Aerospace Engineer Salary in Seattle, WA
Aerospace Engineers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median $163,580 a year — 21% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $123,073 take-home, or $10,256 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median aerospace engineer salary in Seattle, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$27,993
- Social Security (6.2%)$10,142
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,372
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$123,073
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
Aerospace Engineer pay by experience in Seattle, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $112,650 | $54.16 | $88,079 | $7,340 |
| 25th percentile | $131,910 | $63.42 | $101,426 | $8,452 |
| Median (50th) | $163,580 | $78.64 | $123,073 | $10,256 |
| 75th percentile | $181,520 | $87.27 | $135,335 | $11,278 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $207,710 | $99.86 | $154,605 | $12,884 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $163,580 buys in Seattle, WA
Prices in Seattle, WA are 11.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median aerospace engineer's $123,073 take-home pay has the buying power of $110,744 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Seattle, WA has 6.0× 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
Seattle, WA ranks #4 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 →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a aerospace engineer make in Seattle, WA?
The median aerospace engineer salary in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $163,580 a year, or about $78.64 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $131,910 and $181,520.
What is a aerospace engineer’s take-home pay in Seattle, WA?
On the median $163,580 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $123,073 a year ($10,256 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Seattle, WA a good place to work as a aerospace engineer?
Pay here is 21% above the national median of $134,960. Local prices are 11.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $110,744 would in a typical U.S. city. Seattle, WA ranks #4 of 28 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a aerospace engineer afford rent in Seattle, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Seattle, WA is $2,022 a month ($2,379 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 Seattle, WA
- Computer Hardware Engineer — $169,120
- Materials Engineer — $156,130
- Electrical Engineer — $140,210
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $138,890
- Engineers, All Other — $137,430
- Industrial Engineer — $131,210
- Environmental Engineer — $128,410
- Mechanical Engineer — $126,590
- Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologist and Technician — $125,160
- Civil Engineer — $116,480
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $100,610
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician — $98,180