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As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Aircraft Design Engineer in California is $124,033 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $60.
However, an Aircraft Design Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
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Aircraft Design Engineer Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $131,950 | $10,996 | $2,537 | $63 |
| Average | $124,033 | $10,336 | $2,385 | $60 |
| 25th Percentile | $115,903 | $9,659 | $2,229 | $56 |
TSMG - Los Angeles, CA
Sandis - Roseville, CA
Rock West Composites - San Diego, CA
Cal Solar Inc - San Diego, CA
An Aircraft Design 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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of an Aircraft Design 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:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Aerospace... Level Aircraft Design Engineer | $88,804 |
| Aerospace... Level Aircraft Design Engineer | $106,632 |
| Aircraft ... Level Aircraft Design Engineer | $123,451 |
| Aerospace... Level Aircraft Design Engineer | $156,242 |
| Aerospace... Level Aircraft Design Engineer | $180,402 |
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 Aircraft Design Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
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:
For Aircraft Design Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 70% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 35% above the average. In contrast, Aircraft Design Engineer positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Aircraft Design Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software & Networking | $167,445 | $81.0 | 35% |
| Energy & Utilities | $155,042 | $75.0 | 25% |
| Aerospace & Defense | $142,638 | $69.0 | 15% |
| MFG Durable | $130,235 | $63.0 | 5% |
Understanding how an Aircraft Design 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.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $131,950 | $10,996 | $2,537 | $63 |
| Average | $124,033 | $10,336 | $2,385 | $60 |
| 25th Percentile | $115,903 | $9,659 | $2,229 | $56 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Aircraft Design Engineer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Innogrit
San Jose, CA
Innogrit | San Jose, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Job description. Contribute to micro-architecture designs for state-of-the-art high-speed low-power digital IPs. Implemen... more
7 Days Ago
Sandis
Oakland, CA
Sandis | Oakland, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Sandis is currently looking for a Design Engineer to join our team in Oakland, CA. Our ideal candidate has experience wit... more
8 Days Ago
Lean In
San Francisco, CA
Lean In | San Francisco, CA
Job Description. Job Description. About Lean In & The Sandberg Goldberg Bernthal Family Foundation. The Sandberg Goldberg Bernthal Family Foundation (SGBFF... more
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Alphatec Spine
Carlsbad, CA
Alphatec Spine | Carlsbad, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Under routine supervision, primarily responsible for the enhancement of existing products on our sustaining team. Involve... more
8 Days Ago
Metriport
San Francisco, CA
Metriport | San Francisco, CA
Job Description. Job Description. About Us. Medical data exchange is one of the biggest unsolved problems in US healthcare. If you've spent any real time i... more
9 Days Ago
Sandis
Santa Cruz, CA
Sandis | Santa Cruz, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Sandis is currently looking for a Design Engineer to join our growing team in Santa Cruz, CA. Our ideal candidate has exp... more
9 Days Ago
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