Aerospace Engineer Salary in Seattle, WA
Aerospace Engineers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median $163,580 a year — 21% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $123,073 take-home, or $10,256 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median aerospace engineer salary in Seattle, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$27,993
- Social Security (6.2%)$10,142
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,372
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$123,073
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Aerospace Engineer pay by experience in Seattle, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $112,650 | $54.16 | $88,079 | $7,340 |
| 25th percentile | $131,910 | $63.42 | $101,426 | $8,452 |
| Median (50th) | $163,580 | $78.64 | $123,073 | $10,256 |
| 75th percentile | $181,520 | $87.27 | $135,335 | $11,278 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $207,710 | $99.86 | $154,605 | $12,884 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $163,580 buys in Seattle, WA
Prices in Seattle, WA are 11.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median aerospace engineer's $123,073 take-home pay has the buying power of $110,744 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Seattle, WA has 6.0× 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
Seattle, WA ranks #1 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 Seattle, WA?
The median aerospace engineer salary in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $163,580 a year, or about $78.64 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $131,910 and $181,520.
What is a aerospace engineer’s take-home pay in Seattle, WA?
On the median $163,580 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $123,073 a year ($10,256 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Seattle, WA a good place to work as a aerospace engineer?
Pay here is 21% above the national median of $134,960. Local prices are 11.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $110,744 would in a typical U.S. city. Seattle, WA ranks #1 of 5 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a aerospace engineer afford rent in Seattle, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Seattle, WA is $2,022 a month ($2,379 for two bedrooms) — 20% of a median aerospace engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Seattle, WA
- Electrical Engineer — $140,210
- Industrial Engineer — $131,210
- Mechanical Engineer — $126,590
- Civil Engineer — $116,480
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $100,610