Aerospace Engineering Salary: Top Paying Countries and Companies

Aerospace engineering revolves mainly around aircraft and spacecraft. It has two more overlapping branches: aeronautical and astronautical engineering. Avionic engineering is also a subfield that deals with the electronics side of aerospace engineering.

Sometimes, people may refer to this field as rocket science. Creating these vehicles involves many different types of engineering and technology, such as aerodynamics (how air moves around the vehicle), propulsion (how the vehicle is powered), avionics (the electronic systems), materials science (the study of materials used in the vehicles), structural analysis (studying how the vehicle's structure will hold up), and manufacturing (the process of making the vehicles).

Aerospace engineering combines all these technologies. Because it is so complex and involves many different skills, it is usually executed by teams of engineers who specialise in one of these areas.

Knowing what factors influence salaries in aerospace engineering is crucial to understanding its scope in the job market. Although this field of study has diverse roles, you must consider education, experience, location, and industrial demands to acknowledge its scope better.

• Education and qualifications required

You must have a strong educational foundation to enhance your earning potential. So, you have to get an undergraduate degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline. Such courses are typically based on aerodynamics, aircraft design, propulsion systems, and materials science.

• Experience and skill level

Once you get into a company for job prospects or for internships, your skills and pay increase as your experience and skillset grow. Companies, MNCs, and large firms offer good salary packages to people with higher experience and skillsets. And that’s how you can take on more duties and often contributes to difficult projects. 

• Geographic location

Aerospace Engineering jobs and their scope also depend on where you are pursuing your education and where you are looking to apply your skills. Some regions have well-established space organisations that can provide numerous job opportunities and competitive salaries. 

However, factors such as living expenses, demand for aerospace talent, and industry concentration lead to salary disparities across locations.

Also, read: Best 10 High Paying Jobs in the World 

Knowing the earning potential and scope of aerospace engineering is important before pursuing the course.

In India, a fresher in aerospace engineering can earn up to INR 3 to 5 lakhs, while in developed countries like the USA, China, UK, or UAE, one can earn much better than here. But before you make up your mind, you must understand that living standards, GDP, and the economy also make differences.

Now that you know that the salaries of aerospace engineers in India depend on various factors like work experience, employer, and job location. In addition to their salary compensation, aerospace engineers working in government organisations get other perks and benefits, like transportation allowance and house allowance.

The table below shows a range of aerospace engineering salaries in India based on experience:

Discovering the countries where aerospace engineers earn the highest salaries globally is crucial for making educational and career decisions. The table below lists the top-paying countries.

Note: These are the average idea of aerospace engineering salaries, but the aerospace engineering starting salary varies depending on the country you choose to study.

Before making your career decision, you must also understand that aerospace engineering is a vast field with diverse specialisations. Choosing the right specialisation is also critical for your good earning potential, so it’s a must to get an idea of each of its salaries.

Below is a table explaining the salaries of different specialisations in aerospace engineering.

According to Payscale, this is just the average aerospace engineer salary range for various specialisations. Employers also offer cash bonuses and other benefits as compensation for their engineers.

Learned about the specialisations? You must have understood which specialisation has better scope. Well, now the question arises - is that specialisation available in leading companies? And if so, how much are they paying for that course?

The information in the table below will give you all your answers, so delve deeper into the high-paying companies with competitive salaries.

Getting a high-paying job also indirectly depends on the university from which you are pursuing your graduation. So, you must understand the top universities for aerospace engineering to get a good salary package in this field of study.

Understanding top-notch universities for aerospace engineering is only enough if you study how you should prepare and get ready to take admission to these world-class universities.

Aerospace engineering universities can give you the best education you should for that field of study, but you must fulfil their admission criteria and have a solid academic background to secure your seats.

Maths and Science are important subjects, so you must have Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics in class 12th.

• Maintain good scores in 10th and 12th school examinations, especially in PCM.

• Take the SAT/ ACT exam and achieve good scores to enrol in B.Tech in Aerospace Engineering programs offered by prestigious universities around the world.

• Obtain a good band score in English proficiency tests (TOEFL, IELTS, and Duolingo).

To conclude, aerospace engineering is a field that includes aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles, with two overlapping branches—aeronautical and astronautical engineering. Understanding its salaries was crucial, as they depend on factors like education, experience, location, and industrial demands.

We also briefly reviewed the top-paying countries and companies, along with the specialisations and salaries. We hope we have provided all the information concerning aerospace engineering salary, but if you still need further clarification, contact our expert counsellors at any Meridean Overseas Education Consultants (MOEC) branch.

You can also take free online counselling through our website. Our expert education counsellors will provide the best guidance and support for the admission and visa process. For more information or any queries, mail us at application02@meridean.org or call us at our toll-free no. 1800-1230-00011. 

Question. Which country pays the highest salary to aerospace engineers?

Answer: According to Payscale, Switzerland and the United States of America pay the highest salaries to aerospace engineers, ranging from around 75 lakhs to 90 lakhs per annum. 

Question. Which company pays aerospace engineers the most?

Answer: SpaceX and Airbus Defence and Space are some of the companies with the highest pay in aerospace engineering. There are others too, like Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Technologies. 

Question. What is the highest salary for an Aerospace Engineer at NASA?

Answer: NASA's highest-paying job is Aerospace Engineer, with the highest salary for aerospace engineer of ₹118.5 lakhs per year. The top 10% of employees make more than ₹176 lakhs annually.

Question. What are the top 5 aerospace companies?

Answer: Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Airbus, Northrop Grumman, and GE Aerospace are the top 5 companies in the world that pay the highest salaries to aerospace engineers. 

Question. Is Aerospace Engineer on demand?

Answer: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs for aerospace engineers is expected to grow 6% between 2024 and 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.

Question. Is it hard to study aerospace?

Answer: Yes, aerospace engineering is considered a difficult field of study. Aerodynamics, propulsion, materials science, and structural design are all complicated issues. You will require a solid foundation in mathematics and physics, as well as analytical and problem-solving abilities.

Question. Which degree is best for aerospace?

Answer: If you've always been captivated by aeroplanes and rockets and how they seem to soar across the sky so effortlessly, you should pursue a Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering. 

Question. How much does it cost to study Aerospace Engineering in the USA?

Answer: Aerospace engineering fees in the United States vary substantially depending on the program and university. Tuition expenses for a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering range from $27,000 to $65,000 per year. The cost of a master's degree in aerospace engineering ranges from $23,500 to $55,754.

Question. Which country is the cheapest for aerospace engineering?

Answer: When compared to other countries, Germany has inexpensive tuition fees for international students who wish to study aerospace engineering. This, combined with the high quality of education, is one of the reasons why students should choose to study in Germany.

Question. What is the minimum qualification for aerospace engineering?

Answer: The minimum eligibility criteria for pursuing a Bachelor's in Aerospace Engineering Course include passing or appearing in class 12th with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (PCM) or Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (PCB). One must have taken the SAT/ACT exam to get admission to top-notch universities abroad for aerospace engineering.