How Much Does an Aviation Engineer Make in 2025?
Aviation engineers facilitate designing, developing, manufacturing, and testing aircraft and other related aerospace products. These products could be for commercial, government, or military use including helicopters, remotely piloted aircraft, spacecraft, aerial weapons, propulsion systems, and more.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects aviation engineer jobs to grow 6% over the next ten years, producing 4,200 job openings every year from 2023 to 2033. These job vacancies are made possible due to aviation engineers transferring to other occupations or exiting the labor force.
According to Salary.com, the average yearly salary of aviation engineers in 2025 is $82,600. This guide presents an overview of aviation engineer salaries, including salary data in every state and city of the US, key factors that influence it, and proven tips to increase earnings.
What is the Average Aviation Engineer’s Salary?
Salary.com reported that the average salary of aviation engineers in the United States for 2025 is $82,600 per year.
2025 Average Salary for Aviation Engineers: $82,600 per year ($40 per hour)
As of this writing, the average salary of aviation engineers is $40 per hour, with hourly rates that can go up to $44 or down to $35. Meanwhile, the average weekly and monthly salaries for aviation engineers are $1,588 and $6,883, respectively.
What is the Pay Range for an Aviation Engineer?
Salary.com reveals that the salary range for aviation engineers starts at $72,284 per year and can reach as high as $92,534, with most earning between $77,200 and $87,800.
However, it’s also important to note that this salary range for aviation engineers may vary and is heavily affected by key factors including education, level of experience, geographic location, and occupation demand.
Aviation Engineer Salary Range: $72,284 to $92,534 per year ($35 to $44 per hour)
| Percentile | By Hour | By Week | By Month | By Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $35 | $1,390 | $6,024 | $72,284 |
| 25th Percentile | $37 | $1,485 | $6,433 | $77,200 |
| 50th Percentile (Median) | $40 | $1,588 | $6,883 | $82,600 |
| 75th Percentile | $42 | $1,688 | $7,317 | $87,800 |
| 90th Percentile | $44 | $1,780 | $7,711 | $92,534 |
Salary.com also reported that the average total compensation received by employees with the job title aviation engineer is $117,282. This already includes benefits and average additional cash compensation such as bonuses and time off.
Aviation Engineer Salary Factors
As previously mentioned, several factors can affect aviation engineer salaries. These include experience, location, and skills. Let’s explore each of these in detail.
Years of Experience
The average salary for aviation engineers, based on years of experience, ranges from $81,497 per year for entry-level database administrators to $83,575 per year for specialists with 8+ years of experience.
| Levels | Years of Experience | Average Salary per Year |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level Aviation Engineer | <1 | $81,497 |
| Intermediate Level Aviation Engineer | 1-2 | $82,052 |
| Senior Level Aviation Engineer | 2-4 | $83,194 |
| Specialist Level Aviation Engineer | 5-8 | $83,422 |
| Expert Level Aviation Engineer | 8+ | $83,575 |
Place of Work
BLS reported that the specific workplace significantly influences the salary for aviation engineers. For instance, an aviation engineer working in the research and development industry can earn as much as $136,620 in 2023. This figure is about 5.7% higher compared to the aviation engineer salaries in the engineering services industry.
| Place of Work | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Research and development (Physical, engineering, and life sciences) | $136,620 |
| Navigational, measuring, electromedical, and control instruments manufacturing | $135,280 |
| Federal government (Excluding postal service) | $133,040 |
| Aerospace product and parts manufacturing | $130,720 |
| Engineering services | $128,870 |
Skill Set
Aviation engineers with certain in-demand skills are also in line to increase their salaries. For instance, the Real-time Job Posting Salary Data Report shows that an aviation engineer with design engineering skills can earn up to 5.31% more than those without.
On the other hand, an aviation engineer having 3D computer-aided design and industry standard skills is more likely to land a job with 11.20% and 9.81% demand, respectively.
| Skill | Demand | Salary Increase |
|---|---|---|
| Design Engineering | 14.87% | +5.31% |
| 3D Computer-Aided Design (CAD) | 11.20% | +5.26% |
| Procurement | 4.09% | +5.03% |
| Industry Standards | 9.81% | +3.69% |
| Technical Support | 6.62% | +3.47% |
| 3D Modeling | 4.92% | +3.10% |
Another example of an aviation engineer's essential skill is his familiarity with standard customer requirements such as equipment safety, aerodynamic performance, and other technical specifications of an aircraft.
Aviation Engineer Salary by City and State
A city or state must ensure compliance with the state minimum wage; therefore, the choice of location can also significantly impact the earning potential for this job title in the US. Talented aviation engineers can take advantage of this information to identify the most strategic locations for both living and working.
