Aerospace AI Engineer Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$135,000
estimated national base salary
$100,000 to $180,000. Last updated September 2026.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $134,960 for Aerospace Engineers (SOC 17-2011) across the United States, based on 67,710 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$86,700
25th percentile
$106,110
Median
$134,960
75th percentile
$169,690
90th percentile
$205,890
Workers surveyed
67,710
What BLS published in each release
May 2024 release
$134,830
May 2025 release
$134,960
These are two separate published estimates, not a time series. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not encourage the use of OEWS data for time-series analysis. Differences between releases reflect changes in occupational classification, survey methodology, and the three-year pooled sample as well as any change in pay, so the two figures should not be read as a rate of wage growth.
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Aerospace Engineers (SOC 17-2011) rather than Aerospace AI Engineer specifically. The national range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 17-2011Highest Paying
$184,000
San Jose, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$141,000
Baltimore, MD
Lowest Paying
$102,000
Jackson, MS
The salary figures on this page are computed estimates, not observed wages. Each one is a national role baseline scaled by a Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity cost-of-living multiplier (2025 index) and rounded to the nearest $1,000. No published wage percentile is consulted and no wage survey response enters the calculation, so an Orbyt estimate must not be cited as a Bureau of Labor Statistics figure or as measured pay. The published wage data Orbyt holds is Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and Department of Labor H-1B Labor Condition Application filings, which record a filed minimum visa base wage rather than market pay. Where BLS publishes a wage for the occupation a role maps to, it is shown on that role's page as a separate benchmark, labelled with its occupation code, metro area and the number of employed workers it covers. Last updated September 2026. This role maps to BLS occupation code 17-2011. Full methodology.
Orbyt estimates the average Aerospace AI Engineer salary in the United States at $135,000 in 2026, within a range of $100,000 to $180,000. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page. San Jose is the highest of the 81 cities at $184,000, while Baltimore offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Compensation reflects specialization depth, production deployment scale, and the maturity of the AI systems being built.
Aerospace AI Engineer salary by city.
Skills that increase Aerospace AI Engineer pay.
The premiums below are Orbyt's modelled scenarios for Aerospace AI Engineers, not effects measured from job postings: each is a fixed percentage applied to the estimated base. At the top premium that works out to $18,900 a year.
≈ +$18,900 per year
≈ +$17,550 per year
≈ +$16,200 per year
≈ +$14,850 per year
≈ +$13,500 per year
≈ +$13,500 per year
≈ +$13,500 per year
≈ +$12,150 per year
What you should know.
Compensation reflects specialization depth, production deployment scale, and the maturity of the AI systems being built. Aerospace AI Engineers who have shipped models serving millions of users command the highest premiums. Employer type matters significantly: AI labs and foundation model companies pay 20% to 40% more than enterprises adopting AI for internal use.
Entry-level Aerospace AI Engineers start near $168,000. Mid-career professionals with three to five years of experience reach $215,000 to $280,000. Senior-level roles command $275,000 to $333,000. Management transitions to director-level positions offer $355,000 and above.
Equity at top-tier companies adds 30% to 60% above base salary. Annual bonuses of 15% to 25% are standard. Signing bonuses of $25,000 to $75,000 are common when changing roles. Refresher equity grants vest annually. Relocation packages and executive benefits like financial planning are typical.
Total compensation breakdown.
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote Aerospace AI Engineers typically earn $126,000 (7% less than on-site). This reflects location-adjusted pay policies at companies using geographic salary bands. Some companies pay flat national rates regardless of location.
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Common questions about Aerospace AI Engineer pay.
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