As of May 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for an Aerospace Engineer III in the United States is $53, which translates to an annual salary of about $110,753.
However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:
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An Aerospace Engineer III'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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of an Aerospace Engineer III'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:
| Job Role | Years of Experience | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Aerospace Engineer I | 0-2 years | $79,669 |
| Aerospace Engineer II | 2-4 years | $95,651 |
| Aerospace Engineer III | 4-7 years | $110,753 |
| Aerospace Engineer IV | 7+ years | $140,144 |
| Aerospace Engineer V | 7-10 years | $161,838 |
What Am I Worth?
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 Aerospace Engineer IIIs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Demanded Skills for the Role:
| Skills | Demand Percentage |
|---|---|
| Analysis | 13.86% |
| System Integration | 2.62% |
| Software Development | 2.25% |
| Skill | Salary | Salary % Increase |
|---|---|---|
|
Strategic Thinking
|
$122,936 |
11%
|
|
Water Treatment
|
$119,613 |
8%
|
|
Resilience
|
$118,506 |
7%
|
|
Collaborating with Others
|
$117,398 |
6%
|
|
System Design
|
$116,291 |
5%
|
|
Decision Making
|
$115,183 |
4%
|
Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Aerospace Engineer IIIs enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.
According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Aerospace Engineer III with a Bachelor's Degree is between $113,828 and $119,335).
Aerospace Engineer III Salaries by Degree Level
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
|---|---|
| No Diploma | 0.7% |
| High School | 2.9% |
| Associates | 2.7% |
| Bachelors | 31.8% |
| Masters | 49.5% |
| Doctorate | 12.4% |
Understanding how an Aerospace Engineer III'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 May 01, 2026Salaries for an Aerospace Engineer III can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $117,909 in 2023 to around $116,792 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Aerospace Engineer III salary trends, .
| Year | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 2022 |
View More
|
| 2023 | $117,909 |
| 2024 | $118,066 |
| 2025 | $116,792 |
| 2026 |
View More
|
| 2027 |
View More
|
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Researches and develops structural engineering specifications for aerospace products, parts, or associated operations to improve the efficiency and reliability of aerospace systems. Analyzes results of stress tests on various craft and missile parts to determine material durability and tolerances. Oversees flight tests of prototypes and analyzes resulting data to validate flight characteristics and identify necessary improvements. Conducts calculations and utilizes simulations to evaluate aerodynamics, structural integrity, propulsion efficiency, and the effect on fuel consumption of new or existing materials. Utilizes CAE, 3-D, and digital modeling to create detailed plans and specifications to support production. Assists quality assurance and purchasing teams with the evaluation of new or existing suppliers, products and materials, or technologies. Understands and complies with all federal regulatory requirements and specifications. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a manager. Work is generally independent and collaborative in nature. Contributes to moderately complex aspects of a project. Typically requires 4-7 years of related experience.
Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.
Analysis: Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
System Integration: The process of creating a complex information system that may include designing or building a customized architecture or application, integrating it with new or existing hardware, packaged and custom software, and communications.
Software Development: Software development is the process of conceiving, specifying, designing, programming, documenting, testing, and bug fixing involved in creating and maintaining applications, frameworks, or other software components. Software development is a process of writing and maintaining the source code, but in a broader sense, it includes all that is involved between the conception of the desired software through to the final manifestation of the software, sometimes in a planned and structured process. Therefore, software development may include research, new development, prototyping, modification, reuse, re-engineering, maintenance, or any other activities that result in software products. Software can be developed for a variety of purposes, the three most common being to meet specific needs of a specific client/business (the case with custom software), to meet a perceived need of some set of potential users (the case with commercial and open source software), or for personal use (e.g. a scientist may write software to automate a mundane task). Embedded software development, that is, the development of embedded software, such as used for controlling consumer products, requires the development process to be integrated with the development of the controlled physical product. System software underlies applications and the programming process itself, and is often developed separately.
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
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