Aerospace Engineer salary in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
Aerospace Engineers in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earn a median of $129,530 a year ($62.28 an hour), based on BLS data for 120 workers.
Pay ranges from $89,540 for the lowest-paid 10% to $212,630 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $134,960. Pay here is 18% lower than the California statewide median of $157,620. There are 0.07 aerospace engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.16). The average (mean) salary is $141,070, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for aerospace engineers in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $89,540 | $43.05 |
| 25th percentile | $112,200 | $53.94 |
| Median | $129,530 | $62.28 |
| 75th percentile | $161,310 | $77.55 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $212,630 | $102.23 |
| Average (mean) | $141,070 | $67.82 |
Half of aerospace engineers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $10,794.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,397.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,981.92 |
| Weekly | $2,490.96 |
| Hourly | $62.28 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $129,530 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Aerospace Engineer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $191,260 | 510 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $181,630 | 930 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $163,280 | 5,200 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $135,490 | 40 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $135,010 | 800 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $132,230 | 200 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $130,870 | 100 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $128,720 | 700 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $128,670 | 110 |
Highest-paying states for aerospace engineers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Minnesota | $159,060 |
| Washington | $158,370 |
| California | $157,620 |
| District of Columbia | $157,600 |
| Maryland | $156,750 |
| Colorado | $156,190 |
| Massachusetts | $149,470 |
| Vermont | $144,400 |
| Virginia | $143,210 |
| Georgia | $140,460 |
See Aerospace Engineer pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $115,120 | $55.35 |
| Industrial Engineer | $101,700 | $48.89 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $104,910 | $50.44 |
| Engineers, All Other | $100,110 | $48.13 |
| Electrical Engineer | $109,990 | $52.88 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $130,940 | $62.95 |
| Environmental Engineer | $117,360 | $56.42 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $134,060 | $64.45 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $123,670 | $59.46 |
| Materials Engineer | $109,100 | $52.45 |
| Chemical Engineer | $106,200 | $51.06 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $119,970 | $57.68 |
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | $70,580 | $33.93 |
| Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $80,710 | $38.80 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 17-2011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a aerospace engineer make in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA?
The median salary for aerospace engineers in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area is $129,530 a year, or $62.28 an hour. Pay ranges from $89,540 for the lowest-paid 10% to $212,630 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid aerospace engineers make in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA?
The top 10% of aerospace engineers in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earn at least $212,630 a year. The top 25% earn $161,310 or more.
What is the starting pay for aerospace engineers in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $89,540 a year, and a quarter of aerospace engineers earn $112,200 or less.
How many aerospace engineers work in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA?
About 120 aerospace engineers are employed in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.