Aerospace Engineer Salary in Boston, MA
Aerospace Engineers in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $149,470 a year — 11% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $106,175 take-home, or $8,848 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median aerospace engineer salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$24,607
- Social Security (6.2%)$9,267
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,167
- Massachusetts income tax$7,254
- Take-home pay$106,175
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Aerospace Engineer pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $89,750 | $43.15 | $67,702 | $5,642 |
| 25th percentile | $98,850 | $47.52 | $73,648 | $6,137 |
| Median (50th) | $149,470 | $71.86 | $106,175 | $8,848 |
| 75th percentile | $182,370 | $87.68 | $127,017 | $10,585 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $217,840 | $104.73 | $151,394 | $12,616 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $149,470 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median aerospace engineer's $106,175 take-home pay has the buying power of $98,069 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Aerospace Engineer jobs are about as common in Boston, MA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.81).
Best-paying cities for aerospace engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #19 of 28 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boulder, CO | $167,160 | $118,873 | $112,995 |
| 2 | Cleveland, OH | $143,020 | $105,869 | $112,719 |
| 3 | Baltimore, MD | $166,980 | $117,563 | $112,515 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $163,580 | $123,073 | $110,744 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $191,260 | $126,367 | $109,302 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $181,630 | $120,387 | $109,023 |
| 7 | Colorado Springs, CO | $151,980 | $109,166 | $108,399 |
| 8 | Wichita, KS | $130,720 | $94,119 | $105,815 |
| 19 | Boston, MA | $149,470 | $106,175 | $98,069 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 28 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a aerospace engineer make in Boston, MA?
The median aerospace engineer salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $149,470 a year, or about $71.86 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $98,850 and $182,370.
What is a aerospace engineer’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $149,470 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $106,175 a year ($8,848 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $7,254 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a aerospace engineer?
Pay here is 11% above the national median of $134,960. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $98,069 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #19 of 28 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a aerospace engineer afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 26% of a median aerospace engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Boston, MA
- Computer Hardware Engineer — $167,600
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $142,920
- Engineers, All Other — $133,940
- Electrical Engineer — $128,610
- Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors — $128,600
- Bioengineer and Biomedical Engineer — $128,550
- Mechanical Engineer — $119,300
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $119,120
- Industrial Engineer — $118,970
- Materials Engineer — $111,480
- Environmental Engineer — $109,620
- Chemical Engineer — $109,460