Aerospace Engineer salary in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
Aerospace Engineers in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median of $191,260 a year ($91.95 an hour), based on BLS data for 510 workers.
Pay ranges from $117,060 for the lowest-paid 10% to $273,230 for the top 10%. That is 42% higher than the national median of $134,960. Pay here is 21% higher than the California statewide median of $157,620. There are 0.21 aerospace engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.49). The average (mean) salary is $183,920, close to the median.
Pay range for aerospace engineers in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $117,060 | $56.28 |
| 25th percentile | $147,970 | $71.14 |
| Median | $191,260 | $91.95 |
| 75th percentile | $206,930 | $99.49 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $273,230 | $131.36 |
| Average (mean) | $183,920 | $88.42 |
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 | $15,938.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $7,969.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $7,356.15 |
| Weekly | $3,678.08 |
| Hourly | $91.95 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $191,260 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 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 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $129,530 | 120 |
| 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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $130,160 | $62.58 |
| Industrial Engineer | $132,230 | $63.57 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $161,370 | $77.58 |
| Engineers, All Other | $159,800 | $76.83 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $203,890 | $98.02 |
| Electrical Engineer | $166,030 | $79.82 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $162,440 | $78.10 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $140,660 | $67.63 |
| Environmental Engineer | $138,840 | $66.75 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $147,220 | $70.78 |
| Materials Engineer | $129,480 | $62.25 |
| Marine Engineers and Naval Architects | $140,520 | $67.56 |
| Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | $173,790 | $83.55 |
| Petroleum Engineer | $143,590 | $69.03 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, 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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
The median salary for aerospace engineers in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $191,260 a year, or $91.95 an hour. Pay ranges from $117,060 for the lowest-paid 10% to $273,230 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid aerospace engineers make in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
The top 10% of aerospace engineers in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn at least $273,230 a year. The top 25% earn $206,930 or more.
What is the starting pay for aerospace engineers in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $117,060 a year, and a quarter of aerospace engineers earn $147,970 or less.
How many aerospace engineers work in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
About 510 aerospace engineers are employed in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.