Aerospace Engineer Salary in San Jose, CA
Aerospace Engineers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median $181,630 a year — 35% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $120,387 take-home, or $10,032 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median aerospace engineer salary in San Jose, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$32,325
- Social Security (6.2%)$11,261
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,634
- California income tax$12,662
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$2,361
- Take-home pay$120,387
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Aerospace Engineer pay by experience in San Jose, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $127,490 | $61.29 | $89,121 | $7,427 |
| 25th percentile | $151,740 | $72.95 | $103,125 | $8,594 |
| Median (50th) | $181,630 | $87.32 | $120,387 | $10,032 |
| 75th percentile | $198,470 | $95.42 | $130,978 | $10,915 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $254,880+ | $122.54 | $163,598 | $13,633 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $181,630 buys in San Jose, CA
Prices in San Jose, CA are 10.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 2.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median aerospace engineer's $120,387 take-home pay has the buying power of $109,023 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 Jose, CA has 1.9× 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
San Jose, CA ranks #6 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 |
*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
- Los Angeles, CA — $163,280
- Bakersfield, CA — $128,720
- San Diego, CA — $135,010
Frequently asked questions
How much does a aerospace engineer make in San Jose, CA?
The median aerospace engineer salary in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $181,630 a year, or about $87.32 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $151,740 and $198,470.
What is a aerospace engineer’s take-home pay in San Jose, CA?
On the median $181,630 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $120,387 a year ($10,032 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $15,023 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Jose, CA a good place to work as a aerospace engineer?
Pay here is 35% above the national median of $134,960. Local prices are 10.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $109,023 would in a typical U.S. city. San Jose, CA ranks #6 of 28 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a aerospace engineer afford rent in San Jose, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Jose, CA is $2,957 a month ($3,464 for two bedrooms) — 29% of a median aerospace engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Jose, CA
- Computer Hardware Engineer — $209,860
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $194,370
- Electrical Engineer — $187,060
- Engineers, All Other — $169,650
- Mechanical Engineer — $168,030
- Materials Engineer — $156,730
- Industrial Engineer — $136,950
- Civil Engineer — $130,280
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $129,640
- Electrical and Electronics Drafter — $115,530
- Mechanical Engineering Technologist and Technician — $96,680
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician — $95,280