Aerospace Engineer Salary in Denver, CO
Aerospace Engineers in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median $156,190 a year — 16% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $111,858 take-home, or $9,321 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median aerospace engineer salary in Denver, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$26,220
- Social Security (6.2%)$9,684
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,265
- Colorado income tax$6,164
- Take-home pay$111,858
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 4.40% state
Aerospace Engineer pay by experience in Denver, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $98,090 | $47.16 | $74,229 | $6,186 |
| 25th percentile | $128,840 | $61.94 | $94,368 | $7,864 |
| Median (50th) | $156,190 | $75.09 | $111,858 | $9,321 |
| 75th percentile | $168,580 | $81.05 | $119,781 | $9,982 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $210,810 | $101.35 | $148,321 | $12,360 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $156,190 buys in Denver, CO
Prices in Denver, CO are 5.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.47× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median aerospace engineer's $111,858 take-home pay has the buying power of $105,744 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Denver, CO has 2.9× 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
Denver, CO ranks #9 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 |
| 9 | Denver, CO | $156,190 | $111,858 | $105,744 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 28 metros →
Aerospace Engineer salaries elsewhere in Colorado
- Boulder, CO — $167,160
- Colorado Springs, CO — $151,980
Frequently asked questions
How much does a aerospace engineer make in Denver, CO?
The median aerospace engineer salary in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $156,190 a year, or about $75.09 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $128,840 and $168,580.
What is a aerospace engineer’s take-home pay in Denver, CO?
On the median $156,190 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $111,858 a year ($9,321 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,164 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Denver, CO a good place to work as a aerospace engineer?
Pay here is 16% above the national median of $134,960. Local prices are 5.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $105,744 would in a typical U.S. city. Denver, CO ranks #9 of 28 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a aerospace engineer afford rent in Denver, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Denver, CO is $1,754 a month ($2,089 for two bedrooms) — 19% of a median aerospace engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Denver, CO
- Petroleum Engineer — $174,580
- Computer Hardware Engineer — $144,660
- Engineers, All Other — $131,740
- Mechanical Engineer — $128,180
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $127,260
- Materials Engineer — $125,750
- Electrical Engineer — $119,020
- Industrial Engineer — $108,680
- Environmental Engineer — $107,880
- Civil Engineer — $104,710
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $104,090
- Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers — $93,100