Side-by-side distribution
Aerospace Engineer
$132,936
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 67%
- Live roles
- 200
Structural Engineer
$125,977
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 41.6%
- Live roles
- 823
Highest-paying jobs
Principal Airframe Engineer - IPT Lead [AERO]
Senior Aerospace Software Engineer
Staff Engineer Aeronautical (level 5)
Staff Aeronautical Engineer- Test & Evaluation
Staff Aeronautical Engineer (VMS & GNC)
Staff Engineer Aeronautical
Astrodynamics Aerospace Engineer, Lead
Astrodynamics Aerospace Engineer, Lead
Structures Engineer, Aerospace & Defense (All Levels)
Sentinel CFD Staff Aeronautical Engineer - 20341
Highest-paying jobs
Project Manager II - Structural Engineer Buildings
Resident Structural Engineer (PHX)
Principal Structural Design Engineer - Data Center Infrastructure
Structural Engineer, Thermofluids
Senior Spacecraft Structural Analysis Engineer II - TS/SCI Clearance
Staff Structural Engineer
Staff Structural Engineer
Senior Principal Engineer, Structural Engineering
Project Manager I - Structural Engineer Buildings
Principal Structural Engineer - Buildings
Top companies hiring
| Company | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
|
Northrop Grumman
|
$142,500 | 41 |
|
Blue Origin
|
$125,894 | 12 |
Xometry
|
$72,375 | 9 |
| BO Boeing | $149,000 | 6 |
| GV GE Vernova | $90,000 | 6 |
|
Booz Allen Hamilton
|
$142,450 | 5 |
Leidos
|
$122,275 | 5 |
TSC
|
$121,000 | 5 |
Top companies hiring
| Company | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
|
Northrop Grumman
|
$123,000 | 44 |
|
Blue Origin
|
$145,228 | 29 |
| PA Parsons | $121,550 | 25 |
Barr Engineering
|
$95,903 | 18 |
AtkinsRéalis
|
$120,000 | 12 |
|
HNTB
|
$169,823 | 9 |
STV
|
$153,681 | 9 |
| WJ Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates | $135,400 | 9 |
Aerospace Engineer salary by location
| Location | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $135,000 | 9 |
| Seattle | $133,874 | 12 |
| Denver | $109,121 | 11 |
Structural Engineer salary by location
| Location | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $185,000 | 7 |
| Austin | $185,000 | 10 |
| New York | $154,300 | 21 |
| Los Angeles | $154,200 | 25 |
| Seattle | $145,228 | 40 |
| Denver | $117,020 | 22 |
| Boston | $112,331 | 6 |
| Chicago | $103,113 | 11 |
| Atlanta | $103,113 | 5 |
| Toronto | $92,900 | 7 |
Aerospace Engineer vs Structural Engineer: which pays more?
The median for Aerospace Engineer is $132,936 per year (typically $114,700–$151,981), versus $125,977 for Structural Engineer ($103,113–$149,250). That puts Aerospace Engineer about 6% ahead at the median.
Both figures are computed live from active listings on JobsRadar and normalized to annualized USD, so Aerospace Engineer and Structural Engineer are compared on equal terms regardless of the currency each role was originally posted in. Only roles that publish a salary range feed the medians; numbers refresh every few hours as new roles post and older ones close, so this comparison reflects the market right now rather than a fixed survey. Use it as a directional benchmark when weighing one path against the other.