For those considering a career in aerospace and aeronautical engineering, an understanding of the aeronautical engineering salary can be of benefit. The salary for an engineer in the aeronautical field can range widely depending on location, experience, training, and technology involved. Compared to other careers, engineers command good starting salaries and the job security seems high.
Salary differences can vary depending on the facility in which the aerospace engineer finds himself. For example, private agencies tend to pay higher wages than those who are subsidized by the government or supported by the public. According to PayScale.com, the average range for an aeronautical engineer with just a bachelor's degree is around $50,000, while those who have advanced degrees can enjoy salaries that can range into the six figures.
Upward mobility is encouraged and easily obtained. This advancement in the workplace leads to a higher rate of pay for the employees. Some of the more notable companies who employ great numbers of aeronautical engineers are Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, and North Star Aerospace.
It might interest the student to note that salaries can also differ from state to state. For example, it would seem that Indiana leads the nation in starting salaries, while Nevada offers the lowest starting pay for their aeronautical engineers. The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics has released a recent statement recommending that recent graduates consider an internship with one of the companies whose pay rate is high. Employers are more likely to hire someone that they are familiar with and who already understands the systems and the protocols of the company. Many aeronautical engineering schools and colleges offer this sort of internship placement program.
Aeronautical engineer salaries are often the highest among all engineering career paths because of their specialized training. Most references recommend that the student plan on continuing their education well past their bachelor's degree as the field is becoming more competitive each year.