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

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

"The median annual wage for aerospace engineers in Virginia is $143,210 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 6% above the national median of $134,960."

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

"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 Virginia?"

"BLS counts about 2,540 aerospace engineers employed in Virginia (BLS OEWS, May 2025)."

Updated July 23, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Virginia aerospace engineers earn a median annual wage of $143,210 ($68.85/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 2,540 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 6.1% above the national median of $134,960 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $143,210 ($68.85/hr)
25th percentile: $119,830 per year
75th percentile: $184,590 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $226,950 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $95,420 per year
Workers employed in Virginia: 2,540
Versus national median: 6.1% above the U.S. median of $134,960
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.42 - this occupation is more concentrated in Virginia 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 Virginia is $143,210 per year - 6% above 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 Virginia

Wage level	Annual salary
Virginia entry level (10th percentile)	$95,420
Virginia 25th-75th percentile	$119,830 - $184,590
Virginia median	$143,210
Virginia top earners (90th percentile)	$226,950
U.S. median	$134,960

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. State employment: 2,540.

The Virginia Job Market: Aerospace Engineer

Metric	Value
Employed in Virginia	2,540
Jobs per 1,000 in the state	0.62
Concentration vs U.S. (location quotient)	1.42
Mean annual wage in Virginia	$155,770

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. With a location quotient of 1.42, Virginia employs aerospace engineers at a noticeably higher concentration than the national average: a strong local market for the credential.

Requirements in Virginia

The education path is national - ABET-accredited bachelor’s in aerospace or mechanical engineering - while licensing runs through Virginia’s own boards: PE license for some roles; security clearance common in defense. Verify current requirements with the Virginia 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 Virginia?

The median annual wage for aerospace engineers in Virginia is $143,210 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 6% above the national median of $134,960.

How do I become an aerospace engineer in Virginia?

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 Virginia?

BLS counts about 2,540 aerospace engineers employed in Virginia (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), Virginia 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)