Salary distribution
Where California aerospace engineers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $118,000 and $185,220, with a median of $143,860.
Aerospace Engineers in California: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 115 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $145,000. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 15 | $111,078 |
| Level II — qualified | 43 | $134,493 |
| Level III — experienced | 23 | $160,000 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 20 | $182,749 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Aerospace Engineers in California. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joby Aero, Inc. | Flight Test Lead | 19 | $175,000 |
| SIA ENGINERING (USA) INC | LICENSED AIRCRAFT ENGINEER | 9 | $119,000 |
| The Boeing Company | System Engineer - Fleet Health Monitoring | 7 | $144,934 |
| Wisk Aero LLC | Staff Systems Test Engineer | 7 | $167,344 |
| Analytical Mechanics Associates, Inc. | Research Scientist Engineer(Aerothermodynamicist/Dusty Flow) | 6 | $158,621 |
| Qantas Airways Ltd. | LAME LAX Hangar (Senior) | 5 | $137,800 |
| Archer Aviation Operating Corp. | Lead Engineer, EWIS | 5 | $182,749 |
| Zipline International Inc. | Controls & Dynamics Engineer | 4 | $140,000 |
| Robinson Helicopter Company Inc. | Design Engineer - Mechanical Systems | 3 | $156,000 |
| LTA Research and Exploration LLC | Senior Technical Project Manager | 3 | $134,493 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Aircraft Maintenance Mechanic at Silver Air, LLC$280,000BurbankDecided Dec 26, 2025I-203-25353-496222
- MODELING & SIMULATION ENGINEER 2 at SAFRAN CABIN, INC.$134,909Costa MesaDecided Dec 12, 2025I-200-25340-463008
- Design Engineer - Mechanical Systems at Robinson Helicopter Company Inc.$190,320TorranceDecided Dec 11, 2025I-200-25338-457994
- Flight Test Lead at Joby Aero, Inc.$285,000Santa CruzDecided Dec 10, 2025I-203-25337-454912
- Aerospace Engineer at AIBOT US Operation Inc.$146,077San BernardinoDecided Dec 3, 2025I-200-25330-438948
- MODELING & SIMULATION ENGINEER 2 at SAFRAN CABIN, INC.$134,909Costa MesaDecided Nov 28, 2025I-200-25324-425677
- Flight Test Aircraft Engineering Lead at Joby Aero, Inc.$225,000Santa CruzDecided Nov 25, 2025I-200-25322-419536
- Senior GNC Engineer II at Rocket Lab USA, Inc.$173,400Long BeachDecided Nov 24, 2025I-203-25321-414911
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
Aerospace Engineers pay by experience level in California
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Aerospace Engineers specialties in California
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 49 certified offers. The most common variant is Aerospace Engineer at a median of $130,539.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerospace Engineer | AIBOT US Operation Inc. | 10 | $130,539 |
| LICENSED AIRCRAFT ENGINEER | SIA ENGINERING (USA) INC | 8 | $119,000 |
| Research Scientist Engineer(Aerothermodynamicist/Dusty Flow) | Analytical Mechanics Associates, Inc. | 5 | $158,621 |
| Senior GNC Engineer | LTA Research and Exploration LLC | 4 | $178,075 |
| Systems Engineer | Archer Aviation Operating Corp. | 4 | $137,500 |
| Flight Test Engineer | Skydio, Inc. | 3 | $164,268 |
| Senior Scientist | Metacomp Technologies, Inc. | 3 | $122,000 |
| LAME LAX Hangar (Senior) | Qantas Airways Ltd. | 3 | $137,800 |
| Systems Test Engineer | Wisk Aero LLC | 3 | $153,408 |
| Lead Engineer, EWIS | Archer Aviation Operating Corp. | 3 | $134,514 |
| Product Review Engineer | The Boeing Company | 3 | $144,934 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Aerospace Engineers in California, by industry
Median offered wage across 115 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Manufacturing leads with a median of $166,754.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | Joby Aero, Inc. | 67 | $166,754 |
| Professional services | Analytical Mechanics Associates, Inc. | 20 | $134,757 |
| Transportation and logistics | SIA ENGINERING (USA) INC | 16 | $127,500 |
| Education | California Institute of Technology/Jet Propulsion Laboratory | 5 | $105,074 |
| Technology and software | Panasonic Avionics Corporation | 5 | $149,641 |
| Nonprofit and civic | Open Avenues Foundation | 1 | $118,706 |
| Government and public sector | Planet Labs PBC | 1 | $132,500 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in California over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.8 / 5
Engineering and Technology
Knowledge
- 4.3 / 5
Mathematics
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Design
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Critical Thinking
Cross-functional
- 4.1 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Physics
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Science
Basic skill
- 4.0 / 5
Reading Comprehension
Basic skill
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Formulate mathematical models or other methods of computer analysis to develop, evaluate, or modify design, according to customer engineering requirements.
- 02
Plan or conduct experimental, environmental, operational, or stress tests on models or prototypes of aircraft or aerospace systems or equipment.
- 03
Plan or coordinate investigation and resolution of customers' reports of technical problems with aircraft or aerospace vehicles.
- 04
Formulate conceptual design of aeronautical or aerospace products or systems to meet customer requirements or conform to environmental regulations.
- 05
Write technical reports or other documentation, such as handbooks or bulletins, for use by engineering staff, management, or customers.
- 06
Diagnose performance problems by reviewing reports or documentation from customers or field engineers or by inspecting malfunctioning or damaged products.
- 07
Direct or coordinate activities of engineering or technical personnel involved in designing, fabricating, modifying, or testing of aircraft or aerospace products.
- 08
Evaluate product data or design from inspections or reports for conformance to engineering principles, customer requirements, environmental regulations, or quality standards.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+6.0%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Growing faster than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Metro-level salary data for aerospace engineers in major California metropolitan areas.
- San Jose$167,340
- San Francisco$160,000
- Sacramento$145,860
- Los Angeles$143,860
- San Diego$132,320
- Riverside$126,220
Compare Aerospace Engineers pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Aerospace Engineers in California?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Aerospace Engineers in California is $143,860.
- How does California compare to the national median for Aerospace Engineers?
- The California median is +5.4% versus the BLS national figure of $136,432.
- What is the salary range for Aerospace Engineers in California?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $102,380 and the 90th-percentile at $224,660, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Aerospace Engineers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 6.0% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Aerospace Engineers?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.