Aerospace Engineers Salary
The median pay for a aerospace engineers in Minnesota is $159,060/year ($76.47/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $85K at the entry level to $195K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.6), which stretches that salary to about $171,771 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,384/month, or 14.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Minnesota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $159K get you in Minnesota?
About aerospace engineers
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What this looks like in Minnesota
Minnesota sits well above the national pay line for aerospace engineers, local pay runs about 18% higher than the U.S. median of $135K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,384/month, 15.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.6 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Minnesota offers a genuinely strong financial position for aerospace engineerss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Minnesota
Entry-level aerospace engineers (10th percentile) start around $85K. Mid-career wages sit at $159K. Top earners bring in $195K or more, a $110K spread from bottom to top.
Aerospace Engineers salary by metro in Minnesota
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington | $160K | +1% | 120 |
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Frequently asked questions
Can a aerospace engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Minnesota?
Yes — at the median salary of $159K, rent takes 15.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,384/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for aerospace engineers in Minnesota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new aerospace engineers typically earn — is $85K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,120/month. At HUD’s $1,384/month FMR, rent would take 27% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is aerospace engineer a high-paying job in Minnesota?
Local pay is 18% above the national median — $159K here vs. $135K nationally.
How does Minnesota compare to the national average for aerospace engineers?
Minnesota pays $159K median vs. the U.S. average of $135K — that’s +18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.6), the purchasing-power equivalent is $172K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do aerospace engineers make in Minnesota?
The median is $159,060 a year, that works out to about $76 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $85,330, and experienced aerospace engineers can clear $194,950. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $159K enough to live in Minnesota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,134/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,384/month, which eats 15.2% 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 Minnesota?
Minnesota has a Regional Price Parity of 92.6 (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 $171,771 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.