Aerospace Engineering
Salary Scales in Aerospace Engineering
Aerospace engineering salaries can differ greatly from area to area. Regardless of the work, all aerospace engineering workers must have a college degree. A four-year Bachelor's degree is the minimum requirement, but a six-year Master's will lead to better pay starting out. Aerospace engineering also comes with different specialties. One aerospace engineer might have focused on drafting the blueprints for a rocket, missile, helicopter, war plane, or space shuttle, so that is where that person will focus a job hunt. Another aerospace engineering specialist might be trained to figure out the strength and weight of different materials that can be used to build the aeronautical equipment and design the outer shell that will handle the weather, air pressure, and test of time without disregarding safety measurements.
The highest aerospace engineering salaries are going to be found in areas where large aerospace companies are located. In states where the only work is at area airports, pay scales will not be as grand as in cities or states where large plants are located. Los Angeles tops out the list with most aerospace engineering workers earning an average of $95,000 per year. Meanwhile, aerospace engineering workers in Houston average around $54,000 per year.
In Vermont where there are few aerospace companies, most work is found at the airport and aerospace engineering incomes average $50,000 per year. In Anchorage, Alaska, the average income is $62,000. Salaries for aerospace engineering are very reliant on the area where one finds a job.
Northrup Grumman is one of the largest aerospace firms in the United States. With main offices in Los Angeles, London, England, and Arlington, Virginia, and Aerospace businesses in El Segundo and Redondo Beach, California, workers will find most jobs to be in these areas. Aerospace Engineers in El Segundo earn $62,000 per year. In Redondo Beach, the average salary is $60,000. In Arlington, the average salary for aeronautical engineering is $58,000. Finally, in London the average annual salary is £34,000 ($68,000). It goes to show that location can make a huge difference.
