How to Become an Aerospace Engineer in Illinois: Salary & Requirements (2026)

Q: "How much does an aerospace engineer make in Illinois?"

"The median annual wage for aerospace engineers in Illinois is $108,940 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 19% below the national median of $134,960."

Q: "How do I become an aerospace engineer in Illinois?"

"The core path is the same nationwide - ABET-accredited bachelor's in aerospace or mechanical engineering - with licensing administered at the state level: PE license for some roles; security clearance common in defense. See the steps below."

Q: "How many aerospace engineers work in Illinois?"

"BLS counts about 200 aerospace engineers employed in Illinois (BLS OEWS, May 2025)."

Updated July 23, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Illinois aerospace engineers earn a median annual wage of $108,940 ($52.38/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 200 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -19.3% below the national median of $134,960 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $108,940 ($52.38/hr)
25th percentile: $98,300 per year
75th percentile: $153,800 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $184,520 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $78,170 per year
Workers employed in Illinois: 200
Versus national median: -19.3% below the U.S. median of $134,960
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.07 - this occupation is less concentrated in Illinois than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed July 23, 2026.

Quick answer: The median aerospace engineer salary in Illinois is $108,940 per year - 19% below the national median of $134,960 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The career requires a 4-year degree: ABET-accredited bachelor’s in aerospace or mechanical engineering.

Aerospace Engineer Salary in Illinois

Wage level	Annual salary
Illinois entry level (10th percentile)	$78,170
Illinois 25th-75th percentile	$98,300 - $153,800
Illinois median	$108,940
Illinois top earners (90th percentile)	$184,520
U.S. median	$134,960

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. State employment: 200.

The Illinois Job Market: Aerospace Engineer

Metric	Value
Employed in Illinois	200
Jobs per 1,000 in the state	0.03
Concentration vs U.S. (location quotient)	0.07
Mean annual wage in Illinois	$125,610

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. With a location quotient of 0.07, Illinois employs aerospace engineers at a lower concentration than the national average; expect fewer openings per capita and weigh relocation or remote-friendly specialties.

Requirements in Illinois

The education path is national - ABET-accredited bachelor’s in aerospace or mechanical engineering - while licensing runs through Illinois’s own boards: PE license for some roles; security clearance common in defense. Verify current requirements with the Illinois licensing authority before enrolling, as details change. The step-by-step path (degree, exams, first role, advancement) is covered in the national guide: How to Become an Aerospace Engineer.

Salary Nationwide

Annual Wage by Percentile - Aerospace Engineers

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025

Aerospace Engineers annual wage percentiles
Percentile	Annual wage
10th	$86,700
25th	$106,110
50th (median)	$134,960
75th	$169,690
90th	$205,890

Job Outlook

Projected employment growth, Aerospace Engineers, 2024-2034

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034

Aerospace Engineers employment projection 2024 to 2034
Year	Employment
2024	71,600
2034 projected	75,900
Percent change	+6.1%

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does an aerospace engineer make in Illinois?

The median annual wage for aerospace engineers in Illinois is $108,940 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 19% below the national median of $134,960.

How do I become an aerospace engineer in Illinois?

The core path is the same nationwide - ABET-accredited bachelor's in aerospace or mechanical engineering - with licensing administered at the state level: PE license for some roles; security clearance common in defense. See the steps below.

How many aerospace engineers work in Illinois?

BLS counts about 200 aerospace engineers employed in Illinois (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Aerospace Engineer in Nearby States

Sources

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Aerospace Engineers (SOC 17-2011), Illinois and national
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)