How much do Aerospace Engineers make in Philadelphia compared to the national average?

The national median Aerospace Engineer salary is $114,679. In Philadelphia, COL adjustments bring the median to $125,000.

What is the demand outlook for Aerospace Engineers in Philadelphia?

Demand for Aerospace Engineers in Philadelphia remains strong. The compensation range of $96,000 to $166,000 reflects competitive hiring.

What is the hiring process like for Aerospace Engineers in Philadelphia?

Aerospace Engineer hiring in Philadelphia involves 3 to 5 rounds over 2 to 4 weeks. Prepare with company research and Orbyt's Interview Prep tool.

Aerospace Engineer.

Philadelphia.

$125,000

median salary, 9% above the national average

$96,000 to $166,000. Updated for 2026.

Get your playbook

The numbers.

Everything you need to negotiate with confidence.

Here is what Aerospace Engineers actually make in Philadelphia: $96,000 at the 25th percentile, $125,000 at the median, and $166,000 at the 75th. That is 9% above the national average. Philadelphia combines a robust healthcare and life sciences sector with established finance and higher education institutions. The number on your offer letter will depend on what you bring and how you ask.

Salary range

25th Percentile

$96,000

per year

Median

$125,000

per year

75th Percentile

$166,000

per year

Tap to place your salary

$96,000$166,000

How Philadelphia compares

Philadelphia, PA

$125,000

Cost of living: 9% above average

National Average

$115,000

Philadelphia is $10,000 above

What you should know

Before you negotiate a Aerospace Engineer offer in Philadelphia, understand the terrain. Philadelphia combines a robust healthcare and life sciences sector with established finance and higher education institutions. The city's pharmaceutical corridor is among the strongest in the country. Tech growth has accelerated, particularly in health tech and enterprise software, offering salaries that stretch further than in nearby New York. Security clearance level and employer type drive the widest variance. Defense contractors pay 10 to 20% premiums for TS/SCI clearances. Specialization in propulsion, avionics, or spacecraft systems commands higher compensation than structural analysis. The growing commercial space sector is pushing salaries upward across all levels.

Junior aerospace engineers start at $88,000 to $100,000. Senior engineers reach $115,000 to $152,000 after six to eight years. Principal engineers and engineering directors earn $155,000 to $210,000, with chief engineers at major programs exceeding $230,000. In Philadelphia, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.

Base salary is not the full picture. Defense contractors offer 8 to 15% annual bonuses and retention bonuses of $10,000 to $30,000 for cleared engineers. Commercial space companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin add equity packages. Many roles include relocation assistance and clearance processing support. And on the tax side: pennsylvania has a flat 3.07% state income tax, but Philadelphia adds a 3.75% city wage tax for residents. This combined local burden is worth factoring into salary negotiations. When someone quotes you $125,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.

On negotiation: Account for the Philadelphia wage tax in your ask. Request a 5 to 8% premium over suburban offers to offset the city's local tax on all earned income. The range for Aerospace Engineers in Philadelphia runs from $96,000 to $166,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.

Top industries in Philadelphia

Healthcare & PharmaFinancial ServicesHigher EducationTechnologyManufacturing

Negotiating in Philadelphia

Account for the Philadelphia wage tax in your ask. Request a 5 to 8% premium over suburban offers to offset the city's local tax on all earned income.

Common questions.

An active Secret clearance adds $5,000 to $15,000, while Top Secret/SCI adds $15,000 to $30,000. The clearance backlog means employers pay premiums to retain already-cleared engineers rather than sponsor new investigations.

Base salaries are comparable, but commercial space companies offer larger equity packages that can add $30,000 to $80,000 in annual value. Defense contractors counter with better work-life balance, pensions, and clearance-based premiums.

The national median for a Aerospace Engineer is $114,679. In Philadelphia, cost of living adjustments push the median to $125,000. That premium reflects Philadelphia's higher housing, transportation, and everyday costs.

Philadelphia combines a robust healthcare and life sciences sector with established finance and higher education institutions. The city's pharmaceutical corridor is among the strongest in the country. For Aerospace Engineers specifically, security clearance level and employer type drive the widest variance, which signals sustained demand. The current compensation range of $96,000 to $166,000 reflects a market that is competing for talent.

Pennsylvania has a flat 3.07% state income tax, but Philadelphia adds a 3.75% city wage tax for residents. This combined local burden is worth factoring into salary negotiations. When comparing offers across states, your take home pay matters more than the number on the offer letter. A lower salary in a no income tax state can net more than a higher one elsewhere.

Aerospace Engineer hiring in Philadelphia typically involves three to five rounds: a recruiter screen, a technical or skills assessment, one or two team interviews, and a final conversation with leadership. Companies in Philadelphia's Healthcare & Pharma sector may add domain specific evaluations. The process usually takes two to four weeks. Prepare by researching the company and practicing with Orbyt's Interview Prep tool.