A Look at Aerospace Engineering Salaries Worldwide - Interesting Engineering (2024)

It is no secret aerospace engineers are in demand. Especially right now that we have a Space Force as well as several successful attempts at launching rockets from the planet and landing them back safely.

You might be thinking of SpaceX right away, but they aren’t the only ones attempting to own the aerospace industry and make a name for themselves.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that aerospace engineering jobs will grow at a rate of six percent between 2016 and 2026. Here’s a look into the top 20 cities where aerospace engineering jobs are in high demand. Aerospace careers offer a variety of exciting opportunities.

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Aerospace engineers can choose to specialize in either aeronautical, which is focused on aircraft, or astronautical, which is the science of spacecraft. While there are obvious differences in the two fields, they both rely on the laws of physics. Regardless of which path one chooses to pursue, the salary ranges vary from country to country

So, comparing the average annual salary for aerospace engineering jobs around the world, especially for the countries you plan to work in and get a good idea of what to expect is important. Let’s take a look at aerospace engineering salaries around the world.

What Impacts Aerospace Engineering Salaries Across the World?

Several factors may affect the average salary for aerospace engineering jobs around the world, including your location of work, the state of the aerospace industry in your country, the number of aerospace engineers available in the market, your government’s upcoming investments in aerospace technology, as well as the number of aerospace engineering companies who have enough funding and ideas to build new aircraft or optimize systems of the existing vessels.

For example, the cost of living and demand for aerospace engineers may differ from country to country.

Countries with large defense or transportation industries often need aerospace engineers, such as the United States, Canada, and the OECD’s price level indices show how price levels differ around the world. This is why aerospace engineering jobs would be more commonly available in these countries.

While the United States pays some of the highest average salaries in the world, it falls behind countries like Switzerland, Norway, and Iceland. Entry-level aerospace engineering salaries won’t be dramatically different, but you’ll certainly see a bump in pay when you work in these countries.

Moreover, the cost of rent and housing is often higher there than in most countries around the world, including Greece, Brazil, and Spain. So, it’s crucial to consider your cost of living even if you earn a high entry-level aerospace engineering salary.

Don’t neglect the fact that your favorite aerospace engineering companies may not have a design or manufacturing plant in the country you’re considering, so it would be a good idea to create a list of aerospace engineering companies that you admire and conduct research to find out where their engineer offices are and where they manufacture their products or fabricate their equipment.

Also, make sure to explore aerospace company suppliers as well as the original equipment manufacturers.

The industry you work in and the company you work for may also impact your annual salary as an aerospace engineer. You can find aerospace engineering jobs across several industries, including the travel, defense, tech, space, and transportation industries.

Some countries stand out with paying top salaries for aerospace engineers in these industries, including Denmark, Switzerland, and the United States. Engineers are often in high demand in the United States and earn high wages.

In fact, some of the highest-paid salaries in the United States are among aerospace engineering jobs.

Moreover, your education, your role, and your level of seniority may impact the salary you earn as an aerospace engineer. For instance, data from Indeed indicates that the average annual aerospace engineering salary in the United States varies between $73,422 for mechanical engineers and $115,881 for senior system engineers.

Most aerospace engineers need a bachelor’s degree. Also, the potential to earn more increases as you gain more experience as an aerospace engineer and become adept at using aerospace technology.

For example, data from PayScale reveals that experienced aerospace engineers based in Switzerland make eight percent more salary than entry-level aerospace engineers in the USA.

How Does the Average Aerospace Engineering Salary Compare Worldwide?

If you’re just starting a new job in aerospace engineering companies, your starting salary may look different from one country to the next. For example, entry-level aerospace engineering jobs averaged a starting salary of £29,659 per year or about $38,651 USD per year, according to PayScale. However, PayScale reports that entry-level aerospace engineers in the United States make an annual salary of $72,543.

The average annual salary for aerospace engineers may differ across sources. For instance, you may expect an average aerospace engineering salary in the United States is $107,265 per year, according to ZipRecruiter.

However, data from Glassdoor places the national average salary for aerospace engineers at $89,195.

PayScale reports even lower earnings for aerospace engineers in the United States with an average salary of $82,371 per year. The average you make in other countries may vary, too.

For instance, aerospace engineers in the United Arab Emirates make an average annual salary of 247,470 AED, or about $67,374 USD, according to PayScale. So, it’s important to compare different locations.

All of these statistics show just how important it is to do your research to see how aerospace engineering salaries can vary from one country to the next if you are considering if this is a field you want to study in university or if you are in the early stages of your career.

Also keep in mind that there will be other factors such as the demand for aerospace engineers in that area, as well as individual factors such as your education level, experience, and other skills.

We also need to acknowledge that the global pandemic of 2020 has negatively affected most of the global industries including aerospace careers.

As the demand for air travel declined, fewer and fewer airplanes are being utilized, meaning they are not breaking down as fast, considering they are still being used. However, most aircraft are currently parked in a bunker waiting for this pandemic to go away so that we can get back to flying and traveling the skies.

One of the aerospace companies that is continuing to grow and thrive is SpaceX, where new milestones are being reached regularly and despite the tough global economy, this aerospace company has managed to continue hiring and growing their aerospace engineering team and setting new goals that enable us, humans, to finally land on Mars.

That’s a grand vision to have and for you to succeed, you must have a grand vision and set your career on a path that accomplished that mission.

Aerospace Engineering Salaries Worldwide

Since the average annual aerospace engineering salary varies from country to country, it’s important to compare salaries for the countries you plan to work in, to determine if they meet your needs. Here’s a look at the average annual salary for aerospace engineers around the world, according to the ERI:

Final Thoughts

A career in aerospace engineering is one that can lead to a lucrative career path. But if you’re considering working as an aerospace engineer in another country, then it’s worth comparing salaries of aerospace engineering jobs across the world.

By comparing salaries across the world, you can get more insight into what you may expect to earn as an aerospace engineer in your preferred location of work.

Keep in mind that the most important factor that can help you make the highest salary is, still, your level of knowledge and actionable skills. Employers are most interested in those who are passionate about the aerospace engineering industry, which leads them to, naturally, work hard and achieve great accomplishments.

Don’t forget this as you’re planning your career development, and if you have any remaining questions, feel comfortable reaching out.