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Flight Control Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does a Flight Control Engineer make in the United States?

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for a Flight Control Engineer in the United States is $79,114 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $38.

However, a Flight Control Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $89,133
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $72,513 to $84,358
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $66,503
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Flight Control Engineer Salaries

A Flight Control 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 Flight Control Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Flight Control 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): $79,572
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $97,954
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $110,617
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $140,018
  • Expert (over 8 years): $161,653
Levels Salary
Flight Co... Level Flight Control Engineer$79,572
Aerospace... Level Flight Control Engineer$97,954
Aerospace... Level Flight Control Engineer$110,617
Aerospace... Level Flight Control Engineer$140,018
Aerospace... Level Flight Control Engineer$161,653
View as Graph

How Do Flight Control 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 Flight Control Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $87,595.
  • California: $87,263.
  • Massachusetts: $86,100.

Top Paying Cities for Flight Control 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: $99,786
  • San Francisco: $98,694
  • Oakland: $96,614

What Skills Can Increase a Flight Control Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 21.59% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Technical Support (Mentioned in 2.65% Job Postings): Offering hands-on assistance and solutions to end-users in addressing and troubleshooting technical issues.
  • Agile (Mentioned in 1.89% Job Postings): Agile is a development process where feedback is continuously gathered from users to create the best user experience.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 21.59%
Technical Support 2.65%
Agile 1.89%
See More Skills

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 a Flight Control Engineer's salary.

  • Strategic Thinking: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Resilience: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Strategic Thinking $89,399
13%
Consulting $89,399
13%
Resilience $88,608
12%
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Flight Control Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Flight Control Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 65% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Flight Control Engineer positions in Transportation or MFG Nondurable typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Flight Control Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Flight Control Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$102,848$49.030%
Aerospace & Defense$94,937$46.020%
Energy & Utilities$87,025$42.010%
MFG Durable$83,070$40.05%

How Education impacts a Flight Control Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Flight Control 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 a Flight Control Engineer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $82,310 and $85,973).

Flight Control Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Flight Control Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.6%
High School 2.4%
Associates 3.3%
Bachelors 53.7%
Masters 31.8%
Doctorate 8.2%
View as Graph

Flight Control Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Flight Control 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 October 01, 2026
$72,513
Average $79,114/year
$84,358
$6,043
Average $6,593/month
$7,030
$1,394
Average $1,521/week
$1,622
$35
Average $38/hour
$41
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $84,358 $7,030 $1,622 $41
Average $79,114 $6,593 $1,521 $38
25th Percentile $72,513 $6,043 $1,394 $35

Most common benefits for Flight Control Engineer

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

Common company salaries for Flight Control Engineer

Here are companies hiring for Flight Control Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Flight Control Engineer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Flight Control Engineer?

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Flight Control Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.

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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