Aerospace Engineering graduates earn $98,207 four years out. Related careers are growing at up to 8.2%, one of the stronger demand signals across all fields. Avionics Technicians is among the highest-growth roles in the field.
Aerospace Engineering is a focused area of study within Engineering. Graduates typically earn around $98,207 four years out, a strong return for a focused credential. The program is available at 95 colleges across the U.S., from community colleges to research universities. About 9,220 students complete this program each year, most earning a bachelor's. Coursework leans technical and quantitative, with lab or project work common.
Median Earnings · 1yr
$72,408
Median Earnings · 4yr
$98,207
Colleges Offering
95
Graduates / Year
9,220
Avg Net Price / yr
$21,709
How Much Do Aerospace Engineering Graduates Earn?
Aerospace Engineering graduates earn $98,207 four years out, well above average for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $81,638 and $115,917. Earnings typically jump significantly in the first few years. The one-year figure of $72,408 climbs to $98,207 by year four.
$72,408
1 Year After Graduation
Earnings grow steadily as you advance past entry-level roles. The four-year figure is a better long-term target.
$98,207
4-Year National Median
Well above average for college graduates.
$96,510
4-Year Institutional Median
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.
Earnings Range
There is a moderate earnings spread across Aerospace Engineering graduates. Sector is the biggest factor. Tech companies and finance firms tend to pay significantly more than government, education, or nonprofit employers in this field.
$81,63825th pct.
$98,207Median
$115,91775th pct.
Why This Program Pays Off Fast
Strong ROI. At median 4-year earnings of $98,207 against an estimated $86,836 four-year net cost, most graduates break even against baseline wages in under two years.
Based on outcomes from 76 schools.
Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.
Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown
Of the 9,220 students who complete Aerospace Engineering programs each year, the majority (68%) earn a bachelor's degree.
The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
68%26%
Bachelor's68%
Master's26%
Doctorate5%
What Can You Do With an Aerospace Engineering Degree?
Aerospace Engineering connects to 5 occupations in the job market. Architectural & Engineering Manager leads at $171,270/yr median. Expand any card to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.
Perform engineering duties in designing, constructing, and testing aircraft, missiles, and spacecraft. May conduct basic and applied research to evaluate adaptability of materials and equipment to aircraft design and manufacture. May recommend improvements in testing equipment and techniques.
Formulate mathematical models or other methods of computer analysis to develop, evaluate, or modify design, according to customer engineering requirements.
Plan or conduct experimental, environmental, operational, or stress tests on models or prototypes of aircraft or aerospace systems or equipment.
Formulate conceptual design of aeronautical or aerospace products or systems to meet customer requirements or conform to environmental regulations.
Teach courses pertaining to the application of physical laws and principles of engineering for the development of machines, materials, instruments, processes, and services. Includes teachers of subjects such as chemical, civil, electrical, industrial, mechanical, mineral, and petroleum engineering. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory work, assignments, and papers.
Critical ThinkingQuality Control AnalysisOperations MonitoringReading ComprehensionActive Listening
Day-to-day responsibilities
Operate, install, adjust, and maintain integrated computer/communications systems, consoles, simulators, and other data acquisition, test, and measurement instruments and equipment, which are used to launch, track, position, and evaluate air and space vehicles. May record and interpret test data.
Test aircraft systems under simulated operational conditions, performing systems readiness tests and pre- and post-operational checkouts, to establish design or fabrication parameters.
Identify required data, data acquisition plans, and test parameters, setting up equipment to conform to these specifications.
Inspect, diagnose, maintain, and operate test setups and equipment to detect malfunctions.
Equipment MaintenanceTroubleshootingRepairingQuality Control AnalysisOperations Monitoring
Day-to-day responsibilities
Install, inspect, test, adjust, or repair avionics equipment, such as radar, radio, navigation, and missile control systems in aircraft or space vehicles.
Test and troubleshoot instruments, components, and assemblies, using circuit testers, oscilloscopes, or voltmeters.
Keep records of maintenance and repair work.
Adjust, repair, or replace malfunctioning components or assemblies, using hand tools or soldering irons.
Top Colleges for Aerospace Engineering
The 20 colleges below are ranked by how many Aerospace Engineering students they graduate each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page
into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Aerospace Engineering program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find
schools that match your profile.
Strong earnings and positive career growth make Aerospace Engineering a solid option. The 4 strengths and 1 trade-offs below are data-sourced from College Scorecard, BLS, and IPEDS.
