isworthit

Is Aerospace Engineering a Good Career?

2026 data · Last updated 2026-07-05

The verdict

Yes — aerospace engineering pays well from a bachelor's degree, with faster-than-average growth driven by space, defense, and aviation. It's a rigorous degree with geographically concentrated jobs, but a strong, prestigious choice for the technically inclined.

The numbers behind the verdict

The pay and outlook that back up the call above — real BLS figures, not a salary table to browse.

Median salary
$134,960/yr
Job growth
+6.1% (2024-2034, faster than average)
Cost to enter
$39,000

bachelor's degree (4 yr public in-state)

Payback period
~0.3 yr of median pay to recoup tuition
More BLS detail (pay range, employment, entry education)
Typical pay range (25th–75th pct)
$106,110 – $169,690
People employed (U.S.)
67,710
Avg. annual openings
~4,500
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree

Salary: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS). Growth: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034. Cost & payback estimated from NCES tuition (AY2022–23); payback is a simplified tuition-to-median-pay proxy and excludes aid and opportunity cost.

Pay varies by state: Aerospace Engineering earns from $88,400 in Wisconsin to $159,060 in Minnesota. See your state — adjusted for cost of living & tax.

Pros & cons

Pros

  • Strong pay from a bachelor's degree
  • Faster-than-average projected growth (space, defense)
  • Prestigious, cutting-edge work
  • Skills transfer to broader engineering
  • Riding the commercial-space boom

Cons

  • Rigorous, math- and physics-heavy degree
  • Jobs concentrated in specific regions
  • Some roles require security clearances/citizenship
  • Cyclical with defense and aerospace budgets
  • On-site work — limited remote options

Who it's for

✓ A good fit if…

  • Strong math/physics students
  • People passionate about aviation or space
  • Those willing to relocate to industry hubs

✗ Probably not if…

  • People needing geographic flexibility
  • Those who dislike heavy math and physics

What people are actually asking

Real Reddit discussions on whether Aerospace Engineering is worth it — titles link to the original threads.

FAQ

Is aerospace engineering a good career?

Yes — it pays well from a bachelor's degree with faster-than-average growth from space, defense, and aviation. It's a rigorous degree and jobs are geographically concentrated, but it's a strong, prestigious choice for the technically inclined.

How much does an aerospace engineer make?

The median annual wage is $134,960 (BLS OEWS, May 2024 release), with the middle 50% earning between $106,110 and $169,690.

What's the job outlook for an aerospace engineer?

BLS projects +6.1% (2024-2034, faster than average) in employment from 2024 to 2034, with about 5k openings per year on average.

Aerospace Engineering salary by state

Tap a state for its median pay adjusted for cost of living and state income tax — 41 states with BLS data, highest first.

Sources