How to Become an Aerospace Engineer in Texas: Salary & Requirements (2026)
Quick answer: The median aerospace engineer salary in Texas is $130,270 per year - 3% 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 Texas
| Wage level | Annual salary |
|---|---|
| Texas entry level (10th percentile) | $82,990 |
| Texas 25th-75th percentile | $103,810 - $166,980 |
| Texas median | $130,270 |
| Texas top earners (90th percentile) | $195,190 |
| U.S. median | $134,960 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. State employment: 6,750.
The Texas Job Market: Aerospace Engineer
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Employed in Texas | 6,750 |
| Jobs per 1,000 in the state | 0.48 |
| Concentration vs U.S. (location quotient) | 1.10 |
| Mean annual wage in Texas | $137,010 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. With a location quotient of 1.10, Texas’s demand for aerospace engineers tracks close to the national average.
Requirements in Texas
The education path is national - ABET-accredited bachelor’s in aerospace or mechanical engineering - while licensing runs through Texas’s own boards: PE license for some roles; security clearance common in defense. Verify current requirements with the Texas 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
| Percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th | $86,700 |
| 25th | $106,110 |
| 50th (median) | $134,960 |
| 75th | $169,690 |
| 90th | $205,890 |
Job Outlook
| Year | Employment |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 71,600 |
| 2034 projected | 75,900 |
| Percent change | +6.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an aerospace engineer make in Texas?
The median annual wage for aerospace engineers in Texas is $130,270 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 3% below the national median of $134,960.
How do I become an aerospace engineer in Texas?
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 Texas?
BLS counts about 6,750 aerospace engineers employed in Texas (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Aerospace Engineer in Nearby States
- Aerospace Engineer in South Carolina
- Aerospace Engineer in Tennessee
- Aerospace Engineer in Utah
- Aerospace Engineer in Vermont
Related
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Aerospace Engineers (SOC 17-2011), Texas 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) |