Aerospace Engineers Salary
The median pay for a aerospace engineers in Colorado is $156,190/year ($75.09/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $102K at the entry level to $210K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.71), that's roughly $150,603 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,832/month, or 18.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Colorado. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $156K actually covers in Colorado, month by month
About aerospace engineers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Colorado
Colorado sits well above the national pay line for aerospace engineers, local pay runs about 16% higher than the U.S. median of $135K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,832/month, 19.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 103.71) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Colorado offers a genuinely strong financial position for aerospace engineers at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Colorado
Entry-level aerospace engineers (10th percentile) start around $102K. Mid-career wages sit at $156K. Top earners bring in $210K or more, a $108K spread from bottom to top.
Aerospace Engineers salary by metro in Colorado
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | $167K | +7% | 800 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $156K | +0% | 2,010 |
| Colorado Springs | $152K | -3% | 990 |
| Greeley | $141K | -10% | 50 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland | $133K | -15% | 150 |
Compare to other states
Track aerospace engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Colorado numbers change.
Related careers in Engineering
Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a aerospace engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Colorado?
Yes — at the median salary of $156K, rent takes 19.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,832/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for aerospace engineers in Colorado?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new aerospace engineers typically earn — is $102K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,303/month. At HUD’s $1,832/month FMR, rent would take 29% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is aerospace engineer a high-paying job in Colorado?
Local pay is 16% above the national median — $156K here vs. $135K nationally.
How does Colorado compare to the national average for aerospace engineers?
Colorado pays $156K median vs. the U.S. average of $135K — that’s +16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.71), the purchasing-power equivalent is $151K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do aerospace engineers make in Colorado?
The median is $156,190 a year, that works out to about $75 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $101,970, and experienced aerospace engineers can clear $210,410. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $156K enough to live in Colorado?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,220/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,832/month, which eats 19.9% 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 Colorado?
Colorado has a Regional Price Parity of 103.71 (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 $150,603 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.