Aerospace Engineers Salary
The median pay for a aerospace engineers in New Jersey is $126,430/year ($60.79/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $103K at the entry level to $164K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 99.34), that's roughly $127,270 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,067/month, or 27.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Jersey. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $126K get you in New Jersey?
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What this looks like in New Jersey
Aerospace engineers pay in New Jersey tracks closely to the national median, $126K locally vs. $135K nationwide, a 6% difference. Rent runs $2,067/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 99.34) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Jersey
Entry-level aerospace engineers (10th percentile) start around $103K. Mid-career wages sit at $126K. Top earners bring in $164K or more, a $61K spread from bottom to top.
Aerospace Engineers salary by metro in New Jersey
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City-Hammonton | $137K | +8% | 30 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Jersey numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a aerospace engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Jersey?
Yes — at the median salary of $126K, rent takes 27.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,067/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for aerospace engineers in New Jersey?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new aerospace engineers typically earn — is $103K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,194/month. At HUD’s $2,067/month FMR, rent would take 33% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is aerospace engineer a high-paying job in New Jersey?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $126K locally vs. $135K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does New Jersey compare to the national average for aerospace engineers?
New Jersey pays $126K median vs. the U.S. average of $135K — that’s -6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 99.34), the purchasing-power equivalent is $127K — below the national median.
How much do aerospace engineers make in New Jersey?
The median is $126,430 a year, that works out to about $61 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $103,230, and experienced aerospace engineers can clear $163,770. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $126K enough to live in New Jersey?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,603/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,067/month, which eats 27.2% 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 New Jersey?
New Jersey has a Regional Price Parity of 99.34 (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 $127,270 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.