Aerospace Engineers pay range in San Francisco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $117,060 a year or less, while the top 10% make $273,230 or more. The middle half of aerospace engineers in San Francisco earn between $147,970 and $206,930.
- $117K10th
- $148K25th
- $191KMedian
- $207K75th
- $273K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $183,920 | $15,327 | $88.42 |
| Median | $191,260 | $15,938 | $91.95 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $147,970 | $12,331 | $71.14 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $206,930 | $17,244 | $99.49 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Aerospace Engineers pay in San Francisco vs. California and the U.S.
Aerospace engineers in San Francisco earn 15% more than the California average ($159,960) and 29% more than the U.S. average ($142,060). At the median the gap is +42% against the U.S. median of $134,960.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $183,920 | $191,260 | $117,060 | $273,230 | 510 |
| California | $159,960 | $157,620 | $104,370 | $220,670 | 9,170 |
| United States | $142,060 | $134,960 | $86,700 | $205,890 | 67,710 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Aerospace Engineers salary after taxes in San Francisco
On the average salary of $183,920, a single filer in San Francisco takes home about $123,963 a year, or $10,330 a month and $4,768 every two weeks. Taxes take 33% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Francisco a good place for aerospace engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Francisco area are 16% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 115.6), so the average $183,920 buys what about $159,082 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.6 times the median wage of all jobs in San Francisco ($74,260). A typical home costs $1,149,215, or 6.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Aerospace Engineers salary in other California cities
San Francisco ranks 1st of 10 California metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- San Francisco$183,920
- San Jose$181,690
- Los Angeles$161,520
- Sacramento$144,960
- San Diego$144,280
- San Luis Obispo$143,350
- Riverside$141,070
- Santa Maria$137,690
- Bakersfield$134,930
- Oxnard$133,000
Highest-paying cities for aerospace engineers
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($183,920).
- San Francisco, CA$183,920
- San Jose, CA$181,690
- Omaha, NE$172,720
- Washington, DC$168,780
- Boulder, CO$165,500
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Aerospace Engineers salary in San Francisco: questions
How much do aerospace engineers make an hour in San Francisco?
$88.42 an hour on average, and $91.95 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level aerospace engineers salary in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $117,060 a year and the 25th percentile is $147,970, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the aerospace engineers take-home pay in San Francisco?
About $123,963 a year ($10,330 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $183,920. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do aerospace engineers earn more in San Francisco than elsewhere?
The average here is 29% more than the U.S. average for this job ($142,060).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 17-2011; area San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (41860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.3%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.49, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.49).
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