Aerospace Engineer Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Aerospace Engineers in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $163,280 a year — 21% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $109,790 take-home, or $9,149 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median aerospace engineer salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$27,921
- Social Security (6.2%)$10,123
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,368
- California income tax$10,955
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$2,123
- Take-home pay$109,790
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Aerospace Engineer pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $108,330 | $52.08 | $77,787 | $6,482 |
| 25th percentile | $130,530 | $62.75 | $90,877 | $7,573 |
| Median (50th) | $163,280 | $78.50 | $109,790 | $9,149 |
| 75th percentile | $183,190 | $88.07 | $121,288 | $10,107 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $227,440 | $109.35 | $148,492 | $12,374 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $163,280 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median aerospace engineer's $109,790 take-home pay has the buying power of $96,675 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Los Angeles, CA has 1.9× 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
Los Angeles, CA ranks #5 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 Los Angeles, CA?
The median aerospace engineer salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $163,280 a year, or about $78.50 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $130,530 and $183,190.
What is a aerospace engineer’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $163,280 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $109,790 a year ($9,149 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $13,078 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a aerospace engineer?
Pay here is 21% above the national median of $134,960. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $96,675 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #5 of 5 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a aerospace engineer afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 25% of a median aerospace engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Los Angeles, CA
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $140,530
- Electrical Engineer — $139,780
- Engineers, All Other — $125,060
- Mechanical Engineer — $123,900
- Industrial Engineer — $113,040
- Civil Engineer — $108,640
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $104,170
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician — $81,940
- Architectural and Civil Drafter — $76,630