Aerospace Engineer Salary in Huntsville, AL
Aerospace Engineers in the Huntsville, AL metro area earn a median $131,090 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $94,577 take-home, or $7,881 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median aerospace engineer salary in Huntsville, AL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$20,196
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,128
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,901
- Alabama income tax$6,290
- Take-home pay$94,577
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 5.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Aerospace Engineer pay by experience in Huntsville, AL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $78,890 | $37.93 | $60,650 | $5,054 |
| 25th percentile | $100,070 | $48.11 | $74,491 | $6,208 |
| Median (50th) | $131,090 | $63.02 | $94,577 | $7,881 |
| 75th percentile | $167,050 | $80.31 | $117,357 | $9,780 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $195,190 | $93.84 | $135,847 | $11,321 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Alabama resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $131,090 buys in Huntsville, AL
Prices in Huntsville, AL are 6.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 22% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median aerospace engineer's $94,577 take-home pay has the buying power of $101,617 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Huntsville, AL has 42.0× the national concentration of aerospace engineer jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for aerospace engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Huntsville, AL ranks #3 of 5 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $163,580 | $123,073 | $110,744 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $166,420 | $113,837 | $104,549 |
| 3 | Huntsville, AL | $131,090 | $94,577 | $101,617 |
| 4 | Dallas, TX | $134,570 | $103,245 | $100,150 |
| 5 | Los Angeles, CA | $163,280 | $109,790 | $96,675 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 5 metros →
About the job: aerospace engineers
Perform engineering duties in designing, constructing, and testing aircraft, missiles, and spacecraft. May conduct basic and applied research to evaluate adaptability of materials and equipment to aircraft design and manufacture. May recommend improvements in testing equipment and techniques.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +8.3% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a aerospace engineer make in Huntsville, AL?
The median aerospace engineer salary in the Huntsville, AL metro area is $131,090 a year, or about $63.02 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $100,070 and $167,050.
What is a aerospace engineer’s take-home pay in Huntsville, AL?
On the median $131,090 salary, a single filer living in Alabama takes home about $94,577 a year ($7,881 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,290 in Alabama taxes in 2026.
Is Huntsville, AL a good place to work as a aerospace engineer?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $134,960. Local prices are 6.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $101,617 would in a typical U.S. city. Huntsville, AL ranks #3 of 5 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a aerospace engineer afford rent in Huntsville, AL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Huntsville, AL is $1,136 a month ($1,310 for two bedrooms) — 14% of a median aerospace engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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