Aerospace Engineer salary in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Aerospace Engineers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median of $181,630 a year ($87.32 an hour), based on BLS data for 930 workers.
Pay ranges from $127,490 for the lowest-paid 10% to $254,880 for the top 10%. That is 35% higher than the national median of $134,960. Pay here is 15% higher than the California statewide median of $157,620. There are 0.82 aerospace engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.9× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $181,690, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for aerospace engineers in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $127,490 | $61.29 |
| 25th percentile | $151,740 | $72.95 |
| Median | $181,630 | $87.32 |
| 75th percentile | $198,470 | $95.42 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $254,880 | $122.54 |
| Average (mean) | $181,690 | $87.35 |
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 | $15,135.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $7,567.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,985.77 |
| Weekly | $3,492.88 |
| Hourly | $87.32 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $181,630 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 |
| 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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $209,860 | $100.89 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $194,370 | $93.45 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $168,030 | $80.79 |
| Engineers, All Other | $169,650 | $81.56 |
| Industrial Engineer | $136,950 | $65.84 |
| Electrical Engineer | $187,060 | $89.93 |
| Civil Engineer | $130,280 | $62.64 |
| Materials Engineer | $156,730 | $75.35 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $136,450 | $65.60 |
| Environmental Engineer | $125,550 | $60.36 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $143,050 | $68.77 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $95,280 | $45.81 |
| Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $90,660 | $43.59 |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $129,640 | $62.33 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, 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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The median salary for aerospace engineers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $181,630 a year, or $87.32 an hour. Pay ranges from $127,490 for the lowest-paid 10% to $254,880 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid aerospace engineers make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The top 10% of aerospace engineers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn at least $254,880 a year. The top 25% earn $198,470 or more.
What is the starting pay for aerospace engineers in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $127,490 a year, and a quarter of aerospace engineers earn $151,740 or less.
How many aerospace engineers work in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
About 930 aerospace engineers are employed in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.