Aerospace Engineers Salary
The median pay for a aerospace engineers in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA is $163,580/year ($78.64/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $113K at the entry level to $208K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 111.13), so that salary is closer to $147,197 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,501/month, or 23.7% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $164K get you in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue’s Regional Price Parity (111.13). 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue sits well above the national pay line for aerospace engineers, local pay runs about 21% higher than the U.S. median of $135K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $2,501/month, 24.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost-of-living overall is 11% above the national average (BEA RPP 111.13), so groceries and services cost more too. Combined with manageable housing costs, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue offers a genuinely strong financial position for aerospace engineerss at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for aerospace engineers in metros near Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $141K | $140K |
| Bend | $106K | $102K |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro | $139K | $132K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
Entry-level aerospace engineers (10th percentile) start around $113K. Mid-career wages sit at $164K. Top earners bring in $208K or more, a $95K 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 with published data
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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a aerospace engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Yes — at the median salary of $164K, rent takes 24.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,501/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for aerospace engineers in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new aerospace engineers typically earn — is $113K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,759/month. At HUD’s $2,501/month FMR, rent would take 37% 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Local pay is 21% above the national median — $164K here vs. $135K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 11% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue compare to the national average for aerospace engineers?
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue pays $164K median vs. the U.S. average of $135K — that’s +21%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 111.13), the purchasing-power equivalent is $147K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do aerospace engineers make in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The median is $163,580 a year, that works out to about $79 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $112,650, and experienced aerospace engineers can clear $207,710. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $164K enough to live in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $10,213/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,501/month, which eats 24.5% 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue has a Regional Price Parity of 111.13 (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 $147,197 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.