Aerospace Engineer Salary in Houston, TX
Aerospace Engineers in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $133,970 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $102,834 take-home, or $8,570 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median aerospace engineer salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$20,887
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,306
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,943
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$102,834
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
Aerospace Engineer pay by experience in Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $80,850 | $38.87 | $65,708 | $5,476 |
| 25th percentile | $101,990 | $49.03 | $80,580 | $6,715 |
| Median (50th) | $133,970 | $64.41 | $102,834 | $8,570 |
| 75th percentile | $167,600 | $80.58 | $125,821 | $10,485 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $195,190 | $93.84 | $145,341 | $12,112 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $133,970 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median aerospace engineer's $102,834 take-home pay has the buying power of $104,264 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Houston, TX has 1.3× 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
Houston, TX ranks #13 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 |
| 13 | Houston, TX | $133,970 | $102,834 | $104,264 |
*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 Texas
- Dallas, TX — $134,570
Frequently asked questions
How much does a aerospace engineer make in Houston, TX?
The median aerospace engineer salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $133,970 a year, or about $64.41 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $101,990 and $167,600.
What is a aerospace engineer’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $133,970 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $102,834 a year ($8,570 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a aerospace engineer?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $134,960. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $104,264 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #13 of 28 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a aerospace engineer afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 15% of a median aerospace engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Houston, TX
- Petroleum Engineer — $169,870
- Chemical Engineer — $138,120
- Computer Hardware Engineer — $137,740
- Electrical Engineer — $131,070
- Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors — $130,280
- Engineers, All Other — $130,270
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $129,630
- Environmental Engineer — $127,340
- Mechanical Engineer — $125,350
- Materials Engineer — $123,250
- Industrial Engineer — $111,690
- Landscape Architect — $103,670