Aerospace Engineer salary in Virginia
Aerospace Engineers in Virginia earn a median of $143,210 a year ($68.85 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,540 workers.
Pay ranges from $95,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $226,950 for the top 10%. That is 6% higher than the national median of $134,960. Virginia ranks 9th of 41 states for aerospace engineers pay. There are 0.62 aerospace engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $155,770, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for aerospace engineers in Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $95,420 | $45.88 |
| 25th percentile | $119,830 | $57.61 |
| Median | $143,210 | $68.85 |
| 75th percentile | $184,590 | $88.74 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $226,950 | $109.11 |
| Average (mean) | $155,770 | $74.89 |
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 | $11,934.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,967.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,508.08 |
| Weekly | $2,754.04 |
| Hourly | $68.85 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Aerospace Engineer salary in cities in Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $166,420 | 2,420 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $139,010 | 800 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $122,690 | 30 |
| Richmond, VA | $120,370 | 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 |
Related jobs in Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $97,120 | $46.69 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $104,180 | $50.09 |
| Electrical Engineer | $119,030 | $57.23 |
| Industrial Engineer | $102,550 | $49.30 |
| Engineers, All Other | $148,160 | $71.23 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $119,990 | $57.69 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $139,030 | $66.84 |
| Environmental Engineer | $104,940 | $50.45 |
| Chemical Engineer | $136,380 | $65.57 |
| Materials Engineer | $116,720 | $56.12 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $104,920 | $50.44 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $106,140 | $51.03 |
| Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | $104,960 | $50.46 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $128,890 | $61.97 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Virginia
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 Virginia?
The median salary for aerospace engineers in Virginia is $143,210 a year, or $68.85 an hour. Pay ranges from $95,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $226,950 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid aerospace engineers make in Virginia?
The top 10% of aerospace engineers in Virginia earn at least $226,950 a year. The top 25% earn $184,590 or more.
What is the starting pay for aerospace engineers in Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $95,420 a year, and a quarter of aerospace engineers earn $119,830 or less.
How many aerospace engineers work in Virginia?
About 2,540 aerospace engineers are employed in Virginia, not counting the self-employed.