Aerospace Engineers Salary
The median pay for a aerospace engineers in Decatur, AL is $138,460/year ($66.57/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $84K at the entry level to $175K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.21), which stretches that salary to about $158,766 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $961/month, or 11.4% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $138K get you in Decatur?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Decatur’s Regional Price Parity (87.21). 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 Decatur
Aerospace engineers pay in Decatur tracks closely to the national median, $138K locally vs. $135K nationwide, a 3% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $961/month, 11.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.21 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 13% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for aerospace engineers in metros near Decatur, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Huntsville | $131K | $141K |
| Mobile | $98K | $111K |
| Birmingham | $93K | $102K |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $150K | $150K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Decatur, AL
Entry-level aerospace engineers (10th percentile) start around $84K. Mid-career wages sit at $138K. Top earners bring in $175K or more, a $91K 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 Decatur numbers change.
Related careers in Engineering
Frequently asked questions
Can a aerospace engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Decatur?
Yes — at the median salary of $138K, rent takes 11.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $961/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for aerospace engineers in Decatur?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new aerospace engineers typically earn — is $84K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,036/month. At HUD’s $961/month FMR, rent would take 19% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is aerospace engineer a high-paying job in Decatur?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $138K locally vs. $135K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Decatur compare to the national average for aerospace engineers?
Decatur pays $138K median vs. the U.S. average of $135K — that’s +3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.21), the purchasing-power equivalent is $159K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do aerospace engineers make in Decatur, AL?
The median is $138,460 a year, that works out to about $67 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $83,930, and experienced aerospace engineers can clear $175,020. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $138K enough to live in Decatur?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,219/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $961/month, which eats 11.7% 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 Decatur?
Decatur has a Regional Price Parity of 87.21 (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 $158,766 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.