Aerospace Engineers Salary
The median pay for a aerospace engineers in Charleston-North Charleston, SC is $137,030/year ($65.88/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $110K at the entry level to $170K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.96), that's roughly $135,727 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,787/month, or 21.5% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $137K get you in Charleston-North Charleston?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Charleston-North Charleston’s Regional Price Parity (100.96). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About aerospace engineers
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What this looks like in Charleston-North Charleston
Aerospace engineers pay in Charleston-North Charleston tracks closely to the national median, $137K locally vs. $135K nationwide, a 2% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,787/month, 22% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 100.96) 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.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for aerospace engineers in metros near Charleston-North Charleston, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer | $102K | $110K |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $150K | $150K |
| Warner Robins | $120K | $128K |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $133K | $136K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Charleston-North Charleston, SC
Entry-level aerospace engineers (10th percentile) start around $110K. Mid-career wages sit at $137K. Top earners bring in $170K or more, a $60K spread from bottom to top.
Aerospace Engineers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Aerospace Engineers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $159K | +18% | 140 |
| Washington | $158K | +17% | 5,760 |
| California | $158K | +17% | 9,170 |
| District of Columbia | $158K | +17% | 290 |
| Maryland | $157K | +16% | 3,180 |
| Colorado | $156K | +16% | 4,070 |
| Massachusetts | $149K | +11% | 990 |
| Vermont | $144K | +7% | 100 |
| Virginia | $143K | +6% | 2,540 |
| Georgia | $140K | +4% | 2,230 |
| Ohio | $138K | +3% | 3,710 |
| Hawaii | $137K | +2% | 40 |
| South Carolina | $137K | +2% | 650 |
| Louisiana | $137K | +1% | 90 |
| Utah | $136K | +1% | 1,010 |
| Nebraska | $136K | +1% | 130 |
| Pennsylvania | $134K | -1% | 990 |
| New Mexico | $133K | -2% | 570 |
| Missouri | $131K | -3% | 650 |
| Kansas | $130K | -3% | 1,730 |
| New York | $130K | -3% | 560 |
| Texas | $130K | -3% | 6,750 |
| Connecticut | $130K | -4% | 1,160 |
| Florida | $129K | -4% | 3,250 |
| Michigan | $129K | -4% | N/A |
| Tennessee | $129K | -5% | 610 |
| Alabama | $128K | -5% | 5,820 |
| New Jersey | $126K | -6% | 3,400 |
| Kentucky | $126K | -7% | 290 |
| Oklahoma | $125K | -7% | 1,090 |
| Oregon | $125K | -8% | 250 |
| Arizona | $123K | -9% | 3,110 |
| North Carolina | $123K | -9% | 650 |
| Mississippi | $109K | -19% | 90 |
| Illinois | $109K | -19% | 200 |
| Indiana | $107K | -20% | 440 |
| Arkansas | $102K | -24% | 180 |
| Alaska | $102K | -25% | 100 |
| Nevada | $97K | -28% | 270 |
| Idaho | $96K | -29% | 190 |
| Wisconsin | $88K | -34% | 120 |
Showing 1–10 of 41 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track aerospace engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Charleston-North Charleston numbers change.
Related careers in Engineering
Frequently asked questions
Can a aerospace engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Charleston-North Charleston?
Yes — at the median salary of $137K, rent takes 22% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,787/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for aerospace engineers in Charleston-North Charleston?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new aerospace engineers typically earn — is $110K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,586/month. At HUD’s $1,787/month FMR, rent would take 27% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is aerospace engineer a high-paying job in Charleston-North Charleston?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $137K locally vs. $135K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Charleston-North Charleston compare to the national average for aerospace engineers?
Charleston-North Charleston pays $137K median vs. the U.S. average of $135K — that’s +2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.96), the purchasing-power equivalent is $136K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do aerospace engineers make in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
The median is $137,030 a year, that works out to about $66 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $109,760, and experienced aerospace engineers can clear $170,150. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $137K enough to live in Charleston-North Charleston?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,106/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,787/month, which eats 22% 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 Charleston-North Charleston?
Charleston-North Charleston has a Regional Price Parity of 100.96 (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 $135,727 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.