Aerospace Engineer vs Civil Engineer Salary

Side-by-side salary comparison for Aerospace Engineer and Civil Engineer — national medians, pay ranges, and city-by-city data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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Aerospace Engineers earn more nationally

$134,830 median vs $99,590 — a $35,240/yr difference (26% lower)

Aerospace Engineer →

Median Salary

$134,830

Salary Range

$85,350 – $205,850

10th–90th percentile

Civil Engineer →

Median Salary

$99,590

Salary Range

$65,920 – $160,990

10th–90th percentile

-26% difference

Aerospace Engineer vs Civil Engineer Salary by City

CityAerospace EngineerCivil Engineer
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$174,130$107,930
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$167,340$129,260
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD$161,580$103,830
Omaha, NE-IA$160,630$103,510
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$160,000$126,560
Washington$158,600$105,090
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT$158,170$107,110
Massachusetts$152,210$104,450
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$151,080$104,750
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$145,860$130,310
California$143,860$118,450
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$143,860$105,290
Boulder, CO$143,210$102,990
New Mexico$139,770$104,600
Albuquerque, NM$139,610$104,820
Huntsville, AL$139,110$102,790
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$135,530$106,130
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$134,190$104,360
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$132,320$106,350
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA$129,230$106,430
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA$128,750$106,420
New Jersey$128,400$103,690
Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area$128,230$109,960
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$126,220$109,250
New York$125,270$102,440

Green = higher-paying role in that city. Source: BLS OEWS.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Aerospace Engineer or Civil Engineer pay more?▾

Aerospace Engineers earn more nationally, with a median salary of $134,830 versus $99,590 for Civil Engineer. That's a difference of about $35,240 per year.

What's the salary range for a Aerospace Engineer vs a Civil Engineer?▾

Aerospace Engineer salaries range from $85,350 (10th percentile) to $205,850 (90th percentile). Civil Engineer salaries range from $65,920 to $160,990.

Which career has more growth potential — Aerospace Engineer or Civil Engineer?▾

Salary growth depends on experience, specialization, location, and industry sector. Both roles show strong upper-quartile earnings. Check city-by-city data above — in some metros one role significantly outpaces the other, which often reflects local industry demand and competition.

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