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

$126,293/yr median(+$23,392 · 22.7% more)

Mechanical Engineer

Median$102,901
Mean$107,612
10th %ile$69,205
25th %ile$83,337
75th %ile$127,130
90th %ile$150,144
Employed286K+
Higher pay

Aerospace Engineer

Median$126,293
Mean$131,559
10th %ile$85,586
25th %ile$102,100
75th %ile$156,298
90th %ile$184,321
Employed68K+

Salary Distribution Comparison

Mechanical Engineer

Mechanical Engineer salary percentiles
PercentileAnnual Salary
10th percentile$69,205
25th percentile$83,337
Median (50th percentile)$102,901
75th percentile$127,130
90th percentile$150,144

Aerospace Engineer

Aerospace Engineer salary percentiles
PercentileAnnual Salary
10th percentile$85,586
25th percentile$102,100
Median (50th percentile)$126,293
75th percentile$156,298
90th percentile$184,321

Top Paying States

Mechanical Engineer

#StateMedian
1New Mexico$141,490
2District of Columbia$130,000
3Alaska$129,990
4California$126,370
5Massachusetts$122,670

Aerospace Engineer

#StateMedian
1District of Columbia$175,350
2Washington$158,600
3Maryland$158,220
4Massachusetts$152,210
5Colorado$151,570

Frequently Asked Questions

Which pays more, Mechanical Engineer or Aerospace Engineer?
Aerospace Engineer pays more with a median salary of $126,293/year, which is 22.7% more than Mechanical Engineer at $102,901/year.
What is the salary difference between Mechanical Engineer and Aerospace Engineer?
The median salary difference is $23,392/year (22.7%).

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