Aerospace Engineer Salary in Salem, OR — 2026
Aerospace Engineer salary data for Salem, OR — adjusted for local cost of living. Entry-level to senior pay ranges, take-home pay calculator, and local job market insights.
The estimated median Aerospace Engineer salary in Salem, OR is $139,009 per year ($11,584/month, $67/hr). This modeled estimate scales Salario's national benchmark (calibrated to the BLS OEWS May 2025 national median) by the local cost of living index of 103, which is 3% above the national average.
All four figures are Salario estimates (national benchmark scaled by Salem's cost-of-living index); BLS does not publish a metro median for this title here.
Aerospace Engineer Take-Home Pay in Salem
Tax Breakdown (Median Salary)
| Gross Annual | $139,009 |
| Federal Tax | -$22,096 |
| State Tax (8.4% eff.) | -$11,717 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | -$10,634 |
| Annual Take-Home | $94,561 |
| Monthly Take-Home | $7,880 |
Living Cost Comparison
Aerospace Engineer Requirements
Key Skills
Salem Job Market Overview
Salem, Oregon has a population of 175,535 and an unemployment rate of 3.8%. The top industries are Government, Healthcare, Agriculture. The local job growth rate is 1.5%, and the average commute time is 22minutes. These local figures come from Salario's city dataset; verify current values with BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics and Census QuickFacts.
Aerospace Engineer Salary in Nearby Oregon Cities
Salary Percentile Breakdown — Aerospace Engineer in Salem
Based on Salario's cost-of-living-adjusted salary tiers for Aerospace Engineer in Salem, OR, here is an estimated percentile breakdown:
| Percentile | Annual Salary | Hourly Equivalent | Career Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th (lowest) | $90,846 | $44/hr | Entry-level, < 1 yr exp. |
| 25th | $114,928 | $55/hr | Junior, 1-3 yrs exp. |
| 50th (median) | $139,009 | $67/hr | Mid-career, 2-5 years |
| 75th | $180,456 | $87/hr | Senior, 5-10 yrs exp. |
| 90th (top) | $209,605 | $101/hr | Lead/Principal, 10+ yrs |
Percentiles are approximations, not measured local percentiles: P10, P50, P75, and P90 map to Salario's entry, median, senior, and top salary tiers scaled by the local cost-of-living index, and P25 is interpolated halfway between entry and median. Top earners (P90) typically include managers, specialists with rare skills, or those at high-paying employers in Salem's Government sector.
5-Year Salary Trajectory
Salario's national dataset models approximately 15.0% salary growth for Aerospace Engineers over the past 5 years. That national assumption is applied to the Salem estimate below; it is not a measured local trend, and it should be compared with cumulative CPI inflation before treating it as a real-terms gain:
Year-over-year, an average Aerospace Engineer can expect a 12.1% annual increase moving from entry to senior level over 6 years in Salem. Negotiation, certifications (PE License, FE Exam), and changing employers strategically can accelerate this trajectory.
Salem vs National Average
The national median Aerospace Engineer salary is $134,960 (BLS OEWS May 2025, Aerospace Engineers). In Salem, the cost-of-living-adjusted median of $139,009 is 3.0% above the national figure. This reflects Salem's cost of living index of 103 (higher than the national average of 100).
For Aerospace Engineers, this means: rent typically consumes 16.5% of take-home pay (households spending >30% are considered affordable), and a median home in Salem costs about 3.7× annual take-home. Homeownership is relatively attainable on this salary in Salem.
Industry Context: Government in Salem
Salem's economy is anchored by Government, Healthcare, Agriculture, with 175,535 residents and an unemployment rate of 3.8% in Salario's city dataset. Pay for Aerospace Engineers can differ by sector, so compare Government employers with other local employers. The local job growth rate in Salario's city dataset is 1.5%, and Salario's job dataset lists a 6.0% growth outlook for Aerospace Engineer roles; check the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for the official 2024-2034 projection for the closest matching occupation.
Methodology & Data Sources
How we calculate Aerospace Engineer salaries in Salem, OR:
- Base salary model starts with Salario occupation data and public wage references, including BLS OEWS and O*NET when a direct or related occupational crosswalk is available (the national median is calibrated to the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for Aerospace Engineers). For niche titles, we do not treat a broader SOC family as an exact job-title wage.
- Cost-of-living adjustment applied using the Salem index of 103 relative to the national baseline of 100, with local rent, home price, unemployment, and tax inputs stored separately in Salario's city dataset.
- Percentile distribution (P10-P90) estimated from the entry, median, senior, and top compensation tiers in the Salario salary model rather than claimed as exact employer payroll data.
- Take-home pay calculated using 2026 federal tax brackets (10%-37%), OR 2026 state income tax brackets after the standard deduction (top rate 9.9%), and FICA (Social Security 6.2% + Medicare 1.45%).
- Tax brackets and standard deduction ($16,100 single filer for tax year 2026) sourced from IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 and updated annually.
Authoritative data sources:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — national and metro-area salary data
- O*NET OnLine — occupation tasks, alternate job titles, skills, and SOC crosswalks
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — occupation outlook where a matching profile is available
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) — regional inflation data (CPI measures price changes, not city-to-city price levels)
- U.S. Census Bureau — Salem QuickFacts — population and demographic data
- IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 summary — 2026 federal tax brackets and standard deductions
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics — official local unemployment rates to verify the Salem figure above
Last reviewed: 2026. Salario's salary dataset is refreshed periodically, not automatically; check the linked BLS releases for the latest official data. Aerospace Engineer salaries can vary significantly based on employer, sector (Government vs others in Salem), specific skill set (Aerodynamics, MATLAB, CFD), and individual negotiation. Always verify current compensation through multiple sources before making career decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Aerospace Engineer salary in Salem, OR?
How much does a Aerospace Engineer take home in Salem after taxes?
Is Salem a good city for Aerospace Engineers?
What skills are needed for a Aerospace Engineer in Salem?
How does Aerospace Engineer salary in Salem compare to the national average?
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Aerospace Engineer salary in Salem, OR?
Salario estimates the median Aerospace Engineer salary in Salem, OR at $139,009 per year for 2026. This is a modeled figure: Salario's national Aerospace Engineer benchmark scaled by the local cost of living index of 103, not a measured local wage survey. The modeled entry-level estimate is around $90,846, and the senior estimate is $180,456 or more.
How much does a Aerospace Engineer take home in Salem after taxes?
A Aerospace Engineer earning the median salary of $139,009 in Salem, OR takes home approximately $94,561 per year ($7,880/month) after federal, state, and local taxes. The effective tax rate is 32.0%.
Is Salem a good city for Aerospace Engineers?
Salem, OR has a cost of living index of 103 (above national average). Aerospace Engineers here earn above the city median. The local unemployment rate is 3.8% and top industries include Government, Healthcare, Agriculture.
What skills are needed for a Aerospace Engineer in Salem?
Key skills for Aerospace Engineers include Aerodynamics, MATLAB, CFD, Propulsion Systems, Systems Engineering. Typical education requirement is Bachelor's Degree. Valuable certifications include PE License, FE Exam, Security Clearance.
How does Aerospace Engineer salary in Salem compare to the national average?
Salario's national median benchmark for Aerospace Engineer is $134,960 (calibrated to the BLS OEWS May 2025 national median). In Salem, the cost-of-living-adjusted estimate is $139,009, which is 3.0% higher than the national average, reflecting the local cost of living.