SalaryData

Mechanical Engineer vs Aerospace Engineer Salary (2026)

Side-by-side salary comparison based on BLS OES data. Updated 2026.

Higher paying occupation

Aerospace Engineer

$130,131/yr median(+$24,715 · 23.4% more)

Mechanical Engineer

Median$105,416
Mean$110,678
10th %ile$72,421
25th %ile$86,092
75th %ile$130,180
90th %ile$156,351
Employed291K+
Higher pay

Aerospace Engineer

Median$130,131
Mean$134,024
10th %ile$87,598
25th %ile$103,253
75th %ile$159,750
90th %ile$187,400
Employed67K+

Salary Distribution Comparison

Mechanical Engineer

Mechanical Engineer salary percentiles
PercentileAnnual Salary
10th percentile$72,421
25th percentile$86,092
Median (50th percentile)$105,416
75th percentile$130,180
90th percentile$156,351

Aerospace Engineer

Aerospace Engineer salary percentiles
PercentileAnnual Salary
10th percentile$87,598
25th percentile$103,253
Median (50th percentile)$130,131
75th percentile$159,750
90th percentile$187,400

Top Paying States

Mechanical Engineer

#StateMedian
1New Mexico$157,710
2District of Columbia$133,300
3California$130,900
4Delaware$125,130
5Colorado$124,430

Aerospace Engineer

#StateMedian
1Minnesota$159,060
2Washington$158,370
3California$157,620
4District of Columbia$157,600
5Maryland$156,750

Frequently Asked Questions

Which pays more, Mechanical Engineer or Aerospace Engineer?
Aerospace Engineer pays more with a median salary of $130,131/year, which is 23.4% more than Mechanical Engineer at $105,416/year.
What is the salary difference between Mechanical Engineer and Aerospace Engineer?
The median salary difference is $24,715/year (23.4%).

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