Aviation Engineering Director Salary in the United States

How much does an Aviation Engineering Director make in the United States?

As of February 01, 2026, the average salary for an Aviation Engineering Director in the United States is $200,900 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $97.

However, an Aviation Engineering Director's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $228,601
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $189,600 to $215,400
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $179,312
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2025 Compensation Trend
AI Onboarding
Recruit with AI
View as table View as graph 25% $189,600 10% $179,312 90% $228,601 75% $215,400 $200,900 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Aviation Engineering Director Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $215,400 $17,950 $4,142 $104
Average $200,900 $16,742 $3,863 $97
25th Percentile $189,600 $15,800 $3,646 $91
Check out Aviation Engineering Director Job Openings in the United States
Director Engineering and Construction

Fairfax Water - MERRIFIELD, VA

Sr Director Business Development Army Aviation

AEVEX Aerospace - HUNTSVILLE, AL

Logistics Engineering Director

BAE Systems - HUNTSVILLE, AL

Corporate Software Engineering Director

Northrop Grumman - COLORADO SPRINGS, CO

Search More Aviation Engineering Director Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Aviation Engineering Director Salaries

An Aviation Engineering Director's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Aviation Engineering Director Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Aviation Engineering Director's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Aviation Engineer VI (10-12 years): $199,545
  • Aviation Engineering Supervisor (12+ years): $131,828
  • Aviation Engineering Manager (12+ years): $158,639
  • Aviation Engineering Senior Manager (12+ years): $179,769
  • Aviation Engineering Director (12+ years): $200,874
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Aviation Engineer VI10-12 years$199,545
Aviation Engineering Supervisor12+ years$131,828
Aviation Engineering Manager12+ years$158,639
Aviation Engineering Senior Manager12+ years$179,769
Aviation Engineering Director12+ years$200,874
$199,545 Aviation ...
$131,828 Aviation ...
$158,639 Aviation ...
$179,769 Aviation ...
$200,874 Aviation ...
View as Table
View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

How Do Aviation Engineering Director Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Aviation Engineering Directors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $222,500.
  • California: $221,600.
  • Massachusetts: $218,700.

Top Paying Cities for Aviation Engineering Directors

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $253,400
  • San Francisco: $250,900
  • Oakland: $245,400

Aviation Engineering Director Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Aviation Engineering Director's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on February 01, 2026

Aviation Engineering Director Salary Growth & Career Path

For an Aviation Engineering Director, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Division VP of Engineering role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $235,300 - a projected growth of 17% over your current level.

Salary Trends for Aviation Engineering Director

Salaries for an Aviation Engineering Director can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary from $189,788 in 2023 to around $189,788 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Aviation Engineering Director salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Aviation Engineering Director Over Time

2023
$???
2024
$189,788
2025
$???
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2023
View More
2024 $189,788
2025
View More
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Aviation Engineering Director

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
For Employers

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.

Compensation Planning

Common company salaries for Aviation Engineering Director

Here are companies hiring for Aviation Engineering Director and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Aviation Engineering Director Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Aviation Engineering Director job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst
lower level job