Aerospace Engineer salary in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Aerospace Engineers in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median of $163,280 a year ($78.50 an hour), based on BLS data for 5,200 workers.
Pay ranges from $108,330 for the lowest-paid 10% to $227,440 for the top 10%. That is 21% higher than the national median of $134,960. Pay here is 4% higher than the California statewide median of $157,620. There are 0.83 aerospace engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.9× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $161,520, close to the median.
Pay range for aerospace engineers in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $108,330 | $52.08 |
| 25th percentile | $130,530 | $62.75 |
| Median | $163,280 | $78.50 |
| 75th percentile | $183,190 | $88.07 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $227,440 | $109.35 |
| Average (mean) | $161,520 | $77.66 |
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 | $13,606.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,803.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,280 |
| Weekly | $3,140 |
| Hourly | $78.50 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
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 |
| 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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $108,640 | $52.23 |
| Industrial Engineer | $113,040 | $54.34 |
| Electrical Engineer | $139,780 | $67.20 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $123,900 | $59.57 |
| Engineers, All Other | $125,060 | $60.13 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $140,530 | $67.56 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $158,530 | $76.22 |
| Materials Engineer | $125,200 | $60.19 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $128,240 | $61.65 |
| Environmental Engineer | $127,900 | $61.49 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $131,540 | $63.24 |
| Petroleum Engineer | $167,000 | $80.29 |
| Chemical Engineer | $134,210 | $64.52 |
| Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | $144,230 | $69.34 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, 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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
The median salary for aerospace engineers in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $163,280 a year, or $78.50 an hour. Pay ranges from $108,330 for the lowest-paid 10% to $227,440 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid aerospace engineers make in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
The top 10% of aerospace engineers in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn at least $227,440 a year. The top 25% earn $183,190 or more.
What is the starting pay for aerospace engineers in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $108,330 a year, and a quarter of aerospace engineers earn $130,530 or less.
How many aerospace engineers work in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
About 5,200 aerospace engineers are employed in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.