Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians salary in the U.S.
Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians in the U.S. earn a median of $82,890 a year ($39.85 an hour), based on BLS data for 11,280 workers.
Pay ranges from $59,050 for the lowest-paid 10% to $125,160 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $91,310, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $59,050 | $28.39 |
| 25th percentile | $67,680 | $32.54 |
| Median | $82,890 | $39.85 |
| 75th percentile | $111,280 | $53.50 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $125,160 | $60.18 |
| Average (mean) | $91,310 | $43.90 |
Half of aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians 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 | $6,907.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,453.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,188.08 |
| Weekly | $1,594.04 |
| Hourly | $39.85 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $125,160 | 1,590 |
| Alaska | $105,780 | 40 |
| Nevada | $102,980 | 50 |
| California | $99,000 | 1,560 |
| Colorado | $98,990 | 660 |
| Maryland | $91,820 | 200 |
| Oregon | $81,100 | 120 |
| Virginia | $81,040 | 270 |
| Massachusetts | $79,420 | 30 |
| Connecticut | $79,410 | 70 |
| Ohio | $79,310 | 900 |
| Florida | $78,560 | 770 |
| Kansas | $78,350 | 580 |
| Texas | $78,350 | 950 |
| Utah | $76,680 | 400 |
| Arizona | $75,230 | 380 |
| Minnesota | $71,240 | n/a |
| Michigan | $69,840 | 70 |
| New Mexico | $66,460 | n/a |
| New York | $64,480 | 330 |
| Indiana | $62,520 | 480 |
| Alabama | $62,130 | 140 |
| Pennsylvania | $60,770 | 80 |
| Oklahoma | $45,590 | 30 |
Best-paying metro areas for aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $125,160 | 1,570 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $123,350 | 390 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $119,980 | 130 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $102,980 | 40 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $98,940 | 690 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $98,800 | 280 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $92,360 | n/a |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $88,410 | 70 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $85,320 | 190 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $83,260 | 100 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $83,260 | 60 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $83,250 | 40 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $82,490 | 480 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $81,820 | 50 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $81,100 | 70 |
Metro areas with the most aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 1,570 | $125,160 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 690 | $98,940 |
| Wichita, KS | 510 | $78,350 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | 480 | $82,490 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 390 | $123,350 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 280 | $98,800 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 230 | $76,920 |
| Tucson, AZ | 210 | $75,230 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 200 | $78,080 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 190 | $79,310 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 190 | $85,320 |
| Ogden, UT | 180 | $76,760 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | 170 | $78,590 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 130 | $119,980 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 110 | $65,240 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | $66,150 | $31.80 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $78,190 | $37.59 |
| Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $66,120 | $31.79 |
| Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $64,950 | $31.23 |
| Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other | $78,350 | $37.67 |
| Surveying and Mapping Technicians | $54,240 | $26.08 |
| Mechanical Drafter | $71,550 | $34.40 |
| Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $74,510 | $35.82 |
| Electrical and Electronics Drafters | $76,870 | $36.96 |
| Calibration Technologists and Technicians | $67,820 | $32.61 |
| Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians | $73,900 | $35.53 |
| Drafters, All Other | $63,520 | $30.54 |
| Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $59,920 | $28.81 |
| Civil Engineer | $100,840 | $48.48 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 17-3021. 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 engineering and operations technologists and technicians make in the U.S.?
The median salary for aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians in the U.S. is $82,890 a year, or $39.85 an hour. Pay ranges from $59,050 for the lowest-paid 10% to $125,160 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians in the U.S. earn at least $125,160 a year. The top 25% earn $111,280 or more.
What is the starting pay for aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $59,050 a year, and a quarter of aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians earn $67,680 or less.
How many aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians work in the U.S.?
About 11,280 aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.