Aerospace Engineers Salary
The median pay for a aerospace engineers in Maryland is $156,750/year ($75.36/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $97K at the entry level to $233K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.76), that's roughly $158,718 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,795/month, or 19.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Maryland. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $157K actually covers in Maryland, month by month
About aerospace engineers
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What this looks like in Maryland
Maryland 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 $1,795/month, 19.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 98.76) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Maryland offers a genuinely strong financial position for aerospace engineers at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Maryland
Entry-level aerospace engineers (10th percentile) start around $97K. Mid-career wages sit at $157K. Top earners bring in $233K or more, a $135K spread from bottom to top.
Aerospace Engineers salary by metro in Maryland
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson | $167K | +7% | 1,220 |
| Lexington Park | $138K | -12% | 960 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Maryland numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a aerospace engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Maryland?
Yes — at the median salary of $157K, rent takes 19.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,795/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for aerospace engineers in Maryland?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new aerospace engineers typically earn — is $97K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,041/month. At HUD’s $1,795/month FMR, rent would take 30% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is aerospace engineer a high-paying job in Maryland?
Local pay is 16% above the national median — $157K here vs. $135K nationally.
How does Maryland compare to the national average for aerospace engineers?
Maryland pays $157K median vs. the U.S. average of $135K — that’s +16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.76), the purchasing-power equivalent is $159K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do aerospace engineers make in Maryland?
The median is $156,750 a year, that works out to about $75 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $97,460, and experienced aerospace engineers can clear $232,930. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $157K enough to live in Maryland?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,200/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,795/month, which eats 19.5% 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 Maryland?
Maryland has a Regional Price Parity of 98.76 (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 $158,718 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.