,262/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 39% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is aerospace engineer a high-paying job in California?
Local pay is 17% above the national median — $158K here vs. $135K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 6% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does California compare to the national average for aerospace engineers?
California pays $158K median vs. the U.S. average of $135K — that’s +17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $149K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do aerospace engineers make in California?
The median is $157,620 a year, that works out to about $76 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $104,370, and experienced aerospace engineers can clear $220,670. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $158K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,974/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 27.5% 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 California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median aerospace engineers salary is worth about $148,502 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.