Aircraft Structural Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does an Aircraft Structural Engineer make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Aircraft Structural Engineer in the United States is $107,485 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $52.

However, an Aircraft Structural Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $123,900
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $94,992 to $116,077
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $83,618

Key Factors That Influence Aircraft Structural Engineer Salaries

An Aircraft Structural Engineer'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.

How Experience Level Affects Aircraft Structural Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Aircraft Structural Engineer'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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $98,371
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $110,087
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $140,748
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $155,467
  • Expert (over 8 years): $191,085
Levels Salary
Geophysic... Level Aircraft Structural Engineer$98,371
Aircraft ... Level Aircraft Structural Engineer$110,087
Geophysic... Level Aircraft Structural Engineer$140,748
Geophysic... Level Aircraft Structural Engineer$155,467
Geophysic... Level Aircraft Structural Engineer$191,085

How Do Aircraft Structural Engineer 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 Aircraft Structural Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $119,007.
  • California: $118,556.
  • Massachusetts: $116,976.

Top Paying Cities for Aircraft Structural Engineers

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: $135,571
  • San Francisco: $134,086
  • Oakland: $131,261

What Skills Can Increase an Aircraft Structural Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 4.04% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Data Processing (Mentioned in 4.26% Job Postings): Data processing is the collection and manipulation of data to produce meaningful information. Data processing is a form of information processing, which is the modification of information in any manner detectable by an observer.
  • Programming Language (Mentioned in 2.91% Job Postings): Is any set of rules that converts strings, or graphical program elements in the case of visual programming languages, to various kinds of machine code output. It is a kind of computer language used in computer programming to implement algorithms.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 4.04%
Data Processing 4.26%
Programming Language 2.91%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Aircraft Structural Engineer's salary.

  • Partnering: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Programming Language: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Artificial Intelligence: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Partnering $118,234
10%
Programming Language $117,159
9%
Artificial Intelligence $115,009
7%

How Education impacts an Aircraft Structural Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Aircraft Structural Engineers 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 Aircraft Structural Engineer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $100,673 and $109,843).

Aircraft Structural Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Aircraft Structural Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 28.6%
High School 33.3%
Associates 38.1%
Bachelors 28.6%
Masters 33.3%
Doctorate 38.1%

Aircraft Structural Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Aircraft Structural Engineer'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 September 01, 2026
$94,992
Average $107,485/year
$116,077
$7,916
Average $8,957/month
$9,673
$1,827
Average $2,067/week
$2,232
$46
Average $52/hour
$56
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $116,077 $9,673 $2,232 $56
Average $107,485 $8,957 $2,067 $52
25th Percentile $94,992 $7,916 $1,827 $46

Most common benefits for Aircraft Structural Engineer

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

Common company salaries for Aircraft Structural Engineer

Here are companies hiring for Aircraft Structural Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.

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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.

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