Highest Paying States for Aviation Engineers
Based on the Salary.com data, the District of Columbia offers the highest average annual salary for aviation engineers in the United States, at $91,900.
- District of Columbia: $91,900 per year (or $44.18 per hour)
- California: $91,100 per year (or $43.80 per hour)
- New Jersey: $90,500 per year (or $43.51 per hour)
- Alaska: $89,900 per year (or $43.22 per hour)
- Massachusetts: $89,900 per year (or $43.22 per hour)
Aviation Engineer Salary by State
| State | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $89,900 |
| Alabama | $75,900 |
| Arkansas | $75,200 |
| Arizona | $80,400 |
| California | $91,100 |
| Colorado | $84,200 |
| Connecticut | $88,700 |
| District of Columbia | $91,900 |
| Delaware | $83,800 |
| Florida | $78,500 |
| Georgia | $79,900 |
| Hawaii | $86,300 |
| Iowa | $79,000 |
| Idaho | $77,100 |
| Illinois | $84,500 |
| Indiana | $80,100 |
| Kansas | $78,600 |
| Kentucky | $77,700 |
| Louisiana | $78,600 |
| Massachusetts | $89,900 |
| Maryland | $85,200 |
| Maine | $80,400 |
| Michigan | $81,500 |
| Minnesota | $84,500 |
| Missouri | $78,700 |
| Mississippi | $73,700 |
| Montana | $77,100 |
| North Carolina | $79,300 |
| North Dakota | $81,100 |
| Nebraska | $77,800 |
| New Hampshire | $84,000 |
| New Jersey | $90,500 |
| New Mexico | $76,200 |
| Nevada | $82,900 |
| New York | $88,000 |
| Ohio | $80,800 |
| Oklahoma | $76,400 |
| Oregon | $83,900 |
| Pennsylvania | $82,400 |
| Rhode Island | $86,200 |
| South Carolina | $78,000 |
| South Dakota | $74,300 |
| Tennessee | $76,500 |
| Texas | $80,900 |
| Utah | $78,600 |
| Virginia | $82,800 |
| Vermont | $81,000 |
| Washington | $89,000 |
| Wisconsin | $81,600 |
| West Virginia | $74,300 |
Highest Paying Cities for Aviation Engineers
According to the Salary.com data, the city of San Jose, California is the highest-paying city for aviation engineers with $103,600 per year or $49.81 per hour. Recent aviation engineer salaries show that the 6 highest paying cities are as follows:
- San Jose, California: $103,600 per year (or $49.81 per hour)
- San Francisco, California: $103,200 per year ($49.62 per hour)
- Oakland, California: $100,800 per year ($48.46 per hour)
- New York, New York: $96,500 per year ($46.39 per hour)
- Queens Village, New York: $95,800 per year ($46.06 per hour)
- Paramus, New Jersey: $95,100 per year ($45.72 per hour)
Ways to Increase Your Salary as an Aviation Engineer
Aviation engineers have several opportunities to increase their salary by gaining more experience, improving in-demand skills, and exploring growth within the role.
- Gain highly compensated and in-demand skills: Pursuing to gain key abilities and in-demand skills such as design engineering, 3D computer-aided design (CAD), procurement, and industry standard skills can effectively increase your salary as an aviation engineer.
- Establish a strong educational background: An aviation engineer is typically required to finish a bachelor’s degree in engineering or any aerospace-related field. He must also complete coursework especially in related industry aspects such as stability and control, structures, and mechanics.
- Consider working in other states or cities: Different states and cities in the US follow different minimum wage policies, so choosing a state that suits your preferences can help lead to a better career. Salary.com reports that the highest paying state in the US for aviation engineers is the District of Columbia with $91,900.
- Acquire ABET accreditation: Employers in the aviation industry prefer candidates who passed licensure and accreditation exams conducted by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).
- Know your worth: Negotiating your pay by researching market rates for your current position and experience can increase your salary. As of this writing, the aviation engineer salaries in the US range between $72,284 to $92,534 per year.
Average National Salaries by Source
As of January 10, 2025, data from five major salary-reporting websites indicate that the national average salary for aviation engineers in the US is $98,475 (unweighted).
SALARY.COM AVG. SALARY
$82,600/year
INDEED.COM AVG. SALARY
$110,223/year
GLASSDOOR AVG. SALARY
$116,816/year
PAYSCALE AVG. SALARY
$94,014/year
ZIPRECRUITER AVG. SALARY
$88,722/year