PROS
Strong median salaryGraduates earn $98,207 nationally four years out, placing this field above most degree programs in the country.
Strong salary growthMedian earnings climb from $72,408 at graduation to $98,207 four years later, a clear sign of career momentum in this field.
Fast-growing fieldRelated careers are projected to grow up to +8.2% over the next decade, with Avionics Technicians among the fastest-growing roles.
Strong hiring volumeRelated occupations generate more than 25,800 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
CONS
Advanced degree often expectedTop roles in this field typically expect a master's degree or higher. A bachelor's may be a starting point rather than a terminal credential for the most competitive positions.
Aerospace Engineering graduates earn a national median of $98,207 four years after completing their program. The middle 50% of earners fall between $81,638 and $115,917. Where you land typically depends on employer, role, and location.
What is the starting salary for a Aerospace Engineering degree?
One year after graduation, Aerospace Engineering degree holders earn a median of $72,408. That climbs to $98,207 four years out. The biggest salary jumps typically come once you move past entry-level roles.
What jobs can you get with a Aerospace Engineering degree?
Aerospace Engineering degree holders pursue careers including Architectural & Engineering Manager, which pays a median of $171,270/yr. Scroll down to the Career Paths section to see wages and job growth projections for every related occupation.
How long does a Aerospace Engineering program take?
A Aerospace Engineering bachelor's degree typically takes four years of full-time study. Community colleges offer associate programs in two years for students who want a faster path into the workforce.
How many colleges offer Aerospace Engineering?
95 colleges and universities in the United States offer Aerospace Engineering programs. Options range from community colleges with certificates and associate degrees to research universities with doctoral tracks.
Is a Aerospace Engineering degree worth it?
With a median 4-year salary of $98,207 and an average net price of roughly $21,709/yr, a Aerospace Engineering degree can pay off well, especially at lower-cost schools and in high-demand roles. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific programs before deciding.
What is the difference between Aerospace Engineering and Engineering?
Aerospace Engineering is a focused concentration within the broader Engineering field. The Engineering major covers the full discipline; this program narrows the curriculum to Aerospace Engineering-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. If you already know this is the direction you want, the specialized program gives you a more targeted credential.
What skills do employers look for in Aerospace Engineering graduates?
Employers hiring Aerospace Engineering graduates consistently prioritize analytical thinking, technical proficiency, and data interpretation. Employers typically prioritize candidates who can demonstrate hands-on project or internship experience alongside their coursework.
Is graduate school worth it for Aerospace Engineering graduates?
In STEM fields, a master's degree can accelerate advancement into research, leadership, or senior engineering roles and often adds $15,000 to $40,000 in long-term earning potential, depending on specialization. The right answer depends on your career goals, program cost, and whether your target role explicitly rewards an advanced credential.
What is the job outlook for Aerospace Engineering graduates?
The job outlook for Aerospace Engineering graduates is moderate overall. Related occupations project an average of +6.9% job growth over the next 10 years. Avionics Technicians is among the strongest-growth roles at +8.2%. Growth varies by role and location, so check the Career Paths section for projections on each specific occupation.
Related Engineering Programs
Other programs in Engineering. Compare earnings, credentials, and career paths before committing to a specialization.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
H
How to Choose a Major Pillar
A decision framework for picking a college major using your interests, aptitudes, and federal earnings data to reach a defensible choice before applying.
The real cost of a second major, when it pays back and when it doesn't, and why a focused single major with a relevant minor often beats a double major.
Why the 10-year job-growth outlook often matters more than today's salary, what the BLS projections measure, and how to use them to weigh the future of a field, not just its present.
Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
All 38 Majors, Ranked by What Graduates Earn
The highest-earning college major out-pays the lowest by a factor of two and a half. The full ranking of all 38 fields by median graduate earnings, with job growth alongside.
Major earnings
Highest paying majors
Job growth
STEM
Field of study
Does Engineering Tech Out-Earn Engineering? The Data Says No
A popular claim holds that the applied engineering-tech degree pays more than the theoretical one. Across every program, engineering wins by about $10,000.
Engineering tech
Engineering
Program earnings
Applied degree
Technician careers
STEM Is Not One Thing: The Pay Gap Within STEM
Across 88 STEM programs the top one out-earns the bottom by $65,000 a year. Operations research pays $122,531; environmental design pays $57,461.
STEM earnings
Engineering pay
Computer science
Program earnings
Major choice
Continue Exploring
Browse our full directory: every college, major, program, and career we track, all built from verified government data.
