Aerospace Engineer Salary in San Diego, CA
Aerospace Engineers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $135,010 a year — 0% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $93,464 take-home, or $7,789 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median aerospace engineer salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$21,136
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,371
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,958
- California income tax$8,326
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,755
- Take-home pay$93,464
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Aerospace Engineer pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $96,650 | $46.47 | $70,808 | $5,901 |
| 25th percentile | $114,730 | $55.16 | $81,611 | $6,801 |
| Median (50th) | $135,010 | $64.91 | $93,464 | $7,789 |
| 75th percentile | $164,110 | $78.90 | $110,269 | $9,189 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $209,080 | $100.52 | $137,682 | $11,473 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $135,010 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median aerospace engineer's $93,464 take-home pay has the buying power of $83,534 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
San Diego, CA has 1.2× 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
San Diego, CA ranks #26 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 |
| 26 | San Diego, CA | $135,010 | $93,464 | $83,534 |
*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 California
- San Francisco, CA — $191,260
- San Jose, CA — $181,630
- Los Angeles, CA — $163,280
- Bakersfield, CA — $128,720
Frequently asked questions
How much does a aerospace engineer make in San Diego, CA?
The median aerospace engineer salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $135,010 a year, or about $64.91 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $114,730 and $164,110.
What is a aerospace engineer’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $135,010 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $93,464 a year ($7,789 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $10,081 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a aerospace engineer?
Pay here is 0% above the national median of $134,960. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $83,534 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #26 of 28 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a aerospace engineer afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 32% of a median aerospace engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Diego, CA
- Computer Hardware Engineer — $174,440
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $156,480
- Engineers, All Other — $132,790
- Electrical Engineer — $127,270
- Mechanical Engineer — $121,750
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $120,040
- Environmental Engineer — $119,390
- Industrial Engineer — $119,050
- Civil Engineer — $108,900
- Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other — $92,480
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician — $91,620
- Civil Engineering Technologist and Technician — $80,840