Aerospace Engineering Salary in Illinois: Is It a Good Career?

Illinois · 2026 BLS salary data

Aerospace Engineering pay in Illinois

The median wage is $108,940/yr — 19% below the national median. Among U.S. states, Illinoisranks #35 of 41 states by median pay.

The numbers in Illinois

Real BLS state-level figures for Aerospace Engineering.

Median salary: $108,940/yr
Pay range (25th–75th): $98,300 – $153,800
National median: $134,960/yr
Employed in Illinois: 200

Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS), state estimates, May 2025 release.

What that pay is really worth in Illinois

Salary alone can mislead — Illinois costs about the U.S. average. Here's the median adjusted for local prices (real purchasing power).

Cost of living (US=100): 100
Nominal median: $108,940
Adjusted for cost of living: ≈ $108,940
State income tax: Up to 4.95%

Illinois's high pay is offset by cost of living — adjusted for prices it ranks #37 of 41, down from #35 on raw salary.

Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, US=100), 2024. Adjusted pay = nominal median ÷ (RPP/100) — purchasing power vs the U.S. average. State income tax = top marginal rate on wage income (Tax Foundation, 2025); your effective rate is lower and depends on income and deductions.

FAQ

How much do aerospace engineering professionals make in Illinois?

The median annual wage is $108,940 (BLS OEWS, state estimates), with the middle 50% earning between $98,300 and $153,800. That's 19% below the national median.

Is Illinois a good state for aerospace engineering?

By raw pay, Illinois ranks #35 of 41 states by median pay. Adjusted for cost of living (Illinois costs about the U.S. average), that median is worth about $108,940. Illinois's high pay is offset by cost of living — adjusted for prices it ranks #37 of 41, down from #35 on raw salary.

Are aerospace engineering professionals in demand in Illinois?

About 200 people work in this field in Illinois (BLS OEWS). Nationally, BLS projects +6.1% employment growth for this field from 2024 to 2034.

The verdict, pros, and cons below apply to Aerospace Engineering nationally — Illinois pay is 19% below the national median. See the full Aerospace Engineering career guide →

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.

Worth it If you're strong in math/physics and love aircraft or spacecraft
Worth it If you're open to relocating to aerospace/defense hubs
Not worth it If you want geographic flexibility or an easy degree

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.