Aerospace Engineers Salary
The median pay for a aerospace engineers in Texas is $130,270/year ($62.63/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $83K at the entry level to $195K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.49), which stretches that salary to about $142,387 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,415/month, or 16.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Texas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $130K actually covers in Texas, month by month
About aerospace engineers
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What this looks like in Texas
Aerospace engineers pay in Texas tracks closely to the national median, $130K locally vs. $135K nationwide, a 3% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,415/month, 17% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.49 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Texas
Entry-level aerospace engineers (10th percentile) start around $83K. Mid-career wages sit at $130K. Top earners bring in $195K or more, a $112K spread from bottom to top.
Aerospace Engineers salary by metro in Texas
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $135K | +3% | 3,430 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $134K | +3% | 1,890 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | $128K | -1% | 300 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $123K | -5% | 390 |
| Corpus Christi | $118K | -10% | 80 |
| El Paso | $110K | -16% | 50 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Texas 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 Texas?
Yes — at the median salary of $130K, rent takes 17% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,415/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for aerospace engineers in Texas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new aerospace engineers typically earn — is $83K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,564/month. At HUD’s $1,415/month FMR, rent would take 25% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is aerospace engineer a high-paying job in Texas?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $130K locally vs. $135K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Texas compare to the national average for aerospace engineers?
Texas pays $130K median vs. the U.S. average of $135K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.49), the purchasing-power equivalent is $142K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do aerospace engineers make in Texas?
The median is $130,270 a year, that works out to about $63 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $82,990, and experienced aerospace engineers can clear $195,190. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $130K enough to live in Texas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,316/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,415/month, which eats 17% 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 Texas?
Texas has a Regional Price Parity of 91.49 (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 $142,387 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.