Aerospace Engineer Salary in Phoenix, AZ
Aerospace Engineers in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area earn a median $130,470 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $97,389 take-home, or $8,116 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median aerospace engineer salary in Phoenix, AZ. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$20,047
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,089
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,892
- Arizona income tax$3,053
- Take-home pay$97,389
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 2.50% state
Aerospace Engineer pay by experience in Phoenix, AZ
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $89,150 | $42.86 | $69,527 | $5,794 |
| 25th percentile | $102,550 | $49.30 | $78,619 | $6,552 |
| Median (50th) | $130,470 | $62.73 | $97,389 | $8,116 |
| 75th percentile | $179,460 | $86.28 | $129,649 | $10,804 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $232,940 | $111.99 | $166,367 | $13,864 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Arizona resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $130,470 buys in Phoenix, AZ
Prices in Phoenix, AZ are 3.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.21× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median aerospace engineer's $97,389 take-home pay has the buying power of $94,263 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Phoenix, AZ 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
Phoenix, AZ ranks #22 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 |
| 22 | Phoenix, AZ | $130,470 | $97,389 | $94,263 |
*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 Arizona
- Tucson, AZ — $106,760
Frequently asked questions
How much does a aerospace engineer make in Phoenix, AZ?
The median aerospace engineer salary in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area is $130,470 a year, or about $62.73 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $102,550 and $179,460.
What is a aerospace engineer’s take-home pay in Phoenix, AZ?
On the median $130,470 salary, a single filer living in Arizona takes home about $97,389 a year ($8,116 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,053 in Arizona taxes in 2026.
Is Phoenix, AZ a good place to work as a aerospace engineer?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $134,960. Local prices are 3.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $94,263 would in a typical U.S. city. Phoenix, AZ ranks #22 of 28 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a aerospace engineer afford rent in Phoenix, AZ?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Phoenix, AZ is $1,583 a month ($1,839 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 Phoenix, AZ
- Computer Hardware Engineer — $167,010
- Bioengineer and Biomedical Engineer — $141,230
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $129,540
- Industrial Engineer — $109,020
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $103,900
- Engineers, All Other — $102,280
- Mechanical Engineer — $100,980
- Electrical Engineer — $99,160
- Environmental Engineer — $94,470
- Civil Engineer — $90,330
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician — $79,710
- Surveyor — $79,500