Entry-Level Aerospace Engineer Salary in 2026: What You'll Actually Make
Entry-level aerospace engineer salary in 2026: what you'll actually make
If you're about to graduate with an aerospace engineering degree — or you're a few years into your career and wondering if you're being underpaid — here's a data-driven look at what entry-level aerospace engineers actually earn. We've combined BLS data, NACE salary surveys, company-specific numbers from Glassdoor and Levels.fyi, and our own database of 246 active entry-level aerospace listings.
The short answer: expect $75,000–$95,000 base salary depending on company, location, and whether you have a clearance. The long answer involves significant variation by employer, geography, and what you're willing to trade for.
The baseline numbers
The Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median salary for all aerospace engineers (all experience levels) at $134,830 as of May 2024. The 10th percentile — the closest BLS proxy for entry-level — is $85,350. The 90th percentile reaches $205,850.
The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Class of 2025 data projects a starting salary of $79,482 for BS aerospace engineering graduates. That's above mechanical engineering but below software engineering's wide range.
From our own database, 246 active aerospace engineering jobs with salary data at or below $100,000 minimum show an average range of $76,000–$108,000 — consistent with the BLS and NACE figures.
What each major company pays entry-level
This is where the generic averages become less useful and the company-specific numbers matter.
SpaceX pays the highest entry-level total comp because all full-time exempt employees receive stock options. The base salary of $95K–$135K is competitive on its own; the equity component can push first-year total compensation to $156K–$186K at the L1 level. The trade-off is well-documented: 50-60 hour weeks are the minimum, and the work pace is relentless.
NASA pays the lowest base salary on this list. A GS-7 step 1 starts at roughly $51,000 before locality adjustments. With the highest locality pay (San Francisco or DC area), that climbs to $79K–$92K. NASA compensates with federal benefits, a FERS pension, TSP matching, and exceptional job security. For many aerospace engineers, NASA is a career goal regardless of salary.
Don't compare base salaries across companies without accounting for the full package. SpaceX equity can add $30K-$50K+ to total comp. Defense contractors offer 5-15% annual bonuses, 401(k) matches of 4-8%, tuition reimbursement ($5K-$25K/year), and signing bonuses ($2,500-$25,000). NASA has a pension. The "best" compensation depends on what you value.
How location affects your paycheck
The same entry-level role can pay $20,000 more or less depending on where it's located. But the higher-paying locations also cost more to live in.
| State | Avg Entry Salary | No State Tax? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $95K–$130K | No (13.3% top) | Highest nominal pay, highest COL |
| Washington | $90K–$125K | Yes | Strong pay, no state tax (Boeing, Blue Origin) |
| Texas | $80K–$110K | Yes | Good purchasing power (SpaceX, LM, NASA JSC) |
| Florida | $75K–$100K | Yes | No state tax, moderate COL (SpaceX, Blue Origin, L3Harris) |
| Alabama | $70K–$90K | No (5% top) | Lowest COL = strongest purchasing power (Boeing, Northrop, NASA MSFC) |
Huntsville, Alabama is the open secret of aerospace engineering. Nominal salaries are the lowest on this list, but the cost of living is so low that your purchasing power often exceeds what you'd have in California or Washington. A $85,000 salary in Huntsville buys roughly the same lifestyle as $130,000 in Los Angeles.
Degree level: BS vs. MS vs. PhD
| Degree | Starting Range | Premium Over BS | Time Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's (BS) | $75K–$85K | Baseline | 4 years |
| Master's (MS) | $85K–$100K | +$10K–$15K | 6 years total |
| PhD | $100K–$120K | +$20K–$35K | 9-10 years total |
The NACE data projects MS engineering graduates at $94,086 — about 18% above BS. The PhD premium is real but comes with a significant opportunity cost: 3-5 additional years of graduate student pay instead of full-time engineering salary. Over a 10-year window from the start of a BS degree, the BS holder may have higher cumulative earnings simply because they started earning full salary 2-5 years earlier.
The PhD is most valuable for R&D-intensive roles at NASA, JPL, national labs, or university-affiliated research centers. For standard engineering positions at defense contractors or commercial space companies, an MS provides the best return relative to time invested.
The security clearance premium
If you're a U.S. citizen with a clean background, a security clearance is the single biggest salary lever available to entry-level aerospace engineers. The 2025 ClearanceJobs Compensation Report found the average cleared professional salary hit an all-time high of $119,131.
| Clearance Level | Typical Premium Over Non-Cleared |
|---|---|
| Secret | +$8K–$12K (+10-15%) |
| Top Secret | +$12K–$18K (+15-20%) |
| TS/SCI | +$18K–$25K (+20-30%) |
For an entry-level engineer, getting a Secret clearance (3-6 month process) could add $8,000–$12,000 to your starting salary at a defense contractor. Companies like Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Raytheon sponsor clearances for new hires — but they value candidates who demonstrate commitment to defense work and a multi-year career plan.
Career salary progression
Aerospace engineering salaries grow consistently but not explosively. Here's the typical trajectory:
| Stage | Years | Salary Range |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level | 0-2 | $75K–$90K |
| Early-career | 2-4 | $85K–$105K |
| Mid-level | 5-7 | $110K–$135K |
| Senior | 7-12 | $140K–$170K |
| Principal/Staff | 12+ | $165K–$210K |
| Management/Director | 15+ | $180K–$250K+ |
The first significant jump happens at 3-5 years when you move from junior to mid-level. The second big jump comes around 7-10 years with a promotion to senior engineer or technical lead. After that, the path splits between individual contributor (principal/staff) and management tracks — both can exceed $200K at large companies.
How aerospace compares to other engineering disciplines
| Discipline | Entry-Level Range | BLS Median (All Levels) |
|---|---|---|
| Aerospace Engineering | $75K–$85K | $134,830 |
| Software Engineering | $78K–$130K | $130,160 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $67K–$80K | $102,320 |
Aerospace engineering pays more than mechanical engineering at every career stage by roughly $10K–$30K. The comparison with software engineering is more nuanced: the BLS medians are nearly identical, but software engineering has a much higher ceiling at top tech companies ($150K–$200K+ starting at FAANG). If maximizing compensation is your primary goal, software engineering at a tech company pays more. If you want to build rockets and spacecraft, aerospace engineering pays well enough to live comfortably — just not tech-company-level wealth.
The bottom line for 2026
Entry-level aerospace engineer salaries are rising, driven by commercial space growth, defense spending increases, and a persistent talent shortage as senior engineers retire. BLS projects 6% job growth from 2024-2034, with about 4,500 openings annually. The cleared compensation market is at an all-time high.
The practical advice: negotiate your first offer (most new grads don't), consider total compensation rather than just base salary, and think seriously about location as a salary lever. A $85,000 offer in Huntsville may leave you with more disposable income than a $110,000 offer in Los Angeles.
Browse entry-level space jobs on Zero G Talent. For company-specific salary data, see our guides to Northrop Grumman salaries, Boeing careers, or Blue Origin reviews.